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# PDFCreator vs PDFsam Basic Comparison - What are their main differences?

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PDFCreatorPDFsam Basic[+ Add Product](#)

Reviews

**PDFCreator** [

4.4/5(131)

](https://www.g2.com/products/pdfcreator/reviews#reviews)

**PDFsam Basic** [

4.2/5(48)

](https://www.g2.com/products/pdfsam-basic/reviews#reviews)

Pricing

**PDFCreator**
Free Trial

**$29.00** 1 Per workstation Per Year · PDFCreator Professional

**PDFsam Basic**
No pricing available

**Pricing Insights**
from reviews

Time to Implement

**PDFCreator**
Not enough reviews yet

**PDFsam Basic**
Not enough reviews yet

Return on Investment

**PDFCreator**
Not enough reviews yet

**PDFsam Basic**
Not enough reviews yet

Perceived Cost

**PDFCreator**
$$$$$

**PDFsam Basic**
$$$$$

Average Discount

**PDFCreator**
Not enough reviews yet

**PDFsam Basic**
Not enough reviews yet

Pros & Cons

**PDFCreator**
[
Ease of Use (34)
](https://www.g2.com/products/pdfcreator/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2274218&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Easy Conversion (27)
](https://www.g2.com/products/pdfcreator/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2366448&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Intrusive Advertising (12)
](https://www.g2.com/products/pdfcreator/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2366206&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Visual (10)
](https://www.g2.com/products/pdfcreator/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2366359&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)

**PDFsam Basic**
Not enough data

Integrations

**PDFCreator**
[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_e89d21750715f4646ed61c011b2917dc/adobe-acrobat.png "Product Avatar Image")

Adobe Acrobat

](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-acrobat/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_b2b4860f1f444de8840fd8bd85e097e3/amagno-digital-workplace.jpg "Product Avatar Image")

AMAGNO Digital Workplace

](https://www.g2.com/products/amagno-digital-workplace/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_20c010d5090054533c1b561ee4a019f9/dropbox.png "Product Avatar Image")

Dropbox

](https://www.g2.com/products/dropbox/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_167add200aa2f38a70eed2f601bc2d41/gpo.png "Product Avatar Image")

GPO

](https://www.g2.com/products/gpo/reviews)[
View all
](https://www.g2.com/products/pdfcreator/integrations)

**PDFsam Basic**
Not enough data

Screenshots

**PDFCreator**
 ![PDFCreator screenshot](https://images.g2crowd.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,height=600,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,/https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/attachment/file/1494680/PDFCreator-Convert-to-PDF.gif)

**PDFsam Basic**
No screenshot available

Ratings

Meets Requirements

**PDFCreator**

9.2

9.2107

**PDFsam Basic**

9.1

9.141

Ease of Use

**PDFCreator**

9.0

9.0109

**PDFsam Basic**

9.0

9.041

Ease of Setup

**PDFCreator**

9.1

9.156

**PDFsam Basic**
Not enough data

Ease of Admin

**PDFCreator**

9.2

9.212

**PDFsam Basic**
Not enough data

Quality of Support

**PDFCreator**

8.6

8.687

**PDFsam Basic**

7.9

7.929

Has the product been a good partner in doing business?

**PDFCreator**

8.7

8.713

**PDFsam Basic**
Not enough data

Product Direction (% positive)

**PDFCreator**

7.9

7.9102

**PDFsam Basic**

8.8

8.839

Features

PDF Editor[Hide 62 FeaturesShow 62 Features](javascript:void(0);)

9.2

101

8.1

39

Organization

Protect

8.9(won by 1.0)

72

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

7.9

22

Document Management

9.0(won by 0.3)

75

8.7

30

Document Scanning

Feature Not Available

8.2(won by default)

27

Editing History

Feature Not Available

7.6(won by default)

25

User Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

File Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Template Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Forms Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Communication Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Image Editing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Text Editing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Editing

Convert to PDF

9.3(won by 1.2)

85

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

8.1

30

Size

Feature Not Available

8.7(won by default)

33

Edit Fields

Feature Not Available

7.7(won by default)

27

Field Functions

Feature Not Available

7.9(won by default)

26

Annotate

Feature Not Available

8.2(won by default)

24

Operating System

PC Operating System

9.4(won by default)

32

Not enough data

Mac Operating System

Feature Not Available

Not enough data

Linux Operating System

Feature Not Available

Not enough data

Additional Functionality

Customizable Branding

Not enough data

Not enough data

Rich Text Editor

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Import/Export

Not enough data

Not enough data

Batch Processing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Encryption

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Copilot

Not enough data

Not enough data

Drag & Drop

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Synchronization

Not enough data

Not enough data

SSL Security

Not enough data

Not enough data

Commenting/Notes

Not enough data

Not enough data

Alerts/Notifications

Not enough data

Not enough data

Generative AI

Not enough data

Not enough data

Secure Data Storage

Not enough data

Not enough data

API

Not enough data

Not enough data

Access Controls/Permissions

Not enough data

Not enough data

Digital Signature

Not enough data

Not enough data

Customizable Forms

Not enough data

Not enough data

HIPAA Compliant

Not enough data

Not enough data

Watermarking

Not enough data

Not enough data

Full Text Search

Not enough data

Not enough data

PDF Conversion

Not enough data

Not enough data

Mobile Access

Not enough data

Not enough data

Collaboration Tools

Not enough data

Not enough data

Merge/Append Files

Not enough data

Not enough data

File Transfer

Not enough data

Not enough data

Real-Time Notifications

Not enough data

Not enough data

Annotations

Not enough data

Not enough data

PDF Reader

Not enough data

Not enough data

Document Storage

Not enough data

Not enough data

Offline Access

Not enough data

Not enough data

Version Control

Not enough data

Not enough data

Compression

Not enough data

Not enough data

Indexing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Document Templates

Not enough data

Not enough data

Third-Party Integrations

Not enough data

Not enough data

Search/Filter

Not enough data

Not enough data

Document Review

Not enough data

Not enough data

Electronic Signature

Not enough data

Not enough data

Side-by-Side Comparison

Not enough data

Not enough data

Rearrange Pages

Not enough data

Not enough data

Optical Character Recognition

Not enough data

Not enough data

Rotate Pages

Not enough data

Not enough data

Delete Pages

Not enough data

Not enough data

File Converter[Hide 10 FeaturesShow 10 Features](javascript:void(0);)

9.2

30

Not enough data

Security

File Details

9.1(won by default)

17

Not enough data

Password

9.3(won by default)

19

Not enough data

Data Recovery

Feature Not Available

Not enough data

Conversion

Convert

9.5(won by default)

26

Not enough data

Batch Conversion

9.0(won by default)

20

Not enough data

Batch View

Feature Not Available

Not enough data

Logistics

Split and Merge

9.1(won by default)

23

Not enough data

Integrate

Feature Not Available

Not enough data

Edit

Feature Not Available

Not enough data

Agentic AI - File Converter

Decision Making

Feature Not Available

Not enough data

Show 1 feature category with incomplete data

Collaboration & Productivity[Hide 45 FeaturesShow 45 Features](javascript:void(0);)

Not enough data

Not enough data

Additional Functionality

Third-Party Integrations

Not enough data

Not enough data

To-Do List

Not enough data

Not enough data

@mentions

Not enough data

Not enough data

Single Sign On

Not enough data

Not enough data

File Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Activity Dashboard

Not enough data

Not enough data

Drag & Drop

Not enough data

Not enough data

Alerts/Notifications

Not enough data

Not enough data

Prioritization

Not enough data

Not enough data

Access Controls/Permissions

Not enough data

Not enough data

Screen Sharing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Content Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Brainstorming

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Copilot

Not enough data

Not enough data

File Transfer

Not enough data

Not enough data

Calendar Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Status Tracking

Not enough data

Not enough data

Real-Time Notifications

Not enough data

Not enough data

Version Control

Not enough data

Not enough data

Task Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Activity Tracking

Not enough data

Not enough data

Real Time Editing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Communication Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Chat/Messaging

Not enough data

Not enough data

Tagging

Not enough data

Not enough data

Generative AI

Not enough data

Not enough data

Assignment Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Task Scheduling

Not enough data

Not enough data

Project Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Collaboration Tools

Not enough data

Not enough data

Workflow Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Secure Data Storage

Not enough data

Not enough data

File Sharing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Document Storage

Not enough data

Not enough data

Task Progress Tracking

Not enough data

Not enough data

Discussions/Forums

Not enough data

Not enough data

Commenting/Notes

Not enough data

Not enough data

Reporting & Statistics

Not enough data

Not enough data

Contact Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Video Conferencing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Progress Tracking

Not enough data

Not enough data

Mobile Access

Not enough data

Not enough data

API

Not enough data

Not enough data

Document Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Customizable Branding

Not enough data

Not enough data

User Insights

Reviewers' Company Size

[![PDFCreator](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_da0564b72d05bfc381f8faaed8ce5c9d/pdfcreator.png "PDFCreator")](https://www.g2.com/products/pdfcreator/reviews)

PDFCreator

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

46.2%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

35.0%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

18.8%

[![PDFsam Basic](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_6f18c381d3e844877f6e62db276c1cd2/pdfsam-basic.png "PDFsam Basic")](https://www.g2.com/products/pdfsam-basic/reviews)

PDFsam Basic

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

41.7%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

33.3%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

25.0%

Small-Business

(50 or fewer emp.)

46.2%

41.7%

Mid-Market

(51-1000 emp.)

35.0%

33.3%

Enterprise

(\> 1000 emp.)

18.8%

25.0%

Reviewers' Industry

[![PDFCreator](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_da0564b72d05bfc381f8faaed8ce5c9d/pdfcreator.png "PDFCreator")](https://www.g2.com/products/pdfcreator/reviews)
PDFCreator

Information Technology and Services

7.0%

Computer Software

6.1%

Marketing and Advertising

4.4%

Financial Services

3.5%

Insurance

3.5%

Other

75.4%

[![PDFsam Basic](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_6f18c381d3e844877f6e62db276c1cd2/pdfsam-basic.png "PDFsam Basic")](https://www.g2.com/products/pdfsam-basic/reviews)
PDFsam Basic

Information Technology and Services

8.3%

Telecommunications

6.3%

Computer Software

6.3%

Higher Education

4.2%

Staffing and Recruiting

4.2%

Other

70.8%

FAQs

## PDFCreator vs PDFsam Basic FAQs

Generated using AI

Last updated: August 14, 2026

### What is the difference between PDFsam Basic vs PDFCreator?

PDFCreator stands out for its higher G2 rating, broader reviewer base, and stronger support satisfaction compared to PDFsam Basic.

| [PDFsam Basic](https://www.g2.com/products/pdfsam-basic/reviews) | [PDFCreator](https://www.g2.com/products/pdfcreator/reviews) |
| --- | --- |
| 4.2/5 (48 reviews) | 4.4/5 (127 reviews) |
| Small-Business | Small-Business |
| — | 9.1 |
| 7.9 | 8.6 |
| Intuitive and invaluable for merging and splitting PDFs | Ease of Use (34 all-time mentions) |

### How do the pricing models of PDFsam Basic and PDFCreator compare?

PDFCreator is rated higher for value, with reviewers expressing greater satisfaction with its price and cost-related dimensions than PDFsam Basic.

- **PDFsam Basic:** Reviewers highlight the free version as highly capable for basic needs, with many noting it covers essential PDF manipulation tasks without requiring payment.
- **PDFCreator:** Reviewers consistently describe PDFCreator as affordable, cost-effective, and a strong alternative to more expensive PDF editors, with 9 all-time mentions of affordability and 10 for being free.
- **Switching reasons:** Recent reviews cite cost savings and the ability to avoid expensive subscriptions as key reasons for choosing PDFCreator over alternatives.

### What are the best alternatives to PDFsam Basic and PDFCreator?

Foxit PDF Editor, Adobe Acrobat, and PDFCreator are the top alternatives to PDFsam Basic.

| Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [PDFsam Basic](https://www.g2.com/products/pdfsam-basic/reviews) | 4.2/5 (48) | Small-Business | Free version covers basic needs | Intuitive for merging and splitting PDFs |
| [PDFCreator](https://www.g2.com/products/pdfcreator/reviews) | 4.4/5 (127) | Small-Business | Affordable and cost-effective | Ease of Use (34 all-time mentions) |
| [Foxit PDF Editor](https://www.g2.com/products/foxit-pdf-editor/reviews) | 4.6/5 (3706) | Small-Business | — | — |
| [Adobe Acrobat](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-acrobat/reviews) | 4.5/5 (5335) | Small-Business | — | — |

### Which PDF Editor features should I prioritize when comparing PDFsam Basic and PDFCreator?

Buyers comparing PDFsam Basic and PDFCreator should prioritize Ease of Use, Edit capabilities, Security Features, Merge/Split functionality, and Price/Cost satisfaction.

- **Ease of Use:** PDFsam Basic scores 9.0, PDFCreator scores 9.1; PDFCreator has 34 all-time mentions for ease of use.
- **Edit:** PDFCreator has 9 all-time mentions for editing, while PDFsam Basic is frequently cited as lacking advanced editing in its free version.
- **Security Features:** PDFCreator has 13 all-time mentions for security features, including password protection and encryption.
- **Merge/Split:** Both products are praised for merging and splitting PDFs, with PDFCreator receiving 14 all-time mentions for merge and PDFsam Basic highlighted for intuitive merge/split tools in recent reviews.
- **Price/Cost:** PDFCreator is noted as affordable (9 all-time mentions), while PDFsam Basic is valued for its free basic version.

### What are the pros and cons of PDFsam Basic vs PDFCreator?

PDFsam Basic's headline strength is intuitive PDF merging and splitting, while PDFCreator excels in ease of use and editing capabilities.

- **PDFsam Basic strengths:** Intuitive interface for merging and splitting PDFs, free version covers essential tasks, available on Windows, Mac, and Linux, praised for speed and reliability in basic operations.
- **PDFsam Basic trade-offs:** Lacks advanced editing in the free version, update process can be problematic, requires Java installation, occasional crashes with large files, support responsiveness varies.
- **PDFCreator strengths:** Ease of use (34 all-time mentions), easy conversion (27), PDF processing (24), easy installation (16), merge (14), security features (13), editing (9), affordable (9), user-friendly interface (10), productivity enhancement (9).
- **PDFCreator trade-offs:** Intrusive advertising (12 all-time mentions), visual design feels outdated (10), editing limitations in free version (9), slow performance with large files (9), bundled adware during installation.

### Is PDFsam Basic or PDFCreator better for small businesses?

PDFCreator is the stronger fit for small businesses, with higher satisfaction among small-business reviewers and a broader feature set.

- **PDFsam Basic:** Largest segment is Small-Business; reviewers value its free, easy-to-use tools for basic PDF manipulation but note limitations for advanced needs.
- **PDFCreator:** Largest segment is Small-Business; reviewers consistently highlight its ease of use, affordability, and robust editing and security features as advantages for small business workflows.

### Which PDF Editor platform has better integrations?

PDFCreator is favored for integrations, with reviewers citing its compatibility with major office tools.

- **PDFsam Basic:** No reviewer-cited integrations in recent reviews.
- **PDFCreator:** Integrates with Adobe Acrobat (4 all-time mentions) and Microsoft Word (2 all-time mentions), supporting document workflows across popular office platforms.

### How do PDFsam Basic and PDFCreator compare on customer support?

PDFCreator leads on Quality of Support with a 0.7-point advantage over PDFsam Basic, a material difference.

- **PDFsam Basic:** Reviewers describe support as variable, with some citing slow response times and others noting satisfactory assistance for basic issues.
- **PDFCreator:** Reviewers consistently report prompt, effective support and clear documentation, with a Quality of Support score of 8.6.

### Which is easier to implement, PDFsam Basic or PDFCreator?

PDFCreator is rated higher for Ease of Setup, with a 9.1 score and consistently positive reviewer experiences.

- **PDFsam Basic:** Reviewers highlight easy installation and minimal training required, especially for basic PDF tasks.
- **PDFCreator:** Reviewers consistently praise its straightforward setup, quick installation, and integration with office systems, reflected in its 9.1 Ease of Setup score.

### Which product has better Edit?

PDFCreator is stronger on Edit, with more reviewer-cited editing capabilities and higher satisfaction.

- **PDFsam Basic:** Frequently cited as lacking advanced editing in the free version; reviewers note editing is only available in the paid Enhanced version.
- **PDFCreator:** 9 all-time mentions for editing, with reviewers highlighting its ability to edit, fill forms, and manage PDFs efficiently.

Alternatives

**PDFCreator Alternatives**

 ![Foxit PDF Editor](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1704327af4e4eb2d2174535f45143cf5/foxit-pdf-editor.svg "Foxit PDF Editor")

[
Foxit PDF Editor
](/products/foxit-pdf-editor/reviews)

 ![CutePDF](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_27c01ef035764e12d4135fe7bcf37315/cutepdf.GIF "CutePDF")

[
CutePDF
](/products/cutepdf/reviews)

 ![Adobe Acrobat](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/f70633054b433f46ad80f9667092d308/adobe-acrobat.svg "Adobe Acrobat")

[
Adobe Acrobat
](/products/adobe-acrobat/reviews)

 ![PDFgear](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/af3e5d482403c050b560cfc7f26c6036/pdfgear.svg "PDFgear")

[
PDFgear
](/products/pdfgear/reviews)

**PDFsam Basic Alternatives**

 ![Adobe Acrobat](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/f70633054b433f46ad80f9667092d308/adobe-acrobat.svg "Adobe Acrobat")

[
Adobe Acrobat
](/products/adobe-acrobat/reviews)

 ![Foxit PDF Editor](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1704327af4e4eb2d2174535f45143cf5/foxit-pdf-editor.svg "Foxit PDF Editor")

[
Foxit PDF Editor
](/products/foxit-pdf-editor/reviews)

 ![PDF-XChange Editor](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_6d6cdae1357e7a4f1632aa67179169d3/pdf-xchange-editor.png "PDF-XChange Editor")

[
PDF-XChange Editor
](/products/pdf-xchange-editor/reviews)

 ![Foxit PDF Reader](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/946dc923c008dc305012393148dccb15/foxit-pdf-reader.svg "Foxit PDF Reader")

[
Foxit PDF Reader
](/products/foxit-pdf-reader/reviews)