7 Best Free PDF Editors in 2026
The best free PDF editors in 2026 are PDFJolt, Smallpdf, iLovePDF, Sejda, PDF24, Foxit Reader, and LibreOffice Draw. PDFJolt leads for privacy with browser-only processing, while Smallpdf provides the smoothest experience. For full offline editing, Foxit Reader and LibreOffice are strong free options.
How We Tested
We tested each PDF editor across common tasks: text editing, page manipulation, form filling, signing, merging, and conversion. We evaluated free tier limits, privacy practices, ease of use, and output quality. All tools were tested in February 2026.
PDFJolt
Our PickBest for: Privacy-first PDF editing
Free (2 ops/day) · Pro $9/mo
Pros
- Client-side processing — files never uploaded
- Full PDF toolkit (merge, split, convert, sign, OCR)
- No account required
- Modern, beautiful interface
Cons
- No inline text editing
- No desktop app yet
- 10MB free tier limit
Smallpdf
Best for: Best overall experience
Free (2 tasks/day) · Pro $12/mo
Pros
- Polished UI
- Desktop and mobile apps
- 21 PDF tools
- Good conversion quality
Cons
- Server-side processing
- 2 free tasks/day
- Requires account
iLovePDF
Best for: Budget Pro plan
Free (limited) · Premium $7/mo
Pros
- Cheapest premium at $7/mo
- 25+ tools
- Desktop app
- Massive user base
Cons
- Server-side processing
- Ads on free tier
- Limited free ops
Sejda
Best for: Inline text editing
Free (3 tasks/hour) · Web $7.50/mo
Pros
- Inline text editing on free tier
- 200+ page support
- Desktop app
Cons
- 3 tasks per hour limit
- Files uploaded to servers
- Limited formatting options
PDF24
Best for: Completely free with no limits
Free (no premium tier)
Pros
- 100% free — no premium tier
- 30+ tools
- Desktop app (Windows)
- No daily limits
Cons
- Server-side processing
- Windows-only desktop app
- Dated interface
- German company (EU data)
Foxit Reader
Best for: Desktop PDF reader + editor
Free reader · Editor $7.99/mo
Pros
- Fast PDF reader
- Basic editing in free tier
- Comment and annotate
- Works offline
Cons
- Advanced editing requires paid tier
- Desktop install required
- Cluttered interface
LibreOffice Draw
Best for: Open-source offline editing
Free (open source)
Pros
- Completely free
- Works offline
- No file uploads
- Open source
Cons
- Requires installation
- Poor PDF rendering fidelity
- Steep learning curve
- No web version
Comparison Table
| Feature | PDFJolt | Smallpdf | iLovePDF | Sejda | PDF24 | Foxit Reader | LibreOffice Draw |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free / $9/mo | Free / $12/mo | Free / $7/mo | Free / $7.50/mo | Free | Free / $7.99/mo | Free |
| Text Editing | Paid | ||||||
| Merge/Split | Paid | ||||||
| E-Sign | |||||||
| OCR | Limited | Paid | |||||
| Client-Side | |||||||
| Account Required |
Frequently Asked Questions
The Verdict
PDFJolt is the best free PDF editor for users who prioritize privacy and need a comprehensive toolkit. Smallpdf provides the most polished experience with desktop apps. PDF24 is uniquely completely free with no premium tier. Choose based on whether you need privacy, desktop apps, or the most tools.
Explore PDFJolt tools: Merge PDF · Compress PDF · PDF to Word · Sign PDF