Free Adobe Acrobat alternatives for editing PDFs
By the Fusion Office team · Updated
Quick answer
Adobe Acrobat Reader is free for reading, commenting, filling and signing PDFs, but changing a PDF's existing text or converting it to Word needs a paid Acrobat plan. The PDF editor here edits existing text in its original font for free, and tools like PDF to Word and Compress PDF cover the other common Acrobat jobs, in your browser and without an account.
What Acrobat Reader does for free
- Opens and prints PDFs, and lets you highlight and comment.
- Fills in forms and adds a simple signature.
- Editing existing text and images, converting to Word or Excel and combining files need Acrobat Standard or Pro. Adobe's online tools offer some tasks free, with limits and a sign-in for many of them.
Free equivalents for common Acrobat Pro tasks
- Edit existing text, add images, shapes and comments: PDF editor.
- PDF to Word, Excel or PowerPoint: PDF to Word, PDF to Excel, PDF to PowerPoint.
- Combine and organise: Merge PDF and Organize PDF.
- Reduce file size: Compress PDF.
- Sign, protect and redact: Sign PDF, Protect PDF, Redact PDF.
- Make scans searchable: OCR PDF.
These run in a browser on Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook and phones, with no install. LibreOffice Draw, a free desktop program, can also open and edit PDFs if you prefer working offline.
When Acrobat is still worth paying for
Acrobat Pro offers certificate-based digital signatures, PDF/A and print-production checks, accessibility tagging, advanced form building and tight Microsoft Office integration. If your work depends on those, it's the right tool. For editing, converting and tidying everyday documents, the free tools above do the job.
Frequently asked questions
Can I edit a PDF's text for free?
Yes. Open it in the PDF editor, choose Edit text and click a line; the change keeps the original font.
Do I need an account?
No. All of the tools above work without signing up.