Versatile and User-Friendly Open Source PDF Editors for Professional-Grade Editing

April 7, 2023348 views

PDF files are one of the most popular file formats used in the digital world. They are widely used for their ability to preserve the original formatting of a document across various platforms. However, editing PDF files can be a challenge, as they are designed to be read-only. Luckily, there are several open-source PDF editors available that allow you to make changes to your PDF files. In this article, we will explore some of the best open-source PDF editors available.

1. LibreOffice

LibreOffice is a free and open-source office suite that includes a PDF editor. It offers a range of features that make it a great option for editing PDF files, including the ability to edit text, add images, and annotate PDFs. The interface is user-friendly, and it supports a wide range of file formats, including PDF.

Review

Nov 08, 2022

"an great opensource option to Microsoft Word"

What do you like best about LibreOffice Writer?

It's clean, simple and easy to use, but the most important thing is that is very lean, opens very fast, you can save in different file formats and you can exchange documents seamlessly with other platform users.

2. Inkscape

Inkscape is a free and open-source vector graphics editor that also offers a PDF editing tool. It is a great option for those who need to edit PDF files with vector graphics. It allows you to add and edit vector graphics, text, and images to your PDF files.

Review

Nov 18, 2022

"A great tool where you can create logos, icons, graphical vectors, arts, etc"

What do you like best about Inkscape?

I used Inkscape for creating bubbles as buttons on desks of Floorplan. This tool makes it easy. It lets us have many layers on one another. These layers can be defined as different objects and given different properties, which makes it the best feature.

3. PDFsam Basic

PDFsam Basic is a free and open-source PDF editor that allows you to split, merge, and extract pages from your PDF files. It offers a user-friendly interface and supports a wide range of file formats, including PDF.

Review

✰✰✰✰ Oct 21, 2020

"Good software...Pro+OCR upgrades continually have to reinstall and now

don't work at all"

What do you like best about PDFsam Basic?

Basic isn't bad, but doesn't offer a lot more than basic Adobe reader. The print controls take some getting used to and do not follow standard conventions. The featured set of the upgrade is great....if you can get them to work.

4. GIMP

GIMP is a free and open-source image editing software that also offers a PDF editing tool. It is a great option for those who need to edit PDF files with images. It allows you to add and edit images, text, and graphics to your PDF files.

Review

"A free and worthy competitor for image editing"

What do you like best about GIMP?

It is free and available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It has many tools for image and photo editing. Did I mention that it is free? Well, it is free.

5. WPS PDF Editor

WPS PDF Editor is a versatile open source PDF editor that offers a comprehensive set of features that can operate in an offline mode. The software is free to use, and it is available for Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android. With WPS PDF Editor, you can edit, convert, and create PDF files easily. It comes with advanced features such as OCR technology, which allows you to convert scanned PDF documents into editable files.

6. Sejda

Sejda is a cloud-based open source PDF editor that offers a range of features, including PDF merging, splitting, and conversion. The software is easy to use and supports all popular file formats, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Sejda also comes with advanced security features, such as password protection and digital signatures.

Review

Mar 23, 2022

"Results that are untouched"

What do you like best about Sejda PDF Editor for G Suite?

The best thing is that it keeps the Document Original even after editing it, plus it matches the fonts from the pdf to make it easier to edit it because sometimes you don't have time all the time in the world.

FAQs on Open Source PDF Editor

How can I edit a PDF open source for free?

There are several open-source PDF editors available that you can use for free. Here are some options:

  • LibreOffice Draw: LibreOffice is a free and open-source office suite that includes a PDF editor called Draw. It allows you to edit PDF files by importing them as a graphic or drawing object. You can then edit the text, images, and other elements of the PDF file.

  • Inkscape: Inkscape is a free and open-source vector graphics editor that can also edit PDF files. It allows you to import PDF files and edit the vector graphics and text elements.

  • PDFsam Basic: PDFsam Basic is a free and open-source PDF editor that allows you to split, merge, and extract pages from PDF files. It also allows you to rotate, crop, and reorder pages.

Does WPS Office has its own PDF editor?

This software is highly popular among students and individuals who require document sharing with others. It offers the ability to edit PDF files by adding or removing text, shapes, and images. However, WPS is not an open-source PDF editor. It is a proprietary office suite that includes a PDF editor as one of its features. To learn more about WPS office suite, click here.

What PDF Editor is the Top Contender?

While all of the above-mentioned open source PDF editors offer great features, WPS PDF Editor stands out for its versatility and ease of use. It is available for multiple platforms, and it offers advanced features such as OCR technology that make it easy to convert scanned documents into editable files. Its user-friendly interface makes it a great choice for both beginners and professionals alike. WPS PDF is a great option for those who need a professional-grade PDF editor with advanced features. Download WPS PDF now and get to experience its powerful editing capabilities.

15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.