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PDF, or the Portable Document Format is one of the most popular format for document sharing. Its popularity is mainly because PDF files are multi-platform (can be run on most devices without any change in formatting), smaller in size, can be opened on most devices with free software and are difficult to edit as they are "read only".


Despite PDF files being "read only" by default, there are certain tools and software you can use to change the contents of a PDF file for free without resorting to paid software like Adobe Acrobat.

Free Tools To Edit PDF files

Edit PDF Files Online
If you are looking for basic PDF editing (changing bits of text to hide your personal information, filling a form etc.), you can try PDFescape to edit PDF files right in your browser. It allows you to modify text, images and add annotations with the help of custom shapes and arrows. One of PDF Escape's great feature is its ability to password protect PDF files. It also allows you to hide text with its white out tool(this is different from deleting it). It even lets you edit password protected PDF files and add hyperlinks to web addresses. To use PDF Escape, all you need is a JavaScript enabled web browser.

2 step PDF Editing
This basically involves converting PDF files into another format and then editing the converted PDF file. After editing, you can use a PDF writer to reconvert the edited file back to PDF.


If your PDF file can be suitably edited as a Word document, you can use the converter from BCL Research for instant conversion. Edit the converted file and then, you can use any free PDF writer like PDF Creator to recreate a PDF file. If you have Open Office, you can use its export as PDF feature to create a PDF file from almost any printable document.

Multivalent Browser: Multivalent browser offers minimal PDF editing in the form of allowing to add annotations. It also contains several command line tools which allow for merging and compressing PDF files.

Edit Meta data of PDF files
Meta Data is the information that is associated with a PDF file. If you wish to change this information, you can use the free PDFMetaEdit to edit information like title, author name, bookmarks and other creation data of a PDF document.

PDFMetaEdit can also be used to remove and add passwords to (encrypt) PDF files.

Advanced PDF Editors (editing text, images etc.)

The tools mentioned above will be useful for most users with basic PDF editing requirements. However, if you have advanced PDF editing needs, the above tools will not be that useful. There are some advanced PDF editing tools available that are as good as most paid products.

Inkscape: Inkscape is a vector graphics editor that allows you import and export PDF files. You can use Inkscape to select text, image or any other object on a PDF file and then change its position or even delete it. It also lets you do free hand drawing on PDF files and add annotations. While Inkscape does offer some really good features, its complex interface makes it difficult for users to use it.

Open Office Draw
The open source alternative to Microsoft Office can also be used as an alternative to Adobe Acrobat. All you need is the PDF Import extension. Then you can use Open Office Draw to easily and quickly edit PDF files. With Open Office Draw's inline editing features, you can edit any PDF document as easily as you can edit a Word document. It also supports adding and replacing images, changing font size and color, replacing default font-family, adding annotations, charts, shapes, tables all through an easy to use interface.

To load the PDF Import extension in Open Office, just open the Extension Manager from the Tools Menu, click on Add and then select the location of the downloaded extension. If you don't mind the download size, Open Office Draw is simply the best free PDF editor available.