PDFs have become more common in the workplace these days. It’s a convenient format to send official company documents and forms because the file size can be compressed significantly without causing a quality loss in the document. However, they require specific software to edit and make any changes or corrections. Join us as we look at the best PDF editors, like EaseUS, and its alternatives and competitors.
What Is PDF Editing Software?
PDF editing software has been specifically developed to help users change or alter portable document files. Adobe first developed this file format, and the original Adobe Acrobat was the only program that could be used to make changes to these files. This meant you were rather limited in what you could do with PDF files.
A lot has changed in recent years, and now many Adobe competitors can help users edit these files at an affordable price. Some programs are even free, although they tend to limit the number of documents you can alter a day.
What makes a PDF editor good?
A few things differentiate a good PDF editor from a mediocre one. When looking for a good quality PDF editor, make sure that it has the following features:
- Ability to merge or split PDFs
- Ability to convert PDFs to other formats and vice versa
- Ability to edit PDFs
- Ability to compress PDFs
An Overview of EaseUS PDF Editor
EaseUS PDF Editor is a great option when it comes to editing these types of files. It includes all the features you could possibly want and even a few you didn’t know you needed. With EaseUS PDF Editor, you can convert files to PDF and vice versa. You can also easily edit, merge, split and annotate your PDF documents. This platform also includes features such as adding or removing password protection, changing the background, and encrypting your documents.
EaseUS PDF Editor has a basic plan which can be used for converting PDFs to Word or other formats so that they can be edited in another program. This most basic plan is currently on a discount at $19.95/month compared to its regular price of $29.95. However, it doesn’t include all the editing tools, such as splitting, merging, editing, and signing. There’s a free version available that only does conversions.
Main features of EaseUS PDF Editor
The key features of EaseUS PDF Editor are:
- Converting documents
- Direct PDF editing
- Merging, splitting, and compressing PDFs
- Security features
Converting documents
With EaseUS, you can convert PDF files to any other common format such as word, excel, PowerPoint, and image files. You’ll also be able to use the platform to convert any of these formats into a PDF.
Direct PDF editing
While it’s possible to use the platform to convert a PDF to a Word document and then edit it using a word editor, why go through the extra step? With EaseUS, you can edit a pdf directly from the platform, making the process even easier.
Merging, splitting, and compressing PDFs
You can use the platform to merge different PDF documents into one or split them. You can also extract only certain pages. You also have the ability to compress a PDF to make the file size smaller without losing too much quality.
Security features
You can protect your PDF by adding watermarks or passwords to the document. These features will make them extremely difficult to edit, alter or change.
Pros and cons of EaseUS PDF Editor
Let’s look at the pros and cons of EaseUS PDF Editor:
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Directly edits PDFs
- Security features
Cons:
- Expensive
An Overview of Smallpdf
Despite the name, Smallpdf actually offers plenty of tools for PDFs. Among these are the usual convert, split and merge tools. There are also many other useful ones, such as a reader, the ability to rotate PDFs, password unlocking options, and the ability to scan PDFs using your mobile device.
Smallpdf is an affordable option at only $9/month for one user. However, it’s billed annually. A free version lets users use any of the available features, but they’re limited to two documents a day. Smallpdf also offers a 7-day free trial that includes all the features to give you a better idea of how the software works.
Main features of Smallpdf
The main features of Smallpdf include the following:
- Converter
- Editing tools
- E-signing tools
- Security features
Converter
With Smallpdf, you can easily convert PDF files from any other format and vice versa.
Editing tools
Smallpdf features quite a few different editing tools. You can add text, shapes, images, and even annotations directly to your PDF. Some features enable you to split, merge, number, and rotate your documents.
e-Signing tools
This PDF editor includes an e-signer, meaning that you can easily edit your documents and sign them electronically and request signatures from others.
Security features
Smallpdf also offers security features. You can use the software to unlock password-protected PDFs, encryptions, and other permission. You can also add these security features to your own PDFs to increase their security.
Pros and cons of Smallpdf
Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of Smallpdf.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Affordable
- Many different editing options are available
- Security features
Cons:
- OCR function can be improved
An Overview of iLovePDF
iLovePDF has very similar features to its competitors, EaseUS and Smallpdf. You can use the software to convert, edit, compress, sign, protect and add watermarks to your documents. One of the standout features that it has that’s not included in the previous two is the ability to recover PDFs. This means if a document has been corrupted, you can repair it – quite a useful feature to have, even if it’s only used once in a while.
iLovePDF has a Premium plan that’s $7/month or $4/month when billed yearly, making it the cheapest alternative on this list. There’s no trial available, but a free version gives you access to all the features but limits the number of documents you can alter.
Main features of iLovePDF
The key features of iLovePDF are:
- Editing features
- Security features
- Customization features
- Recovery features
Editing features
iLovePDF has all the features you could possibly want to edit a PDF. You can merge documents, split them, add numbers to documents, change the order of pages, and more. There are also tools to edit the text on documents, add images and shapes, and even make handwritten annotations.
Security features
There are a few different security features, such as encryption, password protection, and more, that you can add to your documents to make them safer.
Customization features
iLovePDF also has customizable features that enable users to add logos and custom watermarks to their PDF files.
Recovery features
iLovePDF has a unique recovery feature that isn’t common with most PDF editors but is very useful. This feature can help you recover damaged or corrupted PDF files.
Pros and cons of iLovePDF
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of iLovePDF.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Affordable
- Many useful features, including PDF recovery
Cons:
- Minor formatting elements can sometimes get lost
EaseUS PDF Editor vs. Smallpdf vs. iLovePDF – Which Is the Safer Option?
When it comes to choosing a PDF editor, you want to choose the most affordable option that meets your needs. Luckily there are a few great ones to choose from, and any one of these can be a great solution.
However, there’s one that stands out above the rest – iLovePDF. It’s the most affordable option on this list and has all the features of EaseUS and Smallpdf. It also has a recovery tool which, while not essential, is a great option to have in case a PDF file gets damaged or corrupted.
Best Alternative to EaseUS PDF Editor
If you’re in a situation where you require a good PDF editor but don’t have the budget for premium software, there’s a great alternative. PDFplatform was developed by the same people that brought us PandaDoc, the fully featured SaaS software. PDFplatform was specifically developed for a single task – editing PDF documents.
Why is PDFplatform the best platform for editing PDFs?
PDFplatform allows users to merge, split, convert, sign and compress PDF files. It provides all these features for free, and they’re working on adding more in the future. One of their standout features, though, is their security. Since they don’t store your documents on their servers after you’ve downloaded them, you don’t have to worry about losing important information in the case of a data breach.
Final Thoughts
PDF editors are useful programs, especially if you frequently work with this file format. While all the options on the list are great alternatives, iLovePDF stands out above the rest for its affordability and features.
However, if you’re looking for a free alternative, PDFplatform is a great option. It includes all the basic features without the price tag of other programs. Why not give it a try now and see for yourself?
