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Managing and organizing files has been a challenging task since the invention of computers. The usage of PDF files has significantly increased in recent years, making it more difficult to manage the documents. Thus, it’s essential to choose the best PDF manager to streamline your document management tasks. A PDF manager is software that allows you to edit, create, sign, and manage PDF documents. In this blog post, we’ll be looking at the top 7 PDF managers for Windows that can make your life easier.
Video Tutorial:
What a PDF Manager Can Do?
A PDF manager is a software that allows you to perform various tasks related to PDF files. Below are some of the frequent functions of a PDF manager:
Create PDFs:
A PDF manager can create PDF files from various sources, such as MS Word, PowerPoint, and HTML pages.
Edit PDFs:
You can make changes to PDFs with a PDF manager, such as modifying text, images, and graphics.
Comments and Annotation:
PDF managers can add comments and annotation to PDF files, such as highlighting, underlining, and strikethrough text.
Merge and Split:
With a PDF manager, users can merge multiple PDFs into a single document or split a large PDF into multiple files.
Security:
PDF managers offer various safety features like password protection, digital signatures, and encryption.
Form filling:
PDF managers can fill in PDF forms.
What Factors Should Be Considered While Choosing a PDF Manager?
Several factors should be considered while choosing a PDF manager. Below are some of the most important factors:
Features:
Consider the features of the PDF manager that are most important to your work. Different PDF managers offer various functionalities and capabilities.
Integration:
Choose a PDF manager that integrates well with other software that you use. Integration make their working easier.
User-friendly Interface:
A user-friendly interface makes it easier to manage PDF files. The interface should be easy to navigate, with clear instructions.
Price:
PDF managers can be expensive, with some software costing hundreds of dollars. Choose a PDF manager that offers the necessary features, and it fits your budget.
Customer Support:
Consider the availability of customer support. A good PDF manager should have an available customer support team to help users.
Top 7 PDF Manager Recommendation
Below are the top 7 PDF managers for Windows:
1. Adobe Acrobat DC
Adobe Acrobat DC is the most popular PDF manager because it offers a wide range of functions. It has user-friendly software that allows you to edit, merge, and split PDFs. It has advanced features that allow for advanced document security, such as password protection and digital signatures.
Pros:
- Has advanced features that allow for advanced document security
- It can edit, merge and split PDFs
- Supports a wide variety of file formats
Cons:
- Expensive
- Has a steep learning curve
- Requires a monthly subscription
2. Nitro Pro
Nitro Pro is another popular PDF manager. It offers many features similar to Adobe Acrobat DC at a lower price point. Nitro Pro is also straightforward to use, making it ideal for beginners.
Pros:
- Lower price compared to Adobe Acrobat DC
- User-friendly interface
- Can edit, merge and split PDFs
Cons:
- Customer Support is not available 24/7
- Some advanced features are not available in the standard version
- Nitro Pro doesn’t support as many file formats as Adobe Acrobat DC
3. Foxit PhantomPDF
Foxit PhantomPDF is another popular PDF manager that offers advanced security features, making it ideal for enterprise environments. It has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to create, edit, and manage PDFs.
Pros:
- Advanced security features
- User-friendly interface
- Creates PDFs compatible across different programs
- It offers a free trial version
Cons:
- Some advanced features are not available in the standard version
- It has a limited range of functions compared to Adobe Acrobat DC
- The user interface could be improved
4. PDFelement
PDFelement is a fast and easy-to-use PDF manager that offers advanced security and editing features. It also has a wide range of features, such as OCR, batch processing, and form creation.
Pros:
- Advanced security features
- OCR support
- User-friendly interface
- It offers a free trial version
Cons:
- The Mac and Windows versions of the software are not identical
- It doesn’t support embedding video and audio
- It can’t convert PDFs to image files
5. PDF Expert
PDF Expert is a Mac-only PDF manager that offers a wide range of features for editing and managing PDFs. It has a user-friendly interface with a clean design.
Pros:
- User-friendly interface
- It can edit and annotate PDFs
- Supports editable PDF forms
Cons:
- It’s only available on Mac
- It doesn’t offer OCR functionality
6. Sejda PDF
Sejda PDF is an online PDF manager that offers features such as merging, splitting, and compressing PDFs. It has a user-friendly interface, with the ability to download the edited PDF files.
Pros:
- It’s available online, so no downloads are required
- Easy to use interface
- It offers advanced search and replace functionality
- It offers a free version for small PDFs
Cons:
- It has a file size limit for uploads
- The editing functionality is limited
- Data security is not guaranteed as it’s an online platform
7. Able2Extract Professional 16
Able2Extract Professional 16 is a business-focused PDF manager that allows users to edit, convert, and create PDFs. It has advanced features that make it ideal for professional use.
Pros:
- User-friendly interface
- Advanced editing features
- Batch conversion and scanning functionality
- It offers a free trial version
Cons:
- The price is high compared to other PDF managers
- Some advanced features are not available in the standard version
- The user interface could be improved
Pros & Cons of Each Software
Software | Pros | Cons |
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Adobe Acrobat DC |
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Nitro Pro |
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Foxit PhantomPDF |
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PDFelement |
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PDF Expert |
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Sejda PDF |
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Able2Extract Professional 16 |
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Our Thoughts on PDF Managers
After researching and testing the top 7 PDF managers on Windows, we believe that Adobe Acrobat DC is the best option if advanced features are needed. It can handle complex documents and offers more security features than other PDF managers. However, it comes with a steep price tag.
For those who don’t need all the advanced features, Nitro Pro, PDFelement, or Foxit PhantomPDF are also great options. They offer a more affordable price point and still provide many features for editing and managing PDFs.
Sejda PDF and PDF Expert are applicable if the user wants to manage their PDF files from different devices. They’re easy to use, but PDF Expert is only compatible with Mac.
Able2Extract Professional 16 is recommended for professionals who require advanced editing features that will help them in their work.
5 FAQs about PDF Managers
Q1. Can I convert PDF files to other file formats?
A: Yes. Most PDF managers offer conversion functionality to convert PDF files into other formats, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PPT, etc.
Q2: Is it possible to edit PDF files?
A: Yes. Most PDF managers allow you to perform several edits to PDF files like adding, deleting, or modifying text, adding stamps and signature, etc.
Q3: Is it worth paying for a PDF manager software?
A: It depends on the features you need. If you work with PDF files regularly and need advanced functionalities like document security, OCR support, batch processing, etc., it’s worth paying.
Q4: Can I try the software before purchasing it?
A: Yes. All the PDF managers listed in this article offer free trials. You can try the software and decide if it meets your requirements.
Q5: I want to edit my PDF files online. What are my options?
A: Sejda PDF is an online PDF editor. It allows you to edit, merge, split, convert, and compress PDF files online. Other online PDF editors are also available like PDFescape, Smallpdf, PDF Candy, etc.
Final Words
In conclusion, it’s crucial to choose the right PDF manager for your document management tasks. Adobe Acrobat DC, Nitro Pro, Foxit PhantomPDF, PDFelement, PDF Expert, Sejda PDF, and Able2Extract Professional 16 are the top 7 PDF managers for Windows. They offer unique features, functionalities, and different price points. It’s recommended to select a PDF manager based on your needs and budget.