Whether you know much about computers or as little as you can get by with them, you recognize what a PDF is. It’s the document format that has made digital documents widely acceptable. No matter where it was created or using what, a PDF document always looks the same as long as you have software that can read a PDF file. Naturally, PDF is a popular file format on Linux. Here are some of the best PDF editors for Linux, Ubuntu, and other Linux distributions.
1. PDF Studio
While this list is in no particular order, PDF Studio would perhaps still be in the first position if it were. It’s the best PDF editor for Linux, Windows, or Mac. The only problem is that it isn’t free. The standard version of PDF Studio comes for $89 whereas the Pro for $129. For that price, you get to create PDF files, delete or append pages, apply watermarks, fill in, and secure documents.
The Pro version of the app makes PDF editing easier with inline text content editing with reflow. Also, you can create PDF forms, redact text, reduce the size of the PDF file, and even manipulate it freely as if it were a Word file. These aren’t the only features you get with the Pro version though. There are so many features scattered here and there across the app that it might take a separate article of its own. Unfortunately, there is no free version at all, not even a crippled free version. However, the developer offers a free trial letting users test it before they purchase.
2. Inkscape
Inkscape is more popular for viewing or editing pictures than as a serious PDF editor app. Some of the PDF editing features in Inkscape are not even available on some other dedicated PDF editors unless you pay for the full or Plus version. What you might not like is that the interface is more like Adobe Photoshop or GIMP because it is ultimately a photo editor first. It isn’t the most advanced PDF editor out there but it can get the job done if you want to edit text or images on a PDF.
Inkscape is available for all three major desktop operating systems:Â Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is also completely free to use.
3. Okular
Okular is another popular name in the Linux space. It’s the default PDF app for several Linux desktop environments. Okular isn’t as advanced as PDF Studio but covers all the basic PDF editing functions. These include but are not limited to, adding/deleting text, inline notes, stamps, highlighting, and freehand line drawing. Moreover, it is perhaps your best choice if you want to annotate a PDF. Okular is also a drawing tool. Besides being free and open source, Okular is also available on Windows and Mac.
However, you should know that PDF Editing on Okular is a little different. To change text, you have to select it and then make the necessary changes from the clipboard which might annoy many people. Once you learn to use it though it is a piece of cake.
4. Sejda PD Editor
Sejda may not be a dedicated PDF editor for Linux but it is still a powerful online tool. It is a web app accessible via any device as long as it has a browser. Not many PDF Editors will let you edit the existing text on a PDF file. Sejda lets you edit the text in the PDF file and that might just be what you want to do. Unlike most free online PDF editors, it does not add watermarks to your documents.
To edit a document, visit the website following the link below and upload the PDF. You can even paste the link of the PDF you want to edit. The fact that you don’t have to install anything is a plus if you don’t often edit documents. If you want, there is a dedicated desktop version available which is the online tool wrapped in a window, available offline.
The desktop version has more font styles but doesn’t let you add PDF files through the URL. Both online and desktop versions can be used to convert PDF files to Word or JPG and vice-versa.
Download Sejda PDF Editor for desktop
5. Master PDF Editor
If you couldn’t tell from the name, this is another specialized PDF Editor for Linux. Master PDF Editor offers more than basic functionality like creating PDF files and editing text. PDF Studio and Master PDF Editor share many advanced PDF editing features. It offers features like PDF annotation documents, OCR, filling in PDF forms, and digital signatures would be a few examples of such features.
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