Best Free PDF Tools - General

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Last updated by Jojo Yee on 04. February 2021 - 11:03

Introduction

A PDF tool comes in handy when you need to deal with PDF files such as to merge or split pages, add a header, footer or watermark, highlight or annotate PDF documents, or convert from other files to PDFs or vice versa.

In this article, multipurpose programs offering general features for merging PDF files, splitting or re-ordering pages, etc., within a single application are reviewed in the section below, while the PDF tools that are designed for a more specific task are reviewed in this section Best Free PDF Tools - Specific.

 

Best Free PDF Tools - General

PDFill PDF Tools  

A great set of pdf tools covering most functions.

Our Rating: 
5
License: Free (Limited features)
Clean and nice user interface, include most features such as merge, split, reorder, rotate, header and footer with page number, watermark, encrypt and decrypt, convert PDF to images or vice versa, convert PostScript to PDF.
Short of features provided by Specific Tools.
Read full review...

PDF Shaper  

Offers a variety of tools to protect, modify and convert pdf documents

Our Rating: 
4
License: Free (Limited features)
A collection of useful PDF tools including merge and split PDFs, encrypt and decrypt PDF, extract text and images, convert to and from images, etc.
Convert PDF to Word RTF up to three pages, specifying pages to split PDFs encountered an error when tried. Bundled with an optional toolbar.
Read full review...

PDFTK Builder  

A simple way to merge or reorder selected pages of PDF files in one go

Our Rating: 
4
License: Free
Merge and reorder pdf pages in one go, supports split, rotate, background stamp, encrypt, etc.
Text watermark not supported, fewer features than PDFill PDF Tools.
Read full review...

PDFsam Basic  

Visually re-order or recompose multiple pages of PDF files.

Our Rating: 
4
License: Free (Limited features)
Supports visual organizing and re-ordering PDF pages in addition to the direct page number input.
Visual document composer occasionally encountered some errors.
Read full review...

PDF Shuffler  

A small app to merge or split pdf documents, re-arrange, rotate and crop pdf pages

Our Rating: 
4
License: Free
Easy to re-order, rotate, crop or remove pages, split or merge pdf files in interactive user interface, small size.
Lacking some features available in other pdf tools.
Read full review...

jPDF Tweak  

A Swiss Army Knife for PDF files

Our Rating: 
3
License: Free (Open source)
Support merge, split, reorder, rotate, watermark, format multiple pages, change page numbers, encrypt, add attachments, set viewer preference and metadata.
User interface less intuitive.
Read full review...

Best Free PDF Tools - Specific

See also more PDF tools that are reviewed in this secion Best Free PDF Tools - Specific

 

Related Products and Links

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Editor

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Comments

"Some PDF to Word Converter" doesn't seem to be "Unrestricted Freeware"
any more. It converts up to 5 pages followed by a nag screen to Buy/Register.

Thanks for your feedback Stevem109. Sadly the new version has turned nagware with quite limited free features. It's now removed from the list.

Found a copy of "Some PDF to Word Converter " 1.0, tried to install it after uninstalling 2.0. Not only does it try to install "Delta Toolbar",
it polls the website for an updated version & starts to download 2.0.

FreeOCR tries to install toolbars and re-direct searches, also wants to sign you up for online storage. I was unable to skip these attempts, and was unable to complete the install.

@Fairportfan, unfortunately the latest version 4.2 has tied up with other software that you may not need. To opt out of unwanted software during the installation, try to select the grayed out buttons which are clickable when tried. These buttons include 'Cancel', 'Skip' and 'Decline'.

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