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Top Open-Source PDF Editors for Windows: A Comprehensive Guide

July 31, 2023 2.1K views

Portable Document Format or PDF is the most widely used file format for sharing documents across platforms. PDFs are widely used for official documents, reports, and research papers. PDF documents are not only easy to share, but they also provide excellent readability, security, and accessibility. However, editing PDF documents can be a challenging task, and many users struggle to find a reliable and efficient PDF editor for Windows.

While there are several PDF editors available in the market, not all of them are cost-effective or easy to use. In this article, we will explore the top open-source PDF editors for Windows that are free, reliable, and packed with advanced features to create, edit and manipulate PDF documents.

What Is an Open Source PDF Editor for Windows?

An open-source PDF editor for Windows is a software application that allows users to edit, create, and manipulate PDF documents. Open-source software is free to use and comes with the added benefit of transparency, as users can access and modify the source code. This makes open-source PDF editors for Windows an attractive option for users who want cost-effective and flexible software solutions.

FAQs

Yes, there are a number of open-source PDF editors available on the internet, such as WPS Office, LibreOffice Draw, PDFsam Basic, and more. If you are looking for an open-source PDF editor which can perform all sorts of tasks for you apart from PDF editing, then WPS Office is a great platform to look at.

Yes. One of the best free video editors for windows is WPS Office. WPS comes with a wide range of features that can make your workflow smooth and increase your productivity. Although the free version of WPS Office comes with the watermark, you can always buy the premiere version to remove the water mark from your files.

Top Open Source PDF Editors for Windows

1. WPS Office Open Source PDF Editor for Windows

WPS Office is a complete office suite with a powerful PDF editor. It is a popular alternative to Microsoft Office and offers a variety of features to help users create, edit, and view their documents. WPS Office is compatible with Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android, making it a great choice for users who need to work on multiple devices.

Download: WPS Office

WPS PDF Editor is an open-source PDF editor that is available for Windows. It is a free and easy-to-use tool that allows users to edit PDF files in a variety of ways. Some of its key features include:

Edit text and images: With WPS PDF Editor, users can easily edit text and images in a PDF file. This includes changing the font, size, and color of the text, as well as adding or deleting images.

  • Annotate PDFs: 

Users can add comments, highlights, and other annotations to their PDF files. This is especially useful for collaboration and reviewing documents.

  • Convert PDFs: 

WPS PDF Editor can convert PDF files to other formats such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. This is particularly useful when you need to edit a PDF file but don't have access to a PDF editor.

  • Secure PDFs: 

With WPS PDF Editor, users can add passwords to their PDF files to protect them from unauthorized access. This is particularly useful when sharing sensitive information.

  • Merge and split PDFs: 

Users can merge multiple PDF files into one document or split a large PDF into smaller files. This is useful for organizing large PDFs or sharing only specific sections of a document.

User Comments


Comment 1

"I have been using WPS for a few months now, and I am really impressed with its speed and performance. It doesn't lag or freeze like other office suites, and it's really easy to customize to my liking.”

Comment 2

"The collaboration features in WPS are amazing. I can share my documents with my colleagues and work on them together in real time. It saves us a lot of time and makes teamwork a breeze."

2. LibreOffice Draw Open Source PDF Editor for Windows

LibreOffice Draw is a powerful open-source PDF editor for Windows that provides users with advanced features for editing and creating PDF documents. The software is a part of the LibreOffice suite and is compatible with multiple file formats, including PDF. Some of the key features of LibreOffice Draw include:

  • Advanced editing tools to edit, annotate and manipulate PDF documents

  • Compatibility with multiple file formats

  • Ability to import and export PDFs

  • Flexible formatting and design options

  • Cross-platform compatibility

3. PDFsam Basic Open Source PDF Editor for Windows

PDFsam Basic is an open-source PDF editor for Windows that allows users to split, merge, and extract pages from PDF documents. It also includes features for rotating pages and encrypting PDFs. PDFsam Basic is a user-friendly software that provides a range of basic features for PDF editing. Some of the key features of PDFsam Basic include:

  • Simple interface for easy navigation and editing

  • Ability to split, merge, and extract pages from PDF documents

  • Support for encrypting PDFs

  • Cross-platform compatibility

4. Inkscape Open Source PDF Editor for Windows

Inkscape is a free and open-source vector graphics editor that can also edit PDF documents. It includes a range of tools and features for creating and editing vector graphics and also supports PDF import and export. Some of the key features include:

  • Advanced editing tools for vector graphics and PDF documents

  • Compatibility with multiple file formats

  • Cross-platform compatibility

  • Easy-to-use interface

5. GIMP Open Source PDF Editor for Windows

GIMP is a free and open-source image editor that can also edit PDF documents. It includes a range of features for advanced photo editing and also supports PDF import and export. Some of the key features of GIMP include:

  • Advanced photo editing tools for images and PDF documents

  • Compatibility with multiple file formats

  • Cross-platform compatibility

  • Easy-to-use interface

Why WPS Office is the Best Open-Source PDF Editor for Windows

Open-source PDF editors are a great alternative to commercial PDF editors. They provide a wide range of features and tools that can be used to create, edit, and manipulate PDF files. Whether you are looking for a simple PDF editor or a professional-grade PDF editor, there is open-source software available that will meet your needs. So, if you are looking for an open-source PDF editor for Windows, be sure to check out one of the software listed above.

WPS Office is a great option for users who need a free and open-source PDF editor for Windows. Its features are easy to use, and it provides a variety of tools to help users edit, view, and convert their PDF files. With WPS Office, users can enjoy the benefits of a comprehensive office suite without breaking the bank.


15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.