Introduction
Looking for a free and open-source PDF editor? Many PDF editing tools are expensive or come with restrictions, but open-source options provide full control, customization, and zero cost.
In this article, we compare the best open-source PDF editors for Windows, Mac, and Linux, helping you find the right tool for your needs.
Why Choose an Open-Source PDF Editor?
🔹 Free to Use – No subscriptions or hidden fees.
🔹 Full Control – Customize features as needed.
🔹 Cross-Platform – Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
🔹 Privacy-Focused – No data tracking or online dependencies.
Top Open-Source PDF Editors Compared
| PDF Editor | Platform | Key Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| LibreOffice Draw | Windows, Mac, Linux | Edit text, images, and annotations | General PDF editing |
| PDFsam Basic | Windows, Mac, Linux | Split, merge, and rotate PDFs | Managing PDF pages |
| Inkscape | Windows, Mac, Linux | Edit PDF vector graphics and text | Graphic-rich PDFs |
| Okular | Windows, Mac, Linux | Annotate and highlight PDFs | Reading & markup |
| Scribus | Windows, Mac, Linux | Advanced PDF creation | Professional publishing |
1. LibreOffice Draw – Best for General PDF Editing
LibreOffice is a powerful open-source office suite with LibreOffice Draw, which allows you to edit text, images, and annotations in PDFs.
✅ Edit text directly in PDFs
✅ Add or remove images
✅ Annotate and highlight
✅ Works on Windows, Mac, and Linux
🔹 Best for: Users who need basic PDF editing without restrictions.
2. PDFsam Basic – Best for Splitting & Merging PDFs
PDFsam Basic is an excellent free tool for managing PDFs.
✅ Split large PDFs into smaller sections
✅ Merge multiple PDFs into one file
✅ Rotate, extract, and reorder pages
✅ Works offline (no internet required)
🔹 Best for: Users who need PDF page management tools.
3. Inkscape – Best for Editing PDF Graphics
Inkscape is a vector graphics editor that can open and edit PDFs.
✅ Modify PDF graphics and vector elements
✅ Adjust text and images
✅ Supports SVG, AI, and EPS files
✅ Cross-platform support
🔹 Best for: Users who need advanced design edits in PDFs.
4. Okular – Best for Annotating PDFs
Okular is a feature-rich PDF reader and annotation tool.
✅ Highlight and underline text
✅ Add sticky notes and comments
✅ Supports multiple document formats
✅ Lightweight and fast
🔹 Best for: Users who need a fast PDF viewer with markup tools.
5. Scribus – Best for Creating PDFs from Scratch
Scribus is a professional open-source publishing tool.
✅ Create and edit PDFs from scratch
✅ Advanced text formatting
✅ Supports interactive PDF forms
✅ Works on Windows, Mac, and Linux
🔹 Best for: Users creating brochures, reports, or interactive PDFs.
Conclusion
If you need a free PDF editor, open-source tools are a great option.
✔️ For general editing: LibreOffice Draw
✔️ For splitting & merging PDFs: PDFsam Basic
✔️ For editing graphics: Inkscape
✔️ For annotations & markup: Okular
✔️ For professional PDF creation: Scribus
🔹 Want an easy way to manage PDFs online? Try ConvertMergePDF for free!