6 Considerations When Choosing Adobe Acrobat Alternative

Adobe Systems developed the portable document format (PDF) in the early 90s. Since its release, its popularity has dramatically grown. Moreover, in July 2021, PDF was the third most popular file after HTML and XHTML.

Basically, the primary purpose of creating the PDF was to enable the viewing of files in read-only mode. But, with the increase in demand by individuals and associations to make changes to these documents, software developers have created tools such as Adobe Acrobat to enable seamless edits.

However, Adobe has some setbacks, such as high subscription costs, which have led to the sprouting of other alternatives.

With that in mind, you’d want to select the best alternative that meets your needs.

Here are some of the factors for your consideration.

Content editing capabilities

Given that your primary need for the Adobe Acrobat alternative is to edit PDF files, the fundamental thing you must consider is its content editing capability.

Note that some of the tools enable file creation only. You’d want a tool that allows you to perform basic edits such as: 

• Adding text without changing the original format
• Redacting some information
• Adding or removing images
• Changing the font type and size
• Altering the formatting
• Adding new paragraphs
• Deleting unwanted paragraphs
• Changing the document layout

With such software, you can perform these tasks more swiftly and efficiently.

Usability

Any free PDF editor must have an intuitive interface. Also, it must be easy to learn and remember, efficient to use, have limited errors, and be satisfying in general. As a user of any experience level, this enables you to perform even the most basic tasks accurately without much hassle.

For that reason, you’d want to choose an Adobe alternative with all the essential features in a user-friendly layout. Consider watching the videos on this channel to understand how one such editor works:

Client reviews

Before settling on a particular PDF editor, you must read customer reviews. This enables you to hear from actual clients who’ve purchased and used the product for some time.

From their reviews, you can identify the quality of the product and have an idea of what to expect. Also, it gives you the confidence to use the editor.

 Moreover, reading reviews benefits you in the following ways:

• It minimizes risks in the purchase process: By reading feedback from clients who have used a specific tool, you can make more informed decisions.
• It facilitates comparisons: You can choose the best Adobe Acrobat alternative with reviews by evaluating the customers’ comments about their cost-effectiveness, usability, or functionality.
• You can obtain additional information: Reviewers can provide extra information a company may have omitted in the product description. For instance, it’s rare for a software developer to admit their tool has a bug. But you can get this information from someone who has used the software and experienced its shortcomings.
• It builds trust: With confirmation from clients, you can easily trust what a company says.

Availability of free trial version

If you’re not yet well-versed with the alternatives, going for one with a free trial mode is a perfect idea. It enables you to get an insight into what you’re getting into before officially committing.

Ideally, you get access to the tool and determine if it’s right for you and whether it’ll fulfill your PDF editing desires. 

Additionally, by getting the most out of the free trial mode, you familiarize yourself with what the tool will offer and have a personal experience of its features, functionalities, and usability. This way, you’ll be able to make a more informed purchase decision and feel more comfortable with your decision. 

Price

Price is another crucial factor you should consider before choosing an Adobe Acrobat alternative.

Usually, most of these alternatives have unique pricing models, influencing your purchase decisions. This is particularly true if you’re dealing with many employees and you need to have several licenses.

You wouldn’t want to spend a lot on this and incur more expenses in your business. Thus, take your time and determine what you’re able and willing to pay, then make your purchase accordingly.

Security features

You may sometimes need to share some information in PDF files with your workers that contain sensitive and confidential data. For this reason, you ought to go for PDF editors with security features. This enables you to protect your files from unwanted edits by unauthorized users using passwords, and watermarks, or encrypting them with signatures.

This gives you peace of mind and confidence since you’re sure that damaging leaks of sensitive data won’t happen.

Conclusion

Adobe Acrobat is undoubtedly one of the best software to edit and manipulate your PDF files to complete crucial projects. However, it may not be cost-efficient for some people.

Luckily, many companies have created free PDF editors with almost similar and even advanced features as Acrobat. Use the above selection criteria to find the best alternative that fits your requirements. Ultimately, editing pdf documents will be a breeze.