The 7 Best PDF Editors for Android

While PDFs can be opened and read in any browser, a dedicated app has all the functionality you need to streamline managing these documents.

Weve gathered the best PDF readers for Android so you can find the one that best suits your needs. Many of these are also compatible with our best Chromebooks for every budget, so you can edit your PDFs from your laptop. If you need to turn a paper document into a PDF, here’s how to clearly scan your documents on your Android device.

1 Adobe Acrobat Reader

Adobe Acrobat is the go-to solution for reading PDF files, and while it boasts all the functionality you need to manage your PDFs, navigating Adobes Byzantine subscription pricing structure can be complicated.

If you need more than a basic PDF reader and are willing to work with Adobes Document Cloud service, then Adobe Acrobat is a good choice as it integrates with other Adobe services like Scan.

Without a subscription, you can view, share, and print PDFs. You can also annotate and fill out forms (useful if youre using an Android tablet with a stylus). It also links directly to Google Drive, One Drive, and Dropbox, so you can store and retrieve your files without hopping between your preferred cloud storage option.

However, a subscription unlocks many useful editing features, including merging documents, password protection, image adjustment, and perhaps most valuably, document conversion. Unfortunately, many of these premium features are free on other apps.

If you need a reliable PDF reader with free support for signing and filling out forms, Adobe Acrobat is a good choice. However, if you need a PDF reader with a specific advanced feature like document conversion, you can save money by looking elsewhere.

2 Smallpdf

If you occasionally need a free document conversion app, Smallpdf is the ideal choice. However, you need a subscription if you want to use the app frequently, and this is where apps like Adobe Acrobat are better options.

For free, you can access 21 features, including converting PDF files to and from Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel files. You can also merge and split files, and edit text and images. However, you are limited to two actions per day, so youre out of luck if you want to convert a file, edit its text, and split its pages all in one day.

These limitations make Smallpdf frustrating to use frequently without a subscription. However, it can be the best choice if you only need to manage PDF files rarely.

Whether you choose to subscribe or not, Smallpdf has one of the best interfaces of any PDF app. It is intuitive; uploading and downloading files takes only a couple of taps.

3 Xodo

Xodo is a great alternative to Smallpdf, offering a wide range of functionality for free with the caveat of limited daily actions. It is priced the same as Smallpdf, so it largely comes down to which interface you prefer.

Xodo allows you to convert PDF files to various formats, including Microsoft Word, HTML, and PNG images. Tools for compression, text recognition (to turn PDFs into searchable documents), and redaction tools are also available.

Xodos premium subscription unlocks useful tools, including some of the most advanced annotation tools weve used on any PDF reader on Android. There are also options to customize the app toolbar and theme to your preferences.

We recommend trying Xodo and Smallpdf at the same time, as they differ only slightly. But if you need to annotate PDFs regularly, Xodo is an excellent option.

4PDF Extra

PDF Extras biggest strength is its simplicity. Opening the app will immediately present you with all the tools the app has to offer. Tap any icon, and the tool will open immediately. This streamlined approach is useful if you dont want to mess with complicated user interfaces (looking at you, Adobe Acrobat).

Another strength of PDF Extra is its detailed scanning options. It has separate tools for scanning passports, ID cards, QR codes, and documents. Each option has appropriate visual guides for framing the shot, so you dont need to rely on autofocus to get a clear shot of your subject.

Beyond that, PDF Extra has all the tools we would expect from the best PDF editor apps. You can edit text and images, convert between multiple file types, and connect directly to your cloud storage service. However, just like most of these services, there is a daily limit on the actions you can perform in a day. It also locks most tools behind a subscription, so we dont recommend it if you need a free app.

5PDFelement

PDFelement is packed with advanced features, but its pricing model means it isnt very useful without paying for a subscription. Furthermore, its user interface isnt as intuitive as those of other apps, forcing you to use multiple menus and screens to use basic tools.

However, PDFelement has some standout features. Searching for files on your phone or tablet is quick and easy; by default, the app finds and organizes all the PDFs on your device in one place. It is also simple to work with complicated documents as the app’s thumbnail and bookmark tools make finding your place easy. However, if you try to save a modified PDF document without a subscription, a watermark will be placed on it.

If you are willing to pay for the subscription, PDFelement is the ideal PDF editor app for working with large documents. But another app might be the better option if you need to perform simple actions on small documents.

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