There are several open-source PDF editors available for Windows that allow you to create, edit, and manage PDF files. Below is a list of some of the most popular and reliable options:
1. LibreOffice Draw
- Description : LibreOffice is a widely-used open-source office suite, and its "Draw" component can be used to edit PDF files. While not specifically designed as a PDF editor, it allows you to import PDFs, make changes, and export them back to PDF format.
- Key Features :
- Import and export PDF files.
- Edit text, images, and objects.
- Add annotations and comments.
- Download : LibreOffice Official Website
2. PDFsam Basic
- Description : PDFsam Basic is an open-source tool designed specifically for splitting, merging, and rotating PDF files. It’s lightweight and easy to use for basic PDF editing tasks.
- Key Features :
- Split and merge PDF files.
- Rotate, extract, and mix pages.
- Encrypt and decrypt PDFs.
- Download : PDFsam Basic Official Website
3. Xournal++
- Description : Xournal++ is an open-source note-taking and PDF annotation tool. It’s particularly useful for annotating existing PDFs, such as filling out forms or adding handwritten notes.
- Key Features :
- Annotate PDFs with text, shapes, and drawings.
- Highlight and underline text.
- Supports pressure-sensitive styluses (e.g., on tablets).
- Download : Xournal++ Official Website
4. Scribus
- Description : Scribus is an open-source desktop publishing application that can also handle PDF creation and editing. It’s more suitable for designing PDFs from scratch rather than editing existing ones.
- Key Features :
- Create professional-grade PDF documents.
- Advanced layout and typography tools.
- Export to PDF with customizable settings.
- Download : Scribus Official Website
5. Okular
- Description : Okular is a universal document viewer developed by KDE. While it’s primarily a viewer, it supports annotations and form filling, making it a good choice for lightweight PDF editing.
- Key Features :
- View and annotate PDFs.
- Fill out PDF forms.
- Add highlights, notes, and stamps.
- Download : Okular Official Website
6. Master PDF Editor (Free Version)
- Description : Although Master PDF Editor is not fully open-source, it offers a free version for non-commercial use. It provides robust PDF editing capabilities, including text and image editing.
- Key Features :
- Edit text, images, and objects in PDFs.
- Create, merge, and split PDF files.
- Add annotations and bookmarks.
- Download : Master PDF Editor Official Website
7. ONLYOFFICE
- Description : ONLYOFFICE is an open-source office suite that includes PDF viewing and basic editing capabilities. It’s a good option if you’re looking for an all-in-one solution for documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
- Key Features :
- View and annotate PDFs.
- Collaborate on documents in real-time.
- Integrated with cloud storage services.
- Download : ONLYOFFICE Official Website
8. GIMP (for Image-Based PDF Editing)
- Description : GIMP is a powerful open-source image editor that can be used to edit PDFs if they are treated as multi-page images. This approach is less ideal for text-heavy PDFs but works well for graphics-heavy documents.
- Key Features :
- Edit individual pages of a PDF as images.
- Apply advanced image editing techniques.
- Export edited pages back to PDF format.
- Download : GIMP Official Website
9. MuPDF
- Description : MuPDF is a lightweight, open-source PDF viewer and editor. It focuses on performance and minimalism, making it a great choice for users who need a simple tool.
- Key Features :
- View and annotate PDFs.
- Lightweight and fast.
- Command-line support for advanced users.
- Download : MuPDF Official Website
10. qpdf
- Description : qpdf is a command-line tool for working with PDF files. It’s particularly useful for developers and power users who need to manipulate PDFs programmatically.
- Key Features :
- Merge, split, and rotate PDFs.
- Encrypt and decrypt PDFs.
- Repair corrupted PDF files.
- Download : qpdf Official Website
Recommendation
If your primary goal is basic editing (e.g., text and images), LibreOffice Draw or Master PDF Editor (Free Version) is a good starting point. For annotations , Xournal++ or Okular are excellent choices. If you need advanced PDF manipulation (e.g., merging, splitting), PDFsam Basic or qpdf might suit your needs better.
Let me know if you need further assistance or a step-by-step guide for any of these tools!