5 Free PDF Tools Everyone Should Know
Whether you are a student, professional, entrepreneur, or an employee, you must be highly familiar with terms like PDF, Word, working sheets etc. In fact, you might be sharing or creating a Word of PDF at this very moment.
According to studies, 402 million terabytes of data is created or shared globally every single day. PDFs, Word, and Google Docs are amongst the biggest tools to share such amount of data.
When sharing data, some of the most common problem you may face is how to convert a Word file into a PDF or vice versa. You may also want to compress a PDF if you intend to share it via email.
Luckily, there are a variety of tools available to address these challenges. We have complied a list of top 5 free PDF tools that everyone must know. Why? Let’s find out!
Five Free PDF Tools for Everyone
If you are creating or sharing digital data for any purpose, knowing the following PDF tools will make things easier for you.
1. Compress PDF Online
The first and probably one of the most important ones—online PDF compressor. A PDF compressor, in simplest words, reduces the size of a PDF.
In broader terms, PDF compression means reducing the size of a PDF file without losing much of its quality. It works by eliminating unnecessary data from the file, such as
- Large Images,
- Excessive Metadata, Or
- Redundant Text
This makes the document smaller in size and easier to share.
Why Do You Need to Compress PDFs?
PDFs, especially those with high-resolution images or large amounts of text, can become very large in size. Large PDF files can be difficult to upload, download, or share via email. You cannot share a file size more than 25MB via Google Email, Yahoo Email, or similar email service providers.
They may also take up a lot of storage space on your device. PDF compression helps solve this problem by reducing the size of the document while keeping it functional and readable.
Benefits of Compressing PDFs
Whether you use an offline method or compress PDFs online, here are the key benefits of compressing PDFs.
Easier Sharing
Compressed PDFs are much smaller, which makes them easier to email or upload to websites. Many email services have file size limits, so a smaller PDF is more likely to go through successfully.
Faster Downloads and Uploads
Smaller PDF files take less time to upload or download. This is especially helpful when you are dealing with slow internet connections.
Saves Storage Space
reducing the size of PDF files allow you free up valuable storage space on your computer or cloud storage.
Improved Performance
Large PDFs can sometimes slow down your computer or device. Compressing them can help improve performance when opening or working with the file.
Improved Website Speed
Compression is especially crucial for websites that host PDF files. Large PDF files can significantly slow down a website’s loading time, which can lead to frustration for visitors. Uploading compressed PDF files helps websites improve their performance, better load times, and a smooth user experience.
It is important to note that you may face challenges when compressing PDF files online. They may include loss of quality or compression errors.
2. PDF to Word Converter
PDF to Word conversion is the process of changing a PDF file into a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx). This allows you to edit the content of the PDF easily since PDFs are typically not meant to be edited directly.
Converting a PDF into Word format gives you the ability to modify text, change formatting, add or delete content, and much more.
Why Should You Convert PDF to Word?
There are several reasons you might need to convert a PDF to Word. First, PDFs are generally designed for viewing and sharing, not for editing.
If you need to make changes to the content in a PDF, it is much easier to do it in a Word document. Converting PDFs into Word gives you the flexibility to update the document as needed.
Additionally, Word documents are easier to customize compared to PDFs. You can change fonts and layout and even add tables or images with ease. When working on a project or report, having a Word file makes it simpler to adjust the content and make it look exactly how you want.
Benefits of PDF to Word Conversion
Here are some major reasons why you need to convert a PDF document into a Word file.
Easy to Edit
Once converted, you can directly edit the text in the Word file. This is especially useful if you need to make frequent updates or corrections to the document.
Better Formatting Control
Word gives you more control over the formatting. You can change fonts, adjust margins, or move content around with ease, which can be difficult to do with PDFs.
Better Reusability
When you convert a PDF to Word, you can reuse the content more easily. You can copy text or data from the Word file and use it in other documents without worrying about formatting issues.
More Efficiency
Converting PDF files to Word can greatly improve productivity and efficiency in a business. It allows more than one users to easily collaborate on the document at the same time.
Team members can easily edit the content, add comments, and track any changes made to the document. This makes teamwork smoother and faster.
Easy to Fill-out Forms
PDFs often contain forms, but it is often easier to fill out and edit them in Word, especially when there are multiple fields to complete.
3. Word to PDF Converter
Word to PDF conversion is the process of turning a Microsoft Word document into a PDF file. PDFs are a more secure and reliable format. They preserve the document’s layout, fonts, and images, no matter what device or software is used to view them.
Why is it Important?
There are several reasons why converting Word documents to PDF is a good choice. First, PDFs maintain the document’s formatting. This ensures that when you share the file, others will see it exactly as you intended.
Second, PDFs are widely accepted and easy to open on almost any device. They are also harder to modify, which makes them perfect for official documents, contracts, or reports.
Lastly, PDFs are easier to print without any layout issues. Converting to PDF ensures your document looks professional and is ready to be shared.
Benefits of Converting Word to PDF Files
Working with PDFs is Affordable
You do not need expensive software to view PDF files. Many free PDF readers are available for all operating systems, making it easy to access PDF documents. Additionally, PDF files can be shared and distributed digitally at little to no cost.
PDF Preserves All Document Details
The PDF format maintains all elements of the original document, including text, formatting, graphics, and multimedia features like hyperlinks, videos, and audio. These details remain intact when converting a document to PDF.
PDFs Can Be Viewed Anywhere
PDF files can be opened and printed on any system, regardless of the operating system or the original application used to create them. This ensures that the document's appearance remains unchanged, no matter where it is viewed.
PDFs Ensure Secure Document Handling
PDFs support encryption, digital signatures, and password protection, which allow you to securely share sensitive information. You can also add a digital seal to verify the document’s integrity and source. This makes PDFs ideal for confidential files.
Extra Features Make PDFs Easy to Use
PDFs can be made searchable, which allows you to quickly find specific information. Metadata such as title and author can also be embedded in the document. PDFs support additional features like reading directions and alternative text for images, making them more versatile.
4. PDF Editor
A PDF editor is a tool that lets you easily edit and adjust PDF files. You can change text, images, and formatting, add comments or hyperlinks, and even create forms.
It also allows you to combine multiple PDFs, split them into separate files, or convert them to other formats.
A PDF editor is great for making updates, fixing mistakes, or personalizing documents while keeping the original layout intact. It's especially valuable for businesses, students, and professionals who regularly work with PDFs and need an efficient way to manage them.
Why Use a PDF Editor—Benefits
Make Changes with Ease
A PDF editor lets you make significant adjustments to your documents. You can modify the content, layout, and margins. Once a document is in PDF format, you no longer need word processors or other layout tools to make changes.
Create New Documents
A PDF editor allows you to rearrange pages or combine pages from different PDFs. This way, you can build entirely new documents from existing ones.
Enable Interactive Forms
You can create interactive PDF forms for your customers. They can easily fill out fields by clicking buttons or checking boxes. You can even connect these forms to a back-end database for smoother data collection.
Sign Documents Digitally
.Use a PDF editor to digitally sign documents, or apply eSignatures using online tool. This helps speed up processes, such as contracts or agreements, that require signatures.
Secure Your Documents
You can protect your document no matter where it goes. You can control access, grant or revoke permissions, and ensure your document stays secure even after being downloaded outside the company’s firewall.
5. Merge PDF
A PDF merger is a tool that lets you combine several PDF files into one document. It helps you merge pages from different PDFs while keeping their original look and content. This is useful for organizing files like reports, contracts, or presentations into one easy-to-manage file.
You can find PDF merger tools online or in the software you install on your computer. They make managing and sharing documents easier by reducing the number of files you need to deal with.
Why Merge PDF Files—Benefits
Keep Your PDFs Organized
A tidy digital workspace is as important as a clean desk. If you are working with multiple files, such as proposals, sending them individually can be difficult and time-consuming. Merging them into one file makes it smaller and easier to share. This also helps you stay organized, saving time searching for documents.
Make Your Work Accessible
Merging different file types into a single PDF makes them easier to view and share. PDFs work across all devices, ensuring compatibility.
Free Up More Space
PDFs can be large, especially if they contain images or tables. If you have many of them, your storage space can quickly fill up. Merging files reduces their size, which will help you manage storage better and avoid issues when sharing files with size limits.
Simplify Printing
Merging PDFs makes printing easier. Instead of printing multiple files separately, you can combine them into one document and print everything at once. This saves time and ensures your documents are in order for meetings or reports.
Enhance Security
Merging PDFs also improves security. You can encrypt and password-protect the final document to keep sensitive information safe.
Summing it up
In a nutshell, the above-mentioned PDF tools help you reduce clutter, stay more organized, protect important information, and save your storage space. However, it is highly recommended to read the privacy policies of free online PDF tools.