Top 5 Best PDF Editors for Windows Without Watermark – 2025 Edition

PDFs are a key part of our digital lives, whether for school, work, or personal use. But editing them can be tough. Many free tools leave a watermark, which makes your documents look unprofessional. Finding a good editor who lets you make changes without a watermark can be a real challenge.

This article looks at the top PDF editors for Windows that let you edit your files without adding a watermark. We’ll cover both free and paid options to help you find the right fit for your needs and budget. We’ve focused on tools that are easy to use and give you full control over your documents.

Now, let us look into the top 5 best PDF editors for Windows.

1. PDFgear

PDFgear is a powerful, all-in-one PDF solution for Windows. It offers a wide range of features for free, without any watermarks or hidden costs. The software is known for its clean design and strong performance, making it a favorite for users who need a complete tool without a subscription.

This is a great option for students, freelancers, and small businesses that need a full-featured PDF editor without a price tag.

Key Features

• AI Copilot: This feature uses AI to summarize, rewrite, and proofread content in your PDF documents.
• OCR (Optical Character Recognition): It can convert scanned PDFs and images into editable text.
• Comprehensive editing tools: You can edit, add, or replace text and images directly in the PDF.
• Batch conversion: Convert multiple PDFs to and from other formats like Word, Excel, and images with a single click.
• Privacy-focused: All file processing happens locally on your computer, so your data stays private.

Ratings

Tech Radar: 4.0 out of 5

Trustpilot: 4.9 out of 5

Google Play Store: 4.8 out of 5

Pros and Cons

Pros: It's completely free with no watermarks or ads. The AI and OCR features are impressive for a free tool. It has a full range of editing and conversion tools.

Cons: Some users might prefer a more traditional user interface. Since it's free, dedicated customer support is not as extensive as with paid tools.

Pricing

PDFgear is 100% free for all its features. There are no paid plans, subscriptions, or hidden fees.

How the Fileion Team Analyzed and Picked This Tool

We evaluated PDFgear based on its wide range of free features, strong performance, and commitment to user privacy, which makes it stand out from other free options.

2. Icecream PDF Editor

Icecream PDF Editor is an easy-to-use application for Windows that offers essential PDF editing features. It has a simple interface that makes it easy for anyone to edit PDFs, manage pages, and protect documents. This tool is part of a larger suite of PDF products.

It's a reliable choice for home users and small businesses who need a straightforward PDF editor for common tasks. Its intuitive design is perfect for those who don't want a steep learning curve.

Key Features

• Edit text and images: You can add, edit, or remove text, as well as insert and modify images.
• Page management: Easily rearrange, rotate, delete, and add new pages to a PDF.
• Annotations: Add comments, highlights, and various shapes to mark up documents.
• Password protection: Secure your sensitive PDFs with a password to prevent unauthorized access.
• Form filling: Fill out and save interactive PDF forms directly within the editor.

Ratings

Capterra: 3.9 out of 5

G2: 4.3 out of 5

Microsoft store: 3.4 out of 5

Pros and Cons

Pros: The user interface is very clean and easy to navigate. It provides all the basic and some advanced features you need for everyday PDF tasks. The one-time purchase option is a good alternative to subscription models.

Cons: The free version adds a watermark to your edited files. The full feature set is only available in the paid Pro version. It lacks some of the advanced OCR and AI features found in other tools.

Pricing

• Free: The free version has a watermark on exported files.
• Pro: A one-time purchase is available for a lifetime license. Pricing starts around $59.95.

How the Fileion Team Analyzed and Picked This Tool

Icecream PDF Editor was chosen for its simple, user-friendly interface. Moreover, it has an effective set of tools that cater to standard PDF editing needs. Its one-time payment model is a significant benefit.

3. PDF-XChange Editor

PDF-XChange Editor is a fast and powerful PDF editor with a vast array of features. It’s well-known for its speed and stability, offering professional-grade tools for a reasonable price. The free version is also highly capable, providing many features without a watermark.

This is an ideal option for power users, businesses, and professionals who frequently work with complex PDF documents. It's also suitable for users who want to perform detailed edits and annotations.

Key Features

• Extensive editing tools: You can edit base content like text and images, as well as perform advanced tasks like object editing.
• Advanced OCR: The OCR engine is very accurate and can recognize text in scanned documents.
• Annotations and comments: It offers a wide range of annotation tools, including stamps, measurements, and shapes.
• Form creation: You can create and fill out interactive PDF forms.
• Integrations: The software integrates with cloud services like SharePoint, Google Drive, and Dropbox.

Ratings

PC world: 4.0 out of 5

Tech Radar: 4.5 out of 5

G2: 4.6 out of 5

Pros and Cons

Pros: The software is extremely fast and reliable. The free version is packed with features and doesn’t add a watermark. It’s a very cost-effective alternative to more expensive PDF solutions.

Cons: The large number of features can make the interface feel complex to new users. Some advanced features are only available in the paid versions. The software is only for Windows.

Pricing

• Free: A free version is available with no watermarks.
• PDF-XChange Editor: A one-time purchase for a single-user license starts around $62.00.
• PDF-XChange Editor Plus: A more advanced version is available for a one-time fee starting around $79.00. This is also a single-user package. Other than that, there is a variety of deals available in this tool.

How the Fileion Team Analyzed and Picked This Tool

We selected PDF-XChange Editor for its extensive feature set and outstanding performance. The fact that its free version is so functional and watermark-free is a major plus.

4. PDF24 Creator

PDF24 Creator is a free, simple-to-use software that offers a collection of PDF tools. It acts as a virtual printer, allowing you to create PDFs from almost any application. The desktop version is a full-fledged offline tool for all your PDF needs, and it is completely free to use.

This tool is perfect for home users, students, and small businesses looking for a free solution. It's a great choice for anyone who needs to create, merge, split, or compress PDFs regularly.

Key Features

• PDF creation: Create PDFs from any printable document or image file.
• Merging and splitting: Easily combine multiple PDFs into one file or split a large PDF into smaller documents.
• Compression: Reduce the file size of your PDFs to make them easier to share.
• Conversion: Convert PDFs to and from various formats, including images.
• OCR: It includes an OCR tool to convert scanned documents into editable text.

Ratings

Trustpilot: 4.4 out of 5

Microsoft store: 4.1 out of 5

Capterra: 4.7 out of 5

Pros and Cons

Pros: It's 100% free with no watermarks, ads, or paid plans. The software is very lightweight and easy to use. It provides a wide range of essential PDF management tools.

Cons: It has a somewhat outdated user interface. The editing capabilities are not as advanced as those in dedicated paid editors, focusing more on creation and organization. It lacks some of the advanced text and image editing features of other tools.

Pricing

PDF24 Creator is completely free with no paid versions.

How the Fileion Team Analyzed and Picked This Tool

PDF24 Creator was chosen for its comprehensive suite of free tools and its reliability. It’s an excellent option for users who prioritize basic PDF creation and management without any cost.

5. Sejda PDF Desktop

Sejda PDF Desktop offers a fast and private way to work with PDF files. It has a clean, intuitive design and provides a wide range of tools for editing, merging, and converting PDFs. The software is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

This is ideal for individuals and teams who need a versatile PDF tool for various tasks. Its simple design is welcoming for beginners, while the full set of features meets the needs of more experienced users.

Key Features

• Full editing capabilities: Add, edit, or delete text, images, and shapes.
• Page manipulation: Rearrange, split, merge, and crop pages easily.
• Security features: Password-protect or redact sensitive information from your documents.
• OCR: Convert scanned documents into searchable, editable text.
• Signatures and forms: Fill out and sign PDF forms and create new form fields.

Ratings

Trustpilot: 4.3 out of 5

Tech Radar: 4.0 out of 5

Capterra: 4.7 out of

Pros and Cons

Pros: The interface is very modern and user-friendly. It processes files locally for enhanced privacy. The free plan is quite generous for daily tasks.

Cons: The free version has daily limits on document size and the number of tasks you can perform. You need to upgrade to a paid plan for unlimited use. The desktop version is more powerful than the online version.

Pricing

• Free: The free desktop plan has limitations on the number of tasks, pages, and document size per hour.
• Desktop & Web Annual: A subscription that includes the desktop and web versions is available for a yearly fee starting around $63.

How the Fileion Team Analyzed and Picked This Tool

We picked Sejda PDF Desktop for its modern interface, strong feature set, and cross-platform support. It’s a great blend of usability and power, with a generous free tier.

Comparison Table

Final Verdict

Choosing the best PDF editor depends on your needs. For anyone looking for a completely free and powerful tool, PDFgear and PDF24 Creator are the clear winners. PDFgear offers advanced editing and AI features, while PDF24 Creator excels at creating and organizing files.

If you are a professional or business user who needs an extensive set of tools without a monthly subscription, PDF-XChange Editor is an excellent choice. Its speed and comprehensive features make it a top-tier option. For those who want a simple, clean interface and are willing to pay a one-time fee, Icecream PDF Editor is a great solution.

Finally, Sejda PDF Desktop strikes a great balance with a modern interface and powerful features. Its free tier is good for occasional use, and the paid plan is very reasonably priced.

FAQ

What is the best free PDF editor for Windows without a watermark?

Ans: PDFgear is arguably the best free option as it provides a full suite of editing, converting, and AI features without a watermark or any other limitations. PDF24 Creator is also a great free choice, especially for tasks like merging and compressing files.

Is PDF-XChange Editor better than PDFgear?

Ans: PDF-XChange Editor is generally considered a more powerful and professional tool with a broader range of advanced features, but you must pay for the full suite. PDFgear is an excellent free alternative that offers many of the same functions but may not be as robust for highly complex tasks.

What should I look for in a PDF editor?

Ans: You should look for a tool that meets your specific needs. Key features to consider include text and image editing, page management (like merging and splitting), security options (like password protection and redaction), and OCR for scanned documents. Also, check for the presence of watermarks and the pricing model (one-time payment vs. subscription).

Which software is most secure for editing PDFs?

Ans: Tools that process your files locally on your computer, such as PDFgear and Sejda PDF Desktop, are generally more secure for sensitive documents. These applications ensure your data never leaves your device, which is a major privacy benefit.