15 Best PDF Editors for Linux in 2023

If you are a Linux user and using Linux distributions to help you handle your Linux files, there are instances wherein you may be looking for the right Linux PDF editors. Most of the Linux distributions come with a Linux PDF viewer, but not each of them comes with a PDF editor.

There are several options available for the best PDF editors that you would find much unique in their own right. We will try finding the top PDF Editors that you can make use of on Linux.

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# 1. PDFgear

PDFgear is a powerful and best PDF editor for Linux and provides you with an easy-to-use interface to begin with. The software is available in both online and standalone formats. The free yet powerful PDF editor also comes with a Pro version that is reasonably priced. The software provides easy access to several functionalities, such as reading, editing, merging, converting, and signing your PDF files.

Key features

• It is a part of the Microsoft partner program, which shows the expertise that the software enjoys
• A powerful and discerning privacy policy
• Multiple conversion features for your PDF files that include PDF to Word, PDF to Excel, PDF to PPT, PDF to JPG/JPEG, PDF to PNG; Word to PDF, JPG/JPEG to PDF, HEIC to PDF, PNG to PDF and many more
• Varied compressions for your PDF files wherein you can go with the low, medium, and robust compression
• Powerful PDF editing capabilities

# 2. Okular

Okular is a universal document viewer and editor that doubles up as the best PDF editor for Linux. It offers you specialized tools for multiple platforms such as Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile. The clear and straightforward interface and design are a few of the features that you would find much impressive.

Key features

• The annotation feature on your PDF files
• You can select and view any of the text to edit it
• An easier option to navigate through your content
• A high-end PDF signature support

# 3. Inkscape

Inkscape is an entirely free and open-source PDF editor focused primarily on the best vector graphics. The cross-platform functionality makes it a good choice for use on Windows, Linux, and Mac. The lightweight construction makes it an excellent choice to use even on machines with low capability.

Key features

• It has been a great tool for removing and adding text to a PDF file
• A powerful vector graphics editor
• Best suited for graphic design professionals and architects
• A host of flexible drawing tools

# 4. LibreOffice

LibreOffice is a powerful PDF editor for editing existing text in a PDF. One of the most potent open-source PDF editors available on multiple platforms such as Windows, Linux, and macOS. The software is relatable to MS Office and provides you with a similar experience as on MS Office. You can handle a basic set of PDF editing with the tool.

Key features

• Handles and edits spreadsheets, slideshows, databases, diagrams, and drawings
• A good choice for filling the PDF forms
• A decent set of PDF editing tools
• Built-in functionality to edit the PDF files

# 5. PDFSam

PDFSam is yet another powerful tool for an effective PDF split and merge capability and offers you access to a perfect open-source experience. The best PDF editors for Linux lets you access the functionality across multiple platforms that include Mac, Windows, and Linux. It can handle many PDF editing features such as split, extract, delete, or rotate pages.

Key features

• The high-end privacy to take care of your files
• You can choose between the enhanced or basic version as per your preferences
• It provides you a good functionality to edit, convert, insert, review, sign, and secure your PDF files

# 6. Scribus

Scribus is a powerful and one of the best free PDF editors for Linux for adding new content to your PDF file. The tool has been designed to help you create interactive PDFs. The software has been created specifically for designing your magazines and other desktop publishing requirements. Effective editing for the existing files can further make it a potent tool.

Key features

• A great tool to highlight the text in the PDF file and edit it
• You can add text boxes and other elements to the PDF file
• The open-source feature helps you create advertisements and even books
• It is built for Linux and other UNIX-based systems such as Solaris, FreeBSD, and NetBSD.

# 7. Master PDF Editor

Master PDF Editor is yet another powerful tool for the best PDF editor for Linux. The tool offers you advanced and feature-rich editing choices. The cross-platform tool is made available on Windows, Linux, and Mac. It is a proprietary tool, unlike most of the other tools outlined in this compilation.

Key features

• Support for creating creation, editing, and filling of PDF forms
• It can edit scanned documents and documents that contain images
• The support for the digital signature is yet another added advantage
• OCR recognition capability

# 8. PDF Studio

Coming to you from Qoppa Software, the PDF Studio is a commercial PDF editor for Linux that has created a name for itself. The tool lets you edit the files and add shapes and path objects. You can even add a password to the PDF file using this editor.

Key features

• You can add sticky notes, text boxes, and freehand annotations to your PDF file
• Multiple advanced features such as text search, touch mode for laptops, comparing two PDFs side by side, rulers, and grid views.
• Cross-platform functionality
• You can easily digitally sign the PDF file

# 9. PDF Escape

PDF Escape is a great one to help you edit PDF files online and also for adding text. The online mode makes it truly easy to use across multiple platforms. You can add more content to the existing PDF file. The tool can undertake a host of PDF management features that include drawing on the PDF, redacting information, add sticky notes.

Key features

• You can add, delete, rotate, reorganize, and crop pages from the PDF
• You can even create your own PDF
• The tool can be used even without any need for registration
• It also comes with a desktop version which is not free

# 10. Foxit

Foxit Reader is a powerful software for the formidable PDF editor. More than an editor, this is a PDF Reader, to be more precise. You would not find it as a conventional PDF editor. It is a cloud-based software that allows both encryption and password protection. It has also been known to be a powerful choice for collaborative sharing.

Key features

• Completely free to use
• Fully featured and widely used software
• Offers a comprehensive set of PDF management
• Multiplatform PDF viewer and editor.
• You can even scan and print the PDF files

# 11. PDF Arranger

PDF Arranger is one of the most powerful, simple-to-use, and open-source too for rearranging PDF files more effectively. The tool can be used for merging, splitting, and rotating PDF files. The tool does not come with advanced features, but for most of the basic requirements, this tool should be effective.

Key features

• A small python GTK application
• It can handle a wide range of PDF management tools, such as merging, splitting, rotating, and cropping the PDF files
• An interactive and intuitive graphical interface

# 12. Xournal++

The Xournal++ is basically for handwritten notes. You would find the features for PDF annotation and other essential PDF editing tools would make it a full-fledged capability. The editing features available on the platform can include highlighting, adding text, drawing figures, etc. The tool is specifically designed for Linux users.

Key features

• All basic PDF editing features available include highlighting, adding text, making annotations, drawing figures, and many more
• It lets you have vertical spaces between layers and annotations
• An all-in-one PDF management software
• A high degree of flexibility

# 13. PDFedit

PDFedit has been a powerful tool for adding or deleting text and images from PDF files with ease. The cross-platform open-source PDF editor has been quite powerful and efficient. It can be used as both a PDF viewer and an editor. Designed on QT3.x, it can be your prime choice to help you merge PDF files using the application.

Key features

• Offers multiple functionalities that include Text editing, Text rotation, scaling, skewing, Graphics editing, and text extraction.
• Ease of extending the functionality
• Complete editing capability

# 14. PDFtk

PDFtk is a lesser-known PDF editor for Linux. It is a toolkit, and the full name of the software PDFtk itself means PDF Toolkit. Easy to use client-side scripting software, it is a powerful tool for editing a PDF file.

Key features

• It can handle a host of activities, such as merging, deleting, cropping, and adding pages
• It can also handle a host of functions that include highlighting texts, adding annotations, deleting, and adding texts
• A faster quicker merging and splitting functions
• The free version comes with the CLI version, but the GUI version is available only on the GUI version

# 15. PDF Mix tool

The PDF Mix Tool, the last tool on our list, is a simple and powerful choice for simple and lightweight construction. It has been known for a host of common editing features on PDF files. The open-source tool can handle a wide range of PDF management tasks that include extracting pages and deleting, adding, or merging files.

Key features

• It can edit the layout of the pages
• Features include splitting, extracting, deleting, and adding pages
• A dedicated PDF viewer and editor
• It can work on any system and does not hog your resources

To Sum it Up

Those were a few of the best tools that let you handle PDF editors more efficiently. While some options here may be best suited for power users, others may be quite easy and work well with beginners. Analyze which type of user you are and go with the best PDF editor for Linux that you would be comfortable with.

In our view, after analyzing all those alternatives, we found PDFgear to be a highly powerful one to go with. The ease of use and advanced features offered by the tool make it stand well ahead in the race.