Skip to content

Master PDF Editor vs PDFill PDF Editor (2026): which should you pick?

As of Nov 13, 2026, Master PDF Editor grades higher than PDFill PDF Editor: 2.6 against 2.4 out of 4.0.

Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA

Master PDF Editor grades higher on features, ease of use and platforms. PDFill PDF Editor grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on value for money.

Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.

Master PDF Editor

Desktop PDF editor sold as a perpetual license

Free trial · from $79.95 one-time

PDFill PDF Editor

Windows PDF editor with a free basic version and low-cost licenses

Free plan · from $19.99 one-time

Which one is for you

Pick Master PDF Editor if

  • Fits if you want to pay once for a PDF editor on Linux, Mac or Windows
  • Works for teams that want volume prices from $59.95 a license

Look elsewhere if

  • Tight if you want to try before buying, since the demo watermarks the output
  • Watch out: updates and support are free for one year, then cost half price a year
  • Skip it if you need refunds, as the vendor gives none unless a technical problem cannot be fixed
  • Watch out: the virtual PDF printer is in the Windows version only
  • Not for you if you want phone or browser editing, as it is desktop only

Pick PDFill PDF Editor if

  • Fits if you want to fill and mark up PDFs on Windows for nothing
  • Works for people who prefer paying once

Look elsewhere if

  • Skip it if you use a Mac, Linux or Android
  • Watch out: the free edition shows an advertisement link
  • Tight if you need to edit original text, redact or scan, which are paid-edition features
  • Watch out: the download page lists version 15.0 updated in March 2021, and it needs Ghostscript
  • Watch out: evaluation copies of the paid editions watermark edited PDFs

How we grade them

2.6GPAMaster PDF EditorGood2.4GPAPDFill PDF EditorFair
Value for money
A$79.95 one-time is just under a year ($80) of the category's middle subscription, with volume prices down to $59.95.
A$19.99 one-time with free lifetime upgrades is under a year of the $7.99 middle subscription for PDF editors.
Free plan and trial
DOnly a demo, which adds a watermark to saved files; there is no free plan and no timed trial.
BFree Basic fills forms, types text and marks up with no watermark, though it shows an advertisement link.
Features
BText and object editing, annotation, forms, OCR, scanning, page operations and digital signatures. The listing shows no gap in the core work.
COriginal-content editing, redaction and OCR are paid-only, and the page shows a 2021 update date, so the listing shows gaps.
Ease of use
BNo rating on record; a program you install and use, with nothing to set up.
CNo store rating on record. It needs Ghostscript installed, which is extra setup.
Platforms and integrations
CWindows, Mac and Linux, which are computers only. No phone or web version.
DWindows only; the vendor says it does not support Mac, Linux or Android.
Best fora one-time-purchase PDF editor for Windows, Mac and Linuxcheap one-time Windows PDF markup

The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Master PDF Editor and PDFill PDF Editor. How we grade

Where they differ

  • PDFill PDF Editor also covers forms.
In commonWindowsOne-time purchasePDF editing

At a glance

Master PDF EditorPDFill PDF Editor
PricingFree trialFree plan
Starts at$79.95 per license, one-time (volume prices from $59.95)$19.99 one-time, with free lifetime upgrades
Free planNoneFree Basic version: fill forms, type text and add markup, with no watermark; it shows an advertisement link.
Free trialDemo with every feature, but a watermark is added to the output file.None listed
macOS
Windows
Linux
Made byCode Industry Ltd.PlotSoft L.L.C.
Price read fromcode-industry.netpdfill.com
CheckedNov 12, 2026Nov 13, 2026

Worth knowing

Master PDF Editor

  • A license covers the version bought; free updates and support last one year, then cost half price per year.
  • The vendor gives no refunds unless a technical problem cannot be resolved; the demo is the way to test first.
  • The demo adds a watermark to output files.
  • The virtual PDF printer is included in the Windows version only.

PDFill PDF Editor

  • Windows only; the vendor says it does not support Mac, Linux or Android.
  • The free evaluation copies of Professional and Enterprise watermark the edited PDFs.
  • The download page lists version 15.0 Build 3 updated in March 2021, and it needs Ghostscript.
  • Original-content editing, redaction and OCR are listed only on the paid-edition comparison, not the free Basic edition.

Key features

Master PDF Editor

Edit text and objects
Add or change formatted text, insert images, and select, move or resize objects in a PDF.
Annotation tools
Sticky notes, measuring tools, shapes, highlight, underline and strikethrough, plus custom stamps for review status.
Forms
Create and edit interactive form fields such as buttons, text fields and checkboxes, with JavaScript calculation and validation.
OCR and scanning
Create PDFs from a scanner and run OCR so scanned pages and images become searchable and editable.
Page operations
Merge and split files, move, remove, insert and rotate pages, resize them, and manage bookmarks.
Digital signatures
Check signatures and sign documents with a digital certificate, which you must already have.

PDFill PDF Editor

Fill and type on forms
Fills interactive forms with spell check and an autofill list, and types formatted text, checks or images onto any page.
Form maker
Creates fillable text, check box, radio, combo, list and button fields with keystroke, format, validate and calculate actions.
Editing of original content
Paid editions list deleting or replacing original text, images, form fields and comments, and redacting content; see the comparison page.
Page and document tools
Inserts, extracts and replaces pages, adds bookmarks, headers, watermarks, Bates numbers, signatures, and runs OCR.
Markup and ink
Markup tools cover stamps, text boxes, highlights and shapes; a pen-input ink annotator is listed for the paid editions.
Free PDF writer and tools
The package includes a virtual printer that creates PDFs or images from printable programs, plus merge, split, encrypt and watermark tools.

Plans

Master PDF Editor

  • Full Version, 1-9 licenses$79.95

    one-time purchase per license

    Perpetual license for the version bought, with a year of free updates and email support.

  • Full Version, 10-35 licenses$69.95

    one-time purchase per license

    Per-license price when buying 10 to 35 licenses.

  • Full Version, 36-99 licenses$64.95

    one-time purchase per license

    Per-license price when buying 36 to 99 licenses.

  • Full Version, 100-500 licenses$59.95

    one-time purchase per license

    Per-license price when buying 100 to 500 licenses; larger orders go through sales.

PDFill PDF Editor

  • Free Basic$0

    Form filling, typewriter text, form maker and markup tools; an advertisement link is shown.

  • Professional$19.99

    one-time per user, with free lifetime upgrade

    Removes the advertisement link and unlocks the paid features; the comparison page marks which tools need Enterprise.

  • Enterprise$39.99

    one-time per user, with free lifetime upgrade

    Adds 170 Office shapes, custom shapes and fill mode; the comparison page lists the editing, redaction and scanner tools.

Ways to pay less

Master PDF Editor

  • Other savings

    Lower per-license price for volume

    The license price falls from $79.95 each for 1 to 9 licenses to $59.95 each for 100 to 500; resellers get separate terms.

PDFill PDF Editor

  • Other savings

    Multi-license discount

    The order page gives extra free licenses on bulk purchases, such as 8 licenses at $19.99 each with 2 more free.

Common questions

Which is cheaper, Master PDF Editor or PDFill PDF Editor?

As of Nov 13, 2026, Master PDF Editor starts at $79.95 per license, one-time (volume prices from $59.95), and PDFill PDF Editor starts at $19.99 one-time, with free lifetime upgrades.

Which has a free plan, Master PDF Editor or PDFill PDF Editor?

As of Nov 13, 2026, only PDFill PDF Editor has a free plan. Master PDF Editor does not, though it has a free trial.

Which platforms do Master PDF Editor and PDFill PDF Editor run on?

As of Nov 13, 2026, only Master PDF Editor lists macOS and Linux apps. Both list a Windows app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.

More comparisons

How this page was made

  • The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
  • The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
  • Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
  • The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.
How we review and grade