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PDF-XChange Editor review (2026): is the free plan enough?

Windows PDF editor with a free edition and perpetual licenses

Free plan · from $62 one-timePDF EditorsChecked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
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PDF-XChange Editor report card

2.6GPA

Good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 12, 2026

Best for a Windows PDF editor with a free edition

PDF-XChange Editor is a Windows PDF editor with a free edition and a $62 one-time license. It runs on Windows only, and form creation, compare and the better OCR need the $79 Editor Plus.

Who PDF-XChange Editor is for

  • Fits if you are on Windows and want a one-time purchase
  • Works for people who can live with the free edition for markup

Who PDF-XChange Editor is not for

  • Skip it if you use a Mac, Linux or a phone, as it is Windows only
  • Tight if you need forms or compare, because those need Editor Plus at $79
  • Watch out: licensed features add watermarks in the free version
  • Watch out: updates cover 1 year, then renewals cost about 25% of the license price a year
  • Not for you if you want a refund, as none is given once license keys are released
See the alternatives

Why PDF-XChange Editor gets a 2.6

Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.

  • AValue for money$62 one-time is under a year ($80) of the category's middle subscription, with one year of updates included.
  • BFree plan and trialThe free version leaves about 70% of features unrestricted; licensed features add a watermark to output.
  • CFeaturesEditing, markup, OCR, signing tools and an AI assistant. Form creation, compare and the enhanced OCR need Editor Plus.
  • BEase of useNo rating on record; a program you install and use, with nothing to set up.
  • DPlatforms and integrationsWindows 10 and later only: no Mac, Linux, browser or phone version.

What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from PDF-XChange Co Ltd's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.

Make PDF-XChange Editor? Put this grade on your site
PDF-XChange Editor: 2.6 GPA on ToolGPA

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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/pdf-xchange-editor#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/pdf-xchange-editor.svg" alt="PDF-XChange Editor: 2.6 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>

Where PDF-XChange Editor stands among PDF editors

PDF-XChange Editor's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 11 of the 28 other PDF editors we grade, and level with 6.

It stands best on value for money (A, above 21 of 28) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).

Each grade against the category

Every bar is all 29 PDF editors we grade, cut by the letter each got. PDF-XChange Editor’s own letter is outlined.

  • AValue for moneyAbove 21 of 28, level with 7
  • BFree plan and trialAbove 23 of 28, level with 1
  • CFeaturesAbove 0 of 28, level with 17
  • BEase of useAbove 5 of 28, level with 21
  • DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 28

Keep PDF-XChange Editor, or make your own?

Keep it

Nothing PDF-XChange Editor does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 4 things listed below take a company.

It costs $62, paid once.

What you could not

  • Editing the text inside a PDF without breaking its layout.
  • A real app for Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
  • It is priced for each person, which means accounts and billing for a team.
  • AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.

What this rests on. PDF-XChange Editor’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.

What is PDF-XChange Editor?

PDF-XChange Editor, from PDF-XChange Co Ltd, is a Windows PDF editor with more than 400 features. A free version leaves about 70% of features unrestricted. Licensed features, such as OCR, form creation and document comparison, add watermarks to output until you buy a perpetual license for Editor or Editor Plus.

Worth knowing

  • It runs on Windows 10 and later only; there is no Mac, Linux or browser edition.
  • The vendor gives no refunds after license keys are released, so test the free version first.
  • Maintenance (updates) covers 1 year; renewals within 30 days of expiry cost about 25% of the license price per year.
  • Form creation, document compare and the enhanced OCR need Editor Plus, not the standard license.

Key features

Editing and markup
Edit text and images and annotate PDFs, with over 400 features in all, 145 of them licensed.
OCR
Built-in OCR makes scanned documents searchable; Editor Plus uses a more accurate engine.
Forms (Plus)
Editor Plus creates and edits fillable forms and can turn non-interactive PDFs into forms with Identify Forms.
Compare documents (Plus)
Editor Plus compares two documents and summarizes insertions, deletions, replacements and style changes.
AI Assistant
Analyzes and answers questions about PDFs using OpenAI, Anthropic or Google models; it needs your own API key.
Signing tools
The FreeSign tool adds signatures and initials, and Plus can add placeholders where signers should sign.

PDF-XChange Editor pricing

As of Nov 12, 2026, PDF-XChange Editor has a free plan, and paid plans start at $62 per user, one-time purchase.

Starts at
$62 per user, one-time purchase
Free plan
Free version with about 70% of features unrestricted; licensed features add watermarks to output.
Free trial
None listed
Free$0Free for private and commercial use; features marked as licensed add watermarks to saved output.
Editor, single user$62one-time purchase per userPerpetual license with 1 year of maintenance; 2 or 3 years can be added at purchase.
Editor Plus, single user$79one-time purchase per userAdds a more accurate OCR engine, form creation, document compare, Identify Forms and dynamic stamps.
Editor, 3 user pack$168one-time purchase for 3 usersPerpetual licenses for 3 users; larger packs run up to 1000 users and site licenses.

Read from pdf-xchange.com on Nov 12, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with PDF-XChange Editor before you buy.

Pricing in detail

Ways to pay less

  • EducationCharity and academic offers

    PDF-XChange lists a page of registered charity and academic offers; the free version may also be used in academic settings.

    Stated on pdf-xchange.com
  • Other savingsCheaper extended maintenance at purchase

    Adding 2 or 3 years of maintenance when buying costs less than renewing later; the pricing page shows examples.

    Stated on pdf-xchange.com
Every PDF-XChange Editor discount and ways to spend less

PDF-XChange Editor alternatives

All PDF-XChange Editor alternatives comparedAll PDF editors

Common questions

Does PDF-XChange Editor have an Android app?

No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. PDF-XChange Editor is listed for Windows.

Does PDF-XChange Editor have an iPhone app?

No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. PDF-XChange Editor is listed for Windows.

Is PDF-XChange Editor open source?

PDF-XChange Editor is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.

Does PDF-XChange Editor work offline?

Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.

Sources for this page

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 12, 2026.