The PDFill PDF Editor Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about PDFill PDF Editor in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
PDFill PDF Editor
The Insider’s Guide
Windows PDF editor with a free basic version and low-cost licenses
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among PDF editors, read from PDFill PDF Editor’s own pages.
Made by PlotSoft L.L.C. · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from PDFill PDF Editor’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on PDFill PDF Editor’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 14 of the 45 other PDF editors we grade
PDFill is a Windows program for filling and marking up PDFs, building form fields and managing pages. A free Basic edition covers form filling, typing text and commenting, while Professional and Enterprise are paid one-time licenses that add editing of the original text and images, redaction, scanning and shapes. A free PDF writer and free PDF tools come in the same package.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about PDFill PDF Editor, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It needs Ghostscript installed, which is extra setup.
- 1
Best for cheap one-time Windows PDF markup
PDFill is a Windows program with a free Basic edition for form filling and markup and paid one-time editions at $19.99 and $39.99.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $19.99 one-time, with free lifetime upgrades.
- 3
There is a free plan
Free Basic version: fill forms, type text and add markup, with no watermark; it shows an advertisement link.
- 4
It runs on Windows
Windows.
- 5
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.
- 6
Form maker
Creates fillable text, check box, radio, combo, list and button fields with keystroke, format, validate and calculate actions.
- 7
Editing of original content
Paid editions list deleting or replacing original text, images, form fields and comments, and redacting content; see the comparison page.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 14 of 45
That is against the other PDF editors we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of PDFill PDF Editor you could make: forms. What surrounds it you could not. The 2 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
PDFill PDF Editor at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $19.99 one-time, with free lifetime upgrades
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Windows
- Made by
- PlotSoft L.L.C., since 2002
- Category
- PDF Editors
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for cheap one-time Windows PDF markup
PDFill is a Windows program with a free Basic edition for form filling and markup and paid one-time editions at $19.99 and $39.99. The download page shows version 15.0 from March 2021 and it needs Ghostscript.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | 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 | B | Free Basic fills forms, types text and marks up with no watermark, though it shows an advertisement link. |
| Features | C | Original-content editing, redaction and OCR are paid-only, and the page shows a 2021 update date, so the listing shows gaps. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. It needs Ghostscript installed, which is extra setup. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Windows only; the vendor says it does not support Mac, Linux or Android. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who PDFill PDF Editor is for
- Fits if you want to fill and mark up PDFs on Windows for nothing
- Works for people who prefer paying once
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Windows users who want an inexpensive one-time purchase instead of a subscription
- Filling and creating PDF forms with calculations
- Printing documents to PDF from any Windows application
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$19.99 one-time
To start. There is a free plan too
PDFill PDF Editor has a free plan. Paid plans start at $19.99 one-time, with free lifetime upgrades.
Free Basic fills forms, types text and marks up with no watermark, though it shows an advertisement link.
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.
The free plan
Free Basic version: fill forms, type text and add markup, with no watermark; it shows an advertisement link.
Read from pdfill.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Ways to pay less
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.
Stated on pdfill.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Windows
Windows PDF editor with a free basic version and low-cost licenses. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, forms, pDF editing.
Windows only; the vendor says it does not support Mac, Linux or Android.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Windows
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
PDFill PDF Editor is made by PlotSoft L.L.C., and has been around since 2002.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
14/45
Other PDF editors it is graded above
PDFill PDF Editor's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 14 of the 45 other PDF editors we grade, and level with 5.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 31 of 45) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 46 PDF editors we grade, cut by the letter each got. PDFill PDF Editor’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 31 of 45
- BFree plan and trialAbove 35 of 45
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 45
- CEase of useAbove 2 of 45
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 45
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
The plain part of PDFill PDF Editor you could make: forms. What surrounds it you could not. The 2 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 26 of the 45 other PDF editors grade higher. It costs $19.99, paid once.
What you could make
- Forms: an app builder makes this well.
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.
What this rests on. PDFill PDF 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.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
PDF-XChange Editor, Xodo PDF Studio, Master PDF Editor, PDFsam and Foxit PDF Editor
The 5 tools PDFill PDF Editor is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
PDF-XChange Editor
Free plan · from $62 one-time
Windows PDF editor with a free edition and perpetual licenses.
- PDFill PDF Editor also covers forms.
- 2.2GPA
Xodo PDF Studio
Free trial · from $9.99/mo
Offline PDF editor for Windows, Mac and Linux, formerly Qoppa.
- PDFill PDF Editor has a free plan. Xodo PDF Studio does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Xodo PDF Studio lists macOS and Linux apps.
- PDFill PDF Editor also covers forms.
- 2.6GPA
Master PDF Editor
Free trial · from $79.95 one-time
Desktop PDF editor sold as a perpetual license.
- PDFill PDF Editor has a free plan. Master PDF Editor does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Master PDF Editor lists macOS and Linux apps.
- PDFill PDF Editor also covers forms.
- 3.0GPA
PDFsam
Free plan · from $34.90/yr
Split and merge PDFs offline, with paid Visual and Enhanced editions.
- Only PDFsam lists macOS and Linux apps.
- PDFsam is open source, according to its own site.
- PDFill PDF Editor also covers forms.
- 2.8GPA
Foxit PDF Editor
Free trial · from $129.99/yr
PDF editor for Windows, Mac and web, yearly or as a one-time license.
- PDFill PDF Editor has a free plan. Foxit PDF Editor does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Foxit PDF Editor lists a web app.
- Only Foxit PDF Editor lists macOS, iOS and Android apps.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is PDFill PDF Editor free?
PDFill PDF Editor has a free plan. Free Basic version: fill forms, type text and add markup, with no watermark; it shows an advertisement link.
How much does PDFill PDF Editor cost?
PDFill PDF Editor lists 3 plans. Free Basic: $0.
What platforms does PDFill PDF Editor work on?
PDFill PDF Editor is available on Windows.
Does PDFill PDF Editor offer any discounts?
PDFill PDF Editor publicly lists the following: Multi-license discount.
Does PDFill PDF Editor have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. PDFill PDF Editor is listed for Windows.
Does PDFill PDF Editor have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. PDFill PDF Editor is listed for Windows.
Is PDFill PDF Editor open source?
PDFill PDF Editor is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Who makes PDFill PDF Editor?
PDFill PDF Editor is made by PlotSoft L.L.C. It dates from 2002.
What are the alternatives to PDFill PDF Editor?
The closest alternatives to PDFill PDF Editor in our directory are PDF-XChange Editor, Xodo PDF Studio, Master PDF Editor, PDFsam and Foxit PDF Editor.
How does PDFill PDF Editor compare with other PDF editors?
PDFill PDF Editor's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 14 of the 45 other PDF editors we grade, and level with 5.
Could I make my own version of PDFill PDF Editor?
The plain part of PDFill PDF Editor you could make: forms. What surrounds it you could not.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from PDFill PDF Editor’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from PDFill PDF Editor's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by PlotSoft L.L.C. Prices change, so check pdfill.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- PDFill PDF Editor, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/pdfill-pdf-editor
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "PDFill PDF Editor: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/pdfill-pdf-editor
Know someone choosing between PDF editors?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/pdfill-pdf-editor/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded PDF editors after PDFill PDF Editor, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- PDF Editors Insider's GuideEvery one of the 46 PDF editors we grade, compared
- PDFgear Insider's GuideFree PDF editor for desktop, mobile and web with an AI copilot3.4 GPA
- Stirling PDF Insider's GuideOpen-source PDF editor you can run on your own machine or server3.2 GPA
- Online2PDF Insider's GuideFree browser tool to convert, merge, edit, compress and unlock PDFs3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what PDFill PDF Editor’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. PDFill PDF Editor is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by PlotSoft L.L.C. Prices and plans change: check pdfill.com before you buy.