PDF-XChange Editor is for Windows users who need to change text in a PDF, mark up a document or fill a form without paying for Adobe Acrobat. The current version is 11.1.1.0, published by PDF-XChange Co Ltd. It is free. The installer is about 383.6 MB.
Who needs a PDF editor and viewer in one
The program suits people who read PDFs daily and also have to change them. Students and office staff can comment on documents, while others can fix text or swap images directly in the file.
The publisher positions it as an alternative to Adobe Acrobat and says it has a small footprint and runs fast, even with large files. No benchmark figures back up the speed claim, which comes from the publisher.
Editing, OCR, forms and redaction in practice
Direct editing covers text and images inside the PDF. Annotation tools include highlighting, comments, stamps, shapes and handwritten notes.
OCR converts scanned pages into searchable, editable text. You can also create, edit and fill interactive forms. Security tools add passwords, redact sensitive information and manage digital signatures. The interface and toolbar layouts can be customized heavily.
Size and licence
The license is proprietary, and the app is free. Check the publisher's site before relying on a specific tool, in case some features are restricted in the free version.
At 383.6 MB the download is large for a program described as lightweight.
What's new in 11.1.1.0
Version 11.1.1.0 fixes a rare crash on application close and a possible crash in the Recolor Pages operation. It also stops Save Document from adding a temporary attribute that can make cloud sync software skip files, and it fixes SharePoint Check Out permission errors.
PDF-XChange Editor pros and cons
Pros
- Edits text and images directly in PDFs
- OCR turns scanned pages into searchable text
- Redaction, passwords and digital signature management are included
- Toolbars and interface layouts are highly customizable
- Version 11.1.1.0 fixes SharePoint check-out and cloud sync issues
Cons
- The 383.6 MB download is large for a tool described as lightweight
- Some features may be limited in the free version, so check the publisher's site
- Proprietary license
Is PDF-XChange Editor safe?
The installer for version 11.1.1.0 comes straight from downloads.pdf-xchange.com, the publisher's own server. PDF-XChange Co Ltd. develops the editor under a proprietary license. Its changelog says some security and stability issues were fixed, though it does not describe them, and we have no independent scan results to add.
How to install PDF-XChange Editor
- Press the download button to get the official file.
- Run the installer you saved and confirm the Windows security prompt if the publisher matches.
- Follow the setup steps, then start PDF-XChange Editor from the Start menu.
