Acrobat isn't your only option: free PDF tools

By Andrej Sokolow Oct 16, 2011, 3:06 GMT

Berlin - Adobe's PDF format has long since become a standard for viewing the text files and pictures ubiquitous to modern computing.

A free version of Adobe's Acrobat Reader makes sure just about anyone can view such files. But if you want to create a PDF or edit one in any meaningful way, then you need up upgrade to the professional version of Acrobat, which costs about 400 euros (534 dollars) and will serve all your PDF needs.

But there is hope for people who don't need so much firepower or would like to spend less money, in the form of multiple free alternatives that cover most basic needs.

PDF Creator seems to be an all-purpose tool, allowing the creation of PDFs from multiple programmes, all of which can be printed. That's because PDF Creator, like so many other similar free programmes, simulates a printer.

However, it does allow more security with an encryption option. And a PDF signature guarantees that the document has been received from the proper person and that the contents have not been altered.

PDF24 Creator offers a similar range of services, along with an online converter. No installation is required. Instead, data is uploaded and comes back as a PDF into the user's mailbox.

Along with those, there is a series of other all-rounders, including PDFTK or 7-PDF Maker, many of which offer similar features.

The developers of Nitro PDF put a lot of emphasis into comfort and a wide range of functions. To make sure users instantly feel at home with the programme, they emulated the design of Microsoft Office, with a toolbar and other Windows-like elements.

A drag and drop function should make it easier to create PDFs, meaning users just need to drag the selected file onto Nitro's desktop icon. If you want to get more in depth with your PDF, the program allows you to extract pictures or words into a separate data file or to make a snapshot of a certain part of a document.

Along with multi-function programmes, there are also smaller tools that focus on specific functions. Those include classics like FreePDF or doPDF, which let people make a PDF quickly.

Meanwhile, PDF Split and Merge does just as the name suggests. And, since users are ever more regularly on mobile devices like smartphones or tablet computers, PDF makers are targeting those markets. However, here, applications rarely come for free, especially if they offer more than simple views of PDFs.

There is no shortage of free basic readers for displaying PDFs. At first glance, many of these would seem unnecessary, seeing as how Adobe makes its reader available for free.

But Reader has come under criticism, especially once users notice how much more quickly PDFs can be accessed with non-Adobe programmes. Programmes like Foxit or PDF-Xchange have taken advantage of that problem to try to convince users to try their systems out. Their slimmed-down software is designed to display files immediately.