Foxit PDF Editor

Name: Foxit PDF Editor
Availability: InStock
Author: Foxit Software Inc.

Foxit PDF Editor is a professional PDF editing application and the main alternative to Adobe Acrobat. It handles direct text and image editing inside PDF documents, OCR for scanned pages, interactive form creation, digital signatures, and document comparison. Available on Windows and macOS through a paid subscription.

What it does

Open any PDF and switch to the Edit tab to modify text directly in the document. Click on a paragraph, and it becomes editable like a text box in a word processor. You can change fonts, resize text blocks, and move them around the page. Images work the same way: click to select, then drag to reposition or swap in a replacement file.

The OCR engine (Convert tab > OCR) converts scanned documents into searchable, selectable text. After processing, the text layer sits on top of the original scan, so you can copy text, search the document, or edit individual words. The form designer lets you build interactive PDF forms with text fields, checkboxes, dropdown lists, and calculation fields without leaving the application.

For sensitive documents, the Redaction tool permanently removes selected text or areas from the PDF. Unlike drawing a black box over content, redaction strips the underlying data from the file. The Compare Documents feature (View tab) places two PDF versions side by side and highlights every difference between them, which is useful for reviewing contract revisions.

Advantages

Full text and image editing directly inside PDF files
OCR turns scanned documents into searchable, editable text
Document comparison highlights differences between two PDF versions
Lighter on system resources than Adobe Acrobat

Drawbacks

Paid subscription required with no perpetual license option
Complex layouts sometimes shift when editing text in existing PDFs
Form creation has a learning curve for advanced field logic and calculations
Free Foxit Reader is a separate product and does not include editing features

Who it is for

I recommend Foxit PDF Editor to anyone who regularly needs to modify PDF content, not just annotate it. For occasional edits, free tools like LibreOffice Draw can open and modify simple PDFs. But if you work with contracts, scanned documents, or forms on a daily basis, Foxit delivers the same capabilities as Acrobat at a lower price point.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Foxit PDF Editor free?

Foxit PDF Editor requires a paid subscription. The free Foxit PDF Reader handles viewing, annotation, and form filling but cannot edit PDF content. For free PDF editing, LibreOffice Draw opens and modifies simple PDFs.

Is Foxit better than Adobe Acrobat?

Both offer the same core features: text editing, OCR, forms, signatures, and redaction. Foxit is lighter on system resources and typically cheaper. Acrobat has deeper integration with other Adobe products and broader enterprise adoption. For individual use, Foxit delivers equivalent functionality at a lower price.

Can Foxit PDF Editor do OCR?

Yes. The OCR engine converts scanned documents and images into searchable, editable text. It recognizes multiple languages and preserves the original layout. Access it through Convert tab, then OCR. The result is a text layer over the original scan.

Features & How-To Guide

#	Feature	How to use
1	Text editing in PDF	Open PDF › Edit tab › Edit text › Click the text › Edit like in a text editor › Save.
2	PDF to Word and Excel conversion	Convert tab › To Word / To Excel › Select format › Convert › Save the output file.
3	OCR text recognition (scanned PDF recognition tool)	Convert tab › OCR › Recognize Text › Select language › Apply › Text becomes selectable and searchable.
4	Image editing in PDF	Edit tab › Edit object › Click image › Move/resize or replace image.
5	Digital signatures for PDF documents	Protect tab › Sign and Certify › Sign document › Select certificate › Place signature on the page.
6	Interactive PDF form creation	Form tab › Form Designer › Drag text fields/checkboxes/lists › Set properties › Save.
7	PDF document comparison	View tab › Compare Documents › Point to two PDF files › The program displays differences between versions.
8	Sensitive information redaction (PDF data hiding tool)	Protect tab › Redaction › Mark for redaction › Select text or area › Apply redaction › Data is permanently removed.