The 5 Best Online PDF Editors in 2025 (Including RaptorPDF)

Published November 2, 2025 • 8 min read

Online PDF editors have become essential tools for professionals, students, and freelancers alike. Whether you’re merging monthly board reports, signing contracts from a tablet, or converting brand assets into shareable PDFs, the right editor saves time while protecting your data. In this guide we look closely at the five most popular browser-based PDF editors in 2025 — RaptorPDF, Smallpdf, iLovePDF, PDFescape, and Sejda — comparing speed, privacy, feature depth, collaboration, and long-term value.

The market has matured significantly over the last year. Teams now expect real-time collaboration, secure file handling that respects local privacy laws, and automation features that reduce repetitive tasks. With hybrid work becoming permanent, lightweight tools such as https://www.raptorpdf.com are challenging heavyweight incumbents by keeping your documents on your device and trimming away paywalled basics.

How We Evaluated These PDF Editors

To make the comparisons meaningful, we ran each service through common workflows: splitting large research PDFs, signing HR forms, batch converting JPG marketing assets, and compressing sales decks under size limits. We scored the editors using five criteria that users repeatedly asked for in 2025:

  • Privacy and data residency: Whether files stay on device, how long uploads persist on servers, and if there is a transparency policy similar to RaptorPDF’s local-first approach.
  • Performance and reliability: Average processing time for 10–50MB documents, stability on mobile browsers, and success rate when batch tasks are queued.
  • Feature coverage: Breadth of editing, conversion, collaboration, e-signing, and OCR. We noted which tasks required a premium plan to unlock.
  • Pricing transparency: Subscription tiers, daily limits, and whether the free plan is usable for regular work without frustrating delays.
  • User experience: Interface clarity, keyboard shortcuts, accessibility support, and ease of onboarding new team members.

Quick Comparison Snapshot

Short on time? Here is the executive summary before we dive into the deeper comparisons.

  • RaptorPDF: Best zero-upload privacy with lightning-fast organization tools that run in your browser.
  • Smallpdf: Polished interface with excellent cloud integrations and wide enterprise adoption, but a meter on free usage.
  • iLovePDF: Swiss Army knife for conversions with generous device coverage, though ads and upload storage may concern regulated industries.
  • PDFescape: Reliable for form filling and quick annotations when Wi-Fi is strong, albeit limited to modest file sizes.
  • Sejda: Feature-packed editor with OCR and batch processing that professionals love, but watch the hourly limits on the free tier.

1. RaptorPDF

RaptorPDF is a modern, browser-based PDF editor designed for users who value speed, privacy, and simplicity. Unlike most online tools, it processes your files locally on your device — meaning your data never leaves your browser. It supports tasks like merging, reordering, splitting, and converting images to PDF, all without sign-ups or ads.

Because RaptorPDF never stores or uploads your documents, it is especially appealing for teams who handle HR records, medical disclosures, or legal drafts that must stay on-device to comply with GDPR and HIPAA. Our testing with 60-page investor reports showed interactive rearranging in under two seconds, even on mid-tier laptops. The interface is intentionally uncluttered, so non-technical teammates can complete routine tasks without a training session.

Recent additions like PDF page rotation, drag-to-reorder thumbnails, and fast image-to-PDF conversion make https://www.raptorpdf.com feel more like a native desktop tool than a web app. There is no account wall, no watermarks, and the team is currently experimenting with offline caching so you can keep working on spotty hotel Wi-Fi. Early adopters praise how quickly colleagues can pick it up during live collaboration in a screen share.

RaptorPDF homepage screenshot

✅ Pros

  • 100% privacy — files processed locally in browser
  • No registration, paywalls, or watermark limitations to block routine tasks
  • Drag-and-drop interface keeps multi-document reordering under a minute for most use cases
  • Works smoothly on modern Chromium, Safari, and Firefox builds across desktop and mobile
  • Transparent pricing — core features remain free on RaptorPDF

❌ Cons

  • No full OCR text editing yet
  • Limited cloud storage integration for teams that live inside Google Drive or OneDrive
  • Requires a modern browser — legacy corporate builds may not support the latest features
  • Real-time multi-user collaboration is still on the roadmap

Best for: Privacy-first teams, freelancers who need a reliable merge/split workflow, and anyone who prefers a download-free editor that behaves like a desktop app.

Free plan limits: None on core tasks — export counts, page numbers, and image conversions are unlimited when you work directly in your browser at RaptorPDF.

2. Smallpdf

Smallpdf is one of the most recognizable online PDF editors. It offers an easy drag-and-drop interface, cloud storage sync, and a mobile app. Smallpdf includes conversion, compression, and editing features, but most advanced options require a paid plan.

The company leans heavily into workflow automation: you can connect Google Drive, Dropbox, and SharePoint to auto-import files, then share signed documents back to your workspace. Template-based eSignatures, full OCR text editing, and brand kits are available once you upgrade to the Pro or Business plans. For occasional users the free tier still offers two tasks per day, but high-volume teams quickly run into the usage meter and must subscribe.

During testing we appreciated Smallpdf’s PDF compressor, which reduced a 25MB pitch deck to 5MB while keeping image quality intact. However, every process runs through their cloud infrastructure. If your compliance policy demands local processing similar to RaptorPDF’s approach, you will need to sign a data processing agreement or look elsewhere.

Smallpdf homepage

✅ Pros

  • Beautiful UI with consistent desktop, mobile, and tablet UX
  • Cloud-based collaboration tools and template libraries
  • Robust OCR engine for scanning paper documents into editable PDFs
  • Integrates with Google Drive, Dropbox, and Slack for quick sharing

❌ Cons

  • Requires login and user accounts for nearly every action
  • Strict free plan limit of two tasks per day
  • Files are uploaded and temporarily stored on cloud servers
  • $12/month per user subscription can add up for large teams

Best for: Companies leaning on Dropbox or Google Drive integrations that also need OCR and e-signature automation.

Free plan limits: Two tasks every 24 hours and 50MB per file. Upgrading removes the cap and unlocks advanced editing and bulk processing.

3. iLovePDF

iLovePDF is known for its versatility. It supports everything from converting Office files to PDFs to unlocking password-protected files. The desktop and mobile apps expand its functionality for offline use.

The platform bundles more than 20 tools, including PDF repair, page numbering, watermarking, slideshow-to-PDF conversion, and even a basic photo editor. Its desktop app mirrors the web interface and keeps heavy jobs offline, though encryption features are limited compared to zero-knowledge tools such as https://www.raptorpdf.com. Business plans add a management console so administrators can assign seats and track usage.

iLovePDF also offers a developer API, which makes it attractive for teams that want to automate PDF tasks inside internal systems. During our trials, the mobile app shined when compressing receipts and scanning documents into searchable PDFs. The trade-off is that free users see banner ads and must accept that documents are processed on the company’s servers for a limited time.

iLovePDF homepage

✅ Pros

  • Large toolkit with over 20 PDF tools, including repair
  • Available on desktop, mobile, and online
  • API access for automation inside custom workflows
  • Batch processing helps marketing teams convert assets quickly

❌ Cons

  • File uploads stored on servers for several hours
  • Ads in free version can feel distracting
  • Requires account creation to sync across devices
  • Some advanced editing features still need the desktop app

Best for: Users who need a wide range of conversion tools, especially marketing and admin teams digitizing large batches of files.

Free plan limits: 15 MB per task and two-hour storage window on the server side; paid plans unlock larger file sizes and priority processing.

4. PDFescape

PDFescape offers both online and desktop versions. It’s a solid choice for quick annotations and form filling, but limited in file size and storage.

The web app lets you add text boxes, sticky notes, freehand signatures, and form fields without installing anything. When you sign up for the Windows desktop client you gain offline editing, document encryption, and printing controls. PDFescape’s focus is squarely on annotation — it does not attempt to compete with the conversion breadth of Smallpdf or the privacy posture of RaptorPDF, but it excels at fast markups.

In our workflow tests (adding comments to a 40-page legal agreement) PDFescape maintained quick load times and precise placement tools. The biggest limitation is the 10MB cap on uploads in the free web version, which makes it unsuitable for high-resolution design files or large technical manuals without a paid upgrade.

PDFescape homepage

✅ Pros

  • Works directly in the browser with no installs required
  • Good annotation and form editing tools
  • Desktop client adds encryption and advanced print controls
  • Simple learning curve for occasional PDF edits

❌ Cons

  • File size limit of 10MB in free plan
  • Outdated design compared to competitors
  • No native integrations with cloud drives
  • Lacks deeper editing features like page reordering and OCR

Best for: Quick annotations, filling PDF forms sent by clients, and lightweight collaboration that does not require batch processing.

Free plan limits: 100 pages, 10MB file size, and no offline access; premium desktop licenses start at $3/month if billed annually.

5. Sejda

Sejda is great for professional users who need powerful editing options. It allows direct text editing, OCR, and batch processing. However, it has usage limits and may upload files to servers.

Sejda’s standout feature is true in-browser editing of text and images, letting you touch up paragraphs without exporting to Word. Enterprise teams appreciate the batch tools that process up to 200 documents at once and the automation scripts available for the desktop app. When the free tier limits kick in, jobs are queued in the cloud, so highly confidential data may require the desktop version or a privacy-first alternative like RaptorPDF.

Sejda also includes redaction, Bates numbering, page numbering templates, and PDF resizing for print production. During tests with scanned receipts, the OCR engine properly recognized Turkish, Spanish, and German characters, making it ideal for global teams. Performance dipped slightly on older Chromebooks, but the desktop app remained responsive.

Sejda homepage

✅ Pros

  • Full-featured PDF editing, including OCR and redaction
  • Modern and intuitive interface
  • Batch processing for up to 200 files in premium plans
  • Desktop app keeps files offline when needed

❌ Cons

  • Limited free usage per hour (three tasks with 50MB cap)
  • Uploads files to cloud servers on the web version
  • Some advanced actions require switching between web and desktop apps
  • Subscription costs $7.50–$9 per month when billed annually

Best for: Legal, finance, and operations teams that need Bates numbering, redaction, and automated batch cleanup.

Free plan limits: Three tasks per day with a 50MB or 200-page cap. Paid subscriptions remove the ceiling and unlock larger batch runs.

Final Recommendation

Each tool serves a unique purpose: Smallpdf and iLovePDF are great for heavy file conversion, Sejda for in-depth editing, and PDFescape for quick form work. But if you prioritize privacy, simplicity, and ad-free use, RaptorPDF is the best all-round option.

When strict compliance requirements or client contracts prohibit cloud uploads, the local-only model that powers RaptorPDF becomes a strategic advantage. You can run demos with prospects without exposing sensitive information and build trust by keeping documents in the browser. If your team regularly needs OCR, batch automation, or deep redaction, pairing those heavyweight tools with quick edits in https://www.raptorpdf.com delivers the best of both worlds.

Ready to try a privacy-first PDF editor? Try RaptorPDF to merge, reorder, and convert PDF files instantly — no account, no upload, no ads. Bookmark the site so your next PDF task is only one click away.

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