PDF Expert vs Adobe Acrobat Pro vs Foxit PDF Editor — Our Pick: PDF Expert
Latest Update
Updated for 2025 PDF editors • Annotation • Forms & signing Beginner & power-user friendly

PDF Expert vs Adobe Acrobat Pro vs Foxit PDF Editor

We compared editing tools, OCR, forms & signatures, collaboration, and value. Our pick: PDF Expert for the best balance of speed, simplicity, and Apple-first design.

Best overall PDF editor

Why we prefer PDF Expert

  • Fast, lightweight editor built for Mac, iPad, and iPhone with a clean, modern interface.
  • Powerful tools to edit text & images, annotate, merge, and organize PDFs without the bloat.
  • Excellent reading experience with multi-tab view, night mode, and smooth scrolling.
  • Easier learning curve and more affordable than many “enterprise-first” PDF suites.
Heads-up: Need advanced enterprise workflows, complex automation, or deep integration with Adobe’s ecosystem? Adobe Acrobat Pro excels there. Prefer a cost-effective Acrobat alternative with strong business tools? Foxit PDF Editor is worth a look.

At a glance

PDF Expert

Best overall

Top pick for people who live in PDFs on Apple devices and want a fast, focused editor without enterprise complexity.

  • Seamless experience across Mac, iPhone, iPad
  • Intuitive editing, annotation, and signing tools
  • Lightweight and pleasant to use every day
Get PDF Expert

Adobe Acrobat Pro

Most powerful suite

The original pro PDF standard, with the deepest toolset, enterprise workflows, and tight integration with Adobe’s ecosystem.

  • Extremely robust editing, forms, and prepress tools
  • Strong collaboration & e-sign with Acrobat cloud
  • Heavier, pricier, and more complex for casual users
Explore Acrobat Pro

Foxit PDF Editor

Best business value

A fast, business-friendly Acrobat alternative with strong editing, security, and deployment options.

  • Full-featured editing, OCR, and redaction
  • Good pricing for teams and enterprises
  • Interface feels more business-oriented than consumer
See Foxit PDF Editor
What to compare PDF Expert Adobe Acrobat Pro Foxit PDF Editor
Primary strength Best overall: everyday editing + Apple-focused design Deepest pro toolset and industry standard Cost-effective Acrobat alternative for businesses
Platforms macOS, iPadOS, iOS (Apple-first experience) Windows, macOS, web, mobile Windows, macOS, web, mobile
Editing & layout tools Edit text & images, rearrange pages, merge/split, outlines, links Very advanced editing, prepress, compare, actions, and more Rich editing, page organization, batch tools, and templates
OCR & scanned documents OCR available on supported platforms for making scans searchable Powerful OCR with fine control and languages Advanced OCR and batch processing for scanned workflows
Forms & signatures Create/fill forms, sign with trackpad or Apple Pencil, quick reuse of signatures Full forms designer, advanced validation, and integrated e-sign Strong form creation and signing with Foxit PDF and eSign tools
Collaboration & cloud Works with iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, and more; share via links and comments Acrobat cloud, shared reviews, advanced commenting, and workflows Team collaboration, shared reviews, and cloud options for businesses
Ease of use Very clean UI, quick to learn for individuals and small teams Powerful but more menus and panels to master Business-oriented interface with many options and settings
Performance & resource usage Lightweight, fast startup, smooth scrolling on modern Macs Heavier footprint, especially on older hardware Generally responsive; can feel heavier with many documents open
Pricing model Modern app-store / direct licensing and subscriptions depending on platform Subscription (Creative Cloud / Acrobat plan) Perpetual licenses and subscriptions for individuals & teams
Best for Users who want the best day-to-day PDF experience on Apple devices Organizations and pros needing advanced workflows & standards Businesses wanting strong tools without full Adobe pricing
Editorial stance: Spend most of your time in PDFs on Mac, iPad, or iPhone? Choose PDF Expert. Need the richest possible feature set and tight Adobe ecosystem? Go with Acrobat Pro. Want a business-focused Acrobat alternative with solid pricing? Look at Foxit PDF Editor.

Pick by use-case

Best overall Apple experience

PDF Expert is ideal if you read, edit, and sign PDFs all day on Mac and iOS and want something fast and enjoyable.

Get PDF Expert

Deepest pro toolset

Adobe Acrobat Pro is the choice for teams that need advanced PDF, prepress, compliance, and Adobe ecosystem workflows.

See Acrobat Pro

Best business value

Foxit PDF Editor suits organizations that want strong editing and security tools with flexible licensing.

See Foxit PDF Editor

FAQ

What does a PDF editor do?
A PDF editor lets you do more than just read PDFs. You can edit text and images, highlight and comment, rearrange or merge pages, fill out forms, sign documents, and often run OCR on scanned files so they become searchable and editable.
Is PDF Expert free?
PDF Expert offers free downloads and trials on supported platforms, but the full feature set (like advanced editing or OCR) requires a paid license or subscription depending on how you purchase it. Always check current pricing on the official PDF Expert website or app store listing.
Is PDF Expert safe compared to Acrobat or Foxit?
All three — PDF Expert, Adobe Acrobat Pro, and Foxit PDF Editor — are established tools from reputable companies. For maximum safety, always download them from their official websites or trusted app stores, keep them updated, and be cautious about the documents you open or sign.
Which one should I choose?
Pick PDF Expert if you want the best everyday editing and reading experience on Apple devices. Choose Adobe Acrobat Pro if you need the most advanced pro features and enterprise workflows. Go for Foxit PDF Editor if you’re a business or team looking for a strong Acrobat alternative with flexible licensing and deployment.

© Latest Update — Clear, honest PDF editor comparisons.

We may earn a commission when you purchase through our links.