Alternatives to Master PDF Editor

Cross-platform PDF editor with a Linux build that people actually use. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as Master PDF Editor.

  • Adobe Acrobat

    Adobe's PDF software: the free Acrobat Reader for viewing and commenting, and paid Acrobat plans for editing and conversion.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSWebAndroidiOS

    Adobe Acrobat drops the Linux build but adds web and mobile apps; the free Reader handles comments and forms, while editing and conversion need a Standard or Pro subscription.

  • PDF-XChange Editor

    Windows PDF editor whose free version covers most everyday tasks.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindows

    PDF-XChange Editor is Windows only, but most features work in its free version, and paid-only features watermark the output instead of being hidden.

  • Nitro PDF Pro

    Commercial Acrobat alternative for editing, converting and signing.

    PaidProprietaryWindowsmacOS

    Nitro PDF Pro runs only on Windows and macOS and is a paid licence with a trial, offering strong Word and Excel conversion plus editing, OCR, redaction and signing.

  • Sejda PDF

    PDF editor available both online and as a desktop application.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinuxWeb

    Sejda PDF keeps Linux support and adds a web version; its desktop app processes files locally, but free use is limited to a few tasks per hour and small documents.

  • PDF Expert

    Polished PDF reader and editor for macOS and iOS.

    FreemiumProprietarymacOSiOS

    PDF Expert is limited to macOS and iOS with a polished Apple-native interface; text and image editing, OCR and conversion require a paid subscription or licence.

  • KDAN PDF

    PDF reader and editor across Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSAndroidiOS

    KDAN PDF covers Windows, macOS, Android and iOS but not Linux, and syncs documents and annotations through the cloud; editing and conversion need a paid subscription.

  • Xodo

    PDF reader and editor across web, desktop and mobile.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsAndroidiOSWeb

    Xodo moves you to web, Windows and mobile apps with no Linux build, working against Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive, while advanced editing needs a paid plan.

  • Stirling PDF

    A self-hosted web PDF toolkit for merging, splitting, converting, signing and editing PDFs on your own server.

    FreemiumOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxWebSelf-hosted

    Stirling PDF is an MIT-licensed self-hosted browser toolkit with 55+ tools including editing, OCR and redaction, but it needs server setup rather than a desktop install.

Also worth comparing

These listings name Master PDF Editor as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • ABBYY FineReader PDF

    Commercial OCR and PDF editor with very high recognition accuracy.

    PaidProprietaryWindowsmacOS

    Master PDF Editor adds a real Linux build and handles OCR, forms and signatures, though the unregistered version is limited to non-commercial use.

  • Evince

    GNOME's lightweight document viewer for PDF, PostScript and other document formats on Linux.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    Master PDF Editor is a closed-source Linux editor with forms, signatures and OCR, where the unregistered version is non-commercial only.

  • Icecream PDF Editor

    A Windows PDF editor for editing text, annotating, managing pages and filling forms.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindows

    Master PDF Editor adds macOS and Linux builds with forms, signatures and OCR, while the unregistered version is limited to non-commercial use.

  • Soda PDF

    PDF editor with matching online and desktop applications.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsWeb

    Master PDF Editor adds a real Linux build with forms, signatures and OCR, but the unregistered version is limited and for non-commercial use only.

  • Xodo PDF Studio

    A desktop PDF editor for Windows, macOS and Linux, previously sold as Qoppa PDF Studio.

    PaidProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinux

    Master PDF Editor also has Windows, macOS and Linux builds with forms, signatures and OCR, and offers a limited free version for non-commercial use.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.