The Best PDF Editors for iPad and iPhone
In today's fast-paced world, being able to make quick changes to a PDF document while on the move is essential. In this article, we will explore some of the best PDF editors available for iOS devices and how they can help us stay productive and efficient.
PDF Max: A Hidden Gem
PDF Max may not be a well-known name in the PDF editing app world, but it definitely deserves a spot on this list. This app is perfect for users with simple needs who require an app that can work with PDFs containing javascript. While the menu may seem a bit crowded, PDF Max excels at filling forms and annotating text. With a variety of annotation tools such as voice support, fonts, colors, highlight, markup, shapes, and handwriting, PDF Max allows you to easily add, reorder, and remove pages. However, it does not allow direct text editing. PDF Max is free to download, but you can upgrade to access additional annotation tools for as little as $0.99 or opt for the pro package for $4.99, which includes everything.
Foxit Mobile PDF: Power and Integration
Foxit Mobile PDF is one of the best PDF editors available for iPhone and iPad. It not only allows you to view and edit PDF files but also offers support for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files. Additionally, it integrates seamlessly with Evernote, a popular note-taking app. With Foxit Mobile PDF, you can sign documents in bulk, making it convenient for companies with many employees. The app also supports real-time group editing through ConnectedPDF, allowing multiple employees to collaborate on the same document. iPad users can take advantage of the tab view feature, which enables them to open and edit multiple PDF files simultaneously. Foxit Mobile PDF offers cloud support, tab support, OCR for image-to-PDF conversion, and even its own cloud storage. While it may be slightly more expensive than other options, it is still more affordable than Adobe.
iAnnotate4: The Ultimate Annotating Tool
For users who require extensive annotation capabilities, iAnnotate4 is the go-to PDF editor. This app offers a wide range of annotating tools, including options for fonts, colors, shapes, lines, stamps, notes, and more. Whether you are a student taking notes or a professional working with manuals, iAnnotate4 has got you covered. With support for Apple Pencil, you can draw, sign, or annotate with precision. The ability to customize the toolbar allows you to remove unnecessary tools, making it easier to navigate and find the tools you need. iPad users can open multiple PDFs and work on them using the tab view feature. iAnnotate4 also allows you to save PDFs in cloud storage sites like Dropbox and search for them within the app. While it lacks text editing capabilities and has a slightly less intuitive user interface, iAnnotate4 is a great choice for annotating PDFs.
PDF Expert: Beauty and Functionality
PDF Expert, developed by Readdle, is known for its beautiful and functional apps. While it may not offer as many annotation tools as iAnnotate4, it still provides a wide range of options compared to other PDF editors for iPhone and iPad. In addition to filling forms, signing documents, and creating/editing text or images, PDF Expert allows you to switch between thumbnail and full-screen mode seamlessly. The app also supports popular cloud storage sites, making it easy to access your files. Whether you use Apple Pencil or your fingers, you can easily draw or annotate PDF files. PDF Expert is an excellent choice for corporate environments, as it allows you to redact lines effortlessly.
PDFelement: Cross-Platform Compatibility
PDFelement stands out for its one-time fee pricing model, although it is relatively high at $99 compared to other PDF editors. Apart from the standard features like creating, editing, filling, and signing PDF forms, PDFelement offers OCR support, allowing you to create PDFs from scanned images. This feature is particularly useful for certain industries and sectors. With PDFelement, you can sign forms in batches and enjoy a seamless experience that rivals Adobe. It also offers PDF conversion, OCR support, and cross-platform compatibility.
Xodo: The Surprising Free Option
Xodo is a free PDF editor that offers a surprising number of features. With a neat and functional user interface, Xodo works right out of the box. It supports Apple Pencil and allows you to edit, fill forms, annotate, sign, and connect to cloud storage sites. Collaboration is made easy with the ability to share and edit documents via email or Xodo's cloud product. Despite being free, Xodo does not include OCR capabilities.
Adobe Acrobat Reader: The Industry Standard
Adobe Acrobat Reader is undoubtedly one of the most popular PDF reader and editor apps available. While it may not be at the top of this list, it still offers a range of features. With the free version, you can fill forms, sign documents, rearrange pages, annotate, highlight, and share PDFs. However, editing text is only possible on iPads with the Pro plan. Additional features are available through subscription plans, such as PDF creation, OCR capabilities, and converting PDFs to and from other office formats. Adobe Acrobat Reader provides cross-platform support and a beautiful user interface.
GoodNotes: Perfect for Note-Taking
GoodNotes is the ultimate note-taking app for PDFs. It offers a powerful search function that allows you to search not only within PDFs but also within typed or handwritten notes. The search feature works across all folders, including folder names, making it truly comprehensive. GoodNotes uses vector ink to create crisp handwritten notes. The app also provides pre-built templates for different note-taking needs, such as graphs, music sheets, lined papers, and whiteboards.
In conclusion, the best PDF editing app for you depends on your specific needs. If you require extensive annotation capabilities, iAnnotate4 is the top choice. For beautiful and functional apps, PDF Expert is hard to beat. If you need a text editor, Xodo, Foxit, or PDFelement are excellent options. If you prioritize note-taking, GoodNotes is the perfect choice. Whatever your needs may be, there is a PDF editing app for you on the iPad and iPhone.

Jim's passion for Apple products ignited in 2007 when Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone. This was a canon event in his life. Noticing a lack of iPad-focused content that is easy to understand even for “tech-noob”, he decided to create Tabletmonkeys in 2011.
Jim continues to share his expertise and passion for tablets, helping his audience as much as he can with his motto “One Swipe at a Time!”