TL;DR
- Several cross‑platform FOSS PDF editors exist, including LibreOffice Draw, PDFsam Basic and Okular.
- PDF‑XChange Editor is a recognized alternative with a perpetual licence, very comprehensive and popular with professionals ().
- Non‑FOSS alternatives with perpetual licences include FlexiPDF, UPDF, PDF‑XChange Editor, MobiPDF and Nitro PDF.
- Adobe has abandoned perpetual licences, favouring subscriptions and integrating AI, which raises privacy concerns ().
- Alternative solutions offer more control, transparency and avoid recurring subscriptions.
1. The best cross‑platform FOSS PDF editors
For open‑source PDF editing across multiple systems, here are the main solutions:
- LibreOffice Draw: modify text and images, add/remove pages, digital signatures, on Windows, Mac and Linux.
- PDFsam Basic: merge, split and reorganize PDF pages, cross‑platform.
- Okular: KDE PDF viewer/editor, available on Windows, Mac and Linux.
- Apache OpenOffice Draw: similar functions to LibreOffice, basic editing.
- WPS Office: not 100% open source, but offers a free, cross‑platform PDF editor.
These tools cover common editing needs and are free.
2. PDF‑XChange Editor: a perpetual‑licence alternative
PDF‑XChange Editor stands out as one of the most comprehensive PDF editors on the market, often recommended as a replacement for Adobe Acrobat, especially in business ():
- Perpetual licence: a one‑time payment, no subscription. The software remains usable indefinitely; updates are optional and paid ().
- Pricing: starting at US$46 for an individual licence, $62 for the Standard edition, $79 for the Plus edition, with volume discounts for businesses ().
- Advanced features: text and image editing, OCR, form creation, annotations, signatures, export, advanced bookmark management, compression, conversion, etc. ().
- Platforms: Windows only (no native Mac/Linux version, but works under Wine on Linux).
- Ergonomics: customizable interface, highly regarded for its stability, speed and clear menus ().
“Our users find PDF‑XChange Editor much simpler than Adobe, and they like that the menus remain stable.” ()
“Our users find PDF‑XChange Editor much simpler than Adobe, and they like that the menus remain stable.” ()
3. Non‑FOSS alternatives with perpetual licences
These solutions cover all professional needs without a subscription, with a clear update policy.
4. Adobe: AI and controversial subscription models
Adobe has definitively abandoned perpetual licences in favour of a 100% subscription model, which has drawn much criticism, particularly regarding financial dependence and loss of control over the tools ().
The integration of AI into Adobe products (e.g. Firefly) raises concerns about privacy and the use of users’ data:
“The spectre of generative AI makes creators fear the worst, who dread […] having their works plundered by large companies specializing in artificial intelligence.” (01net)
“The spectre of generative AI makes creators fear the worst, who dread […] having their works plundered by large companies specializing in artificial intelligence.” (01net)
Adobe specifies that only content stored in the cloud is analysed, but mistrust persists, especially among professionals and sensitive institutions.
The word from Blue Fox
Blue Fox supports its clients in transitioning to more ethical, economical PDF solutions that respect privacy. PDF‑XChange Editor, with its rich feature set and perpetual licence, is a choice alternative for organisations wishing to retain control of their tools while avoiding the pitfalls of subscription models and the risks associated with intrusive AI.
#PDF #FOSS #OpenSource #PerpetualLicenses #Security #Privacy #DigitalTransformation #BlueFoxConsulting
Sources:
- PDF‑XChange Editor – Official site ()
- Reddit – r/sysadmin ()
- 01net – The creative community angry about Adobe’s new legal terms