PDFs are widely used in documents, guides, reports, and forms because they are portable and read the same everywhere on any device. PDFs are not easily editable, especially for Linux users since they don’t have regular proprietary software like Adobe Acrobat. All is not doom, though, as there are many effective Linux PDF editors to which one can resize text, insert annotations, merge or split files, and even PDF to other file types.
In this article, we will discuss the top Linux PDF editors, their features, pros and cons, installation, and comparison of ease of use. If you are looking for a simple program to highlight PDFs or a professional software to edit content, you have an option for your needs.
Why Use a Linux PDF Editor?
Linux users typically struggle with PDFs since most commercial PDF editors are either Windows or macOS software. A good PDF editor is, however, required to:
- Alter text and images in a PDF file.
- Highlight key sections with highlight and annotate.
- Digitally sign documents and fill out forms.
- Merge, split, or compress PDF files.
- Export PDFs into other formats such as Word, Excel, or images.
Now, let’s proceed to the top PDF editors for Linux and their comparison.
Best Linux PDF Editors
Below are the top 5 best Linux PDF Editors.
1. LibreOffice Draw
Best for: Text editing, adding annotations, PDF editing.
LibreOffice Draw is pre-installed in the LibreOffice software package and is one of the top free PDF editors for Linux. Although not a dedicated PDF editor, the software can be easily utilized to open and edit PDFs.
Features
- Direct editing of PDF text
- Image, shape, and comment insertion
- PDF export to other files
- Support for PDFs with numerous pages
Pros
- Completely free and open-source
- High-quality integration with PDFs containing lots of text
- Support for layers and vector graphics
Cons
- Sensitive formatting for intricate PDFs
- Less capable than commercial software
Installation
sh
sudo apt install libreoffice
2. Okular
Best for: PDF reading and annotation.
Okular is a light-weight, full-featured document viewer developed by KDE. As much as impossible it is to provide complete edit text features, excellent annotation features are available.
Features
- Text highlighting with mark for, underline, and strike-through
- Commenting with sticky notes and comments
- Electronic signatures and form filling
Pros
- Fast and efficient
- Suitable for reading PDFs with commenting
- Support for multi-document files
Cons
- Not good in re-arranging the layout of the documents
- Limited feature set in text editing
Installation
sh
sudo apt install okular
3. Master PDF Editor
Best for: Simple-to-use interface with high-end PDF editing.
Master PDF Editor is a feature-rich proprietary PDF editor for Linux. While the majority of freeware lacks high-end editing features, this one has them, such as Adobe Acrobat.
Features
- PDF text and image editing
- Insertion of watermarks, signatures, and comments
- Merging, splitting, and rearranging pages
- PDF scan OCR (Optical Character Recognition)
Pros
- High-end-level editing features
- PDF encryption support
- Easy-to-use interface
Cons
- Not a free version (restricted)
- Non-free software (non-open-source)
Installation
sh
wget https://code-industry.net/public/master-pdf-editor-5.8.70-qt5.x86_64.deb
sudo dpkg -i master-pdf-editor-5.8.70-qt5.x86_64.deb
4. PDF Arranger
Best for: Merging, splitting, and rearranging PDF pages
Most effective in concatenation, separation, and reshuffling PDF pages. PDF Arranger is easy to use and practical PDF editing utility. There’s no text editing function but very good in rearranging files and page arrangement.
Features
- Merge numerous PDFs to a single document
- Break up PDFs to individual sheets
- Rotate and order pages
Pros
- Light and straightforward
- Perfect for handling massive PDFs
- Free and open-source
Cons
Installation
sh
sudo apt install pdfarranger
5. Scribus
Best for: Making and editing complex PDF layouts.
Scribus is an advanced desktop publishing solution which can also be employed to edit PDFs. It’s finest for individuals who want complete control over the layout.
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Features
- Make and edit PDFs from the ground up
- Alter layout, text, and images
- High-quality PDF export support
Pros
- Excellent for pro-level PDF design
- Open-source and feature-rich
- Interactive form support
Cons
- Gently steeper learning curve
- Not ideal for simple PDF text editing
Installation
sh
sudo apt install scribus
How to Select the Best PDF Editor for Linux
The best PDF editor to use depends on your requirements. Here is a quick rundown:
- For simple text editing → LibreOffice Draw
- For reading & annotation → Okular
- For heavy editing → Master PDF Editor
- For page structuring → PDF Arranger
- For layout designing → Scribus
Other Worth Referencing
Though the above ones are among the best, below are some which may also be included:
- qpdf – Excellent for command-line PDF editing
- Xournal++ – Excellent for handwritten note taking and annotating
- PDFsam – Nice but efficient utility for splitting and merging PDFs
Conclusion
Linux users are spoiled for choice if they have to make changes to PDFs. If one wants a lightweight annotating tool or a heavy-duty editor for content alteration, there is a Linux PDF editor that meets any need. If you are looking for a free and open-source solution, then Okular and LibreOffice Draw are great ones. If you require advanced editing, then Master PDF Editor would be a great option. Or, software like PDF Arranger and Scribus are great at page structuring and layout design. With these tools in your arsenal, you can easily carry out any PDF editing task on Linux.
FAQs
1. Do I have PDF editing capabilities in Linux?
Yes, it is possible to edit PDFs on Linux with LibreOffice Draw, Master PDF Editor, Okular, Scribus, and many more. With these tools, you can edit text, annotate, merge, split, and convert PDFs.
2. What is the best free PDF editor available for Linux?
The best free PDF editors for Linux are:
LibreOffice Draw – Ideal for editing text in PDFs.
Okular – Ideal for annotations and filling out forms.
PDF Arranger – Ideal for combining, splitting, and rearranging PDF pages.
Xournal++ – Ideal for handwriting and annotating.
3. Is there an open-source PDF editor for Linux?
Yes, LibreOffice Draw, Okular, PDF Arranger, Scribus, and Xournal++ are all open-source PDF editors for Linux.
4. How do I edit text in a PDF on Linux?
To edit text in a PDF on Linux:
Open the PDF in LibreOffice Draw.
Click on the text you wish to edit.
Edit the text and save the file.
5. How do I annotate a PDF on Linux?
You can annotate a PDF with:
Okular – Offers highlighting, underlining, and commenting capabilities.
Xournal++ – Offers freehand drawing and notes.
