How to Edit PDF Online Free with Google PDF Editor

If you are looking for Google PDF editor to edit your PDF files, we would like you to know that this chrome PDF editor is called Google Docs PDF editor and it is now integrated with Google Drive. This means it has shut off the editing features and now functions only as a file sharing platform. However, we can help you find the best alternative for Google Docs PDF editor. We have tried and tested Wondershare PDFelement and it is a much better option in comparison to Google Docs PDF editor.

Part 1. The Best Solution for Google PDF Editor
Part 2. How to Edit PDF with Google PDF Editor

Part 1The Best Alternative for Google Docs PDF Editor

Google PDF editor is clearly not the kind of PDF editor a professional would look for. To solve your PDF creating and editing needs, Wondershare PDFelement is the best alternative. We have found it to be great in terms of software response and the end results it produces. It comes with loads of features that make it one of the best options available out there.

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There is nothing that we needed and this Google PDF editor alternative didn't have. The editing process is easy and doesn't take much time. Anyone with basic computer knowledge can professionally edit PDF files with this Google PDF editor alternative! You can edit, annotate, convert, create and protect your PDF files. Some of the features that this alternative to Google PDF editor is proud of, are:

Digital signature option for ensuring safety.
Optimization option to manage file quality for making it easier to share over different platforms. It can also be shared directly through PDFelement!
Password protect feature for ensuring privacy.
OCR option to handle scanned documents, you can edit scanned documents and also convert them after using the OCR option on them.
A variety of file editing options lets you edit text, images, numbers and almost anything that might be in the file.
Functionality to create and edit forms using your own custom options like text field or button etc.
Able to add annotations to the document anywhere and in any style that you want.
Can fully handle the editing of the text including font size, colour and style. Add or Delete text as per requirement!

Below is the step-by-step tutorial on how to edit PDF with this best alternative to Google PDF Editor. Check it out!

Step 1: Open PDF File

After installing the software, you can open PDFelement from the "Start" menu. All you need to do is you can easily drag and drop the file you need to edit into the program. Alternatively, you can click the "Open File" button in Mac and "Open" button in Windows to browse for your file that you need to edit right from any location of your computer.

Step 2: Edit PDF File

To edit a normal PDF file, all you need to do is click the "Edit" option on the toolbar. After you do so, you can see a variety of editing options, for example- "Edit object", "Add Image", "Edit Text", "Add text" etc. that can be used to edit objects, images and text respectively.

For Mac users, you can edit the text by just click the Edit option to reveal more editing options in a menu. Double click the text you want to edit and you can change size, colour and style of the font as your will.

Step 3: Edit Scanned PDF

You can edit normal as well as scanned PDF file. The steps for opening a scanned PDF are also the same. Just click on the "Open" file (Windows) option/ "Open" (Mac) or simply use the drag and drop function.

To edit this type of PDF you will need to use the "Perform OCR" function. PDFelement will automatically display a notice when a scanned or image based PDF is opened. You can now simply click on "Perform OCR" and select a language and that's it, you can now edit or convert or do anything with your editable scanned PDF!

Step 4: Edit PDF Forms

You can fill in forms and also create fillable forms. For editing or filling interactive forms just click on the hand tool and take it where you need to edit. A cursor will be displayed and you will be able to edit it as per requirement.

For editing non-interactive forms, all you have to do is, just click on "Comment" and select the "Typewriter" button. This will enable the overwriting of non-interactive forms.

Step 5: Add Annotations to PDF File

You can easily add comments or annotations to your PDF file by clicking on the "Comments" tab. When you click on the comment menu, there will be a lot of options available for you to use related to annotations. You can highlight the text or add notes as needed, effortlessly.

On Mac, annotation options are available on the "Markup" option available on the toolbar. Clicking on it will further display a collection of annotation options. As easy as that!

Part 2How to Edit a PDF with Google Chrome PDF Editor

Step 1) Sign in to your Google Drive - You can only access Google Docs when you first sign it your Google Drive account.
Step 2) Upload your PDF file - To edit the PDF file of your choice you will need to click the arrow button first and then upload the file from local folders.
Step 3) Open your PDF in Google Docs - After uploading your file the document will not open by itself. When you right click the PDF file you will find "Open with" option. Use that option to option file with Google Docs.
Step 4) Edit your PDF in Google Docs - When the PDF file changes into a fully editable text format; you can change all aspects of the file, including editing, annotating, highlighting, commenting etc.

Shortcomings of Editing PDF with Google PDF Editor

It will need an internet connection at all times to function.
Unintuitive user interface that doesn't look good.
Undistinguishable and too plain menu text fonts.
Menu dropdown text hard to distinguish from background.
Can't customize, move or resize the toolbar.
Mail merge absent.
Very limited font options.
No support for animation.
Not Print friendly.
Doesn't allow two documents to open side by side.
Sometimes it just doesn't open the files.
Can't directly edit the PDF file, it copies the text in Google Docs and makes it an editable document.
Can't retain the images or format in the PDF file.
Adding or deleting pages and such many detailed editing options are absent.