PDF tools / ABBYY FineReader / Alternatives
Alternatives to ABBYY FineReader
21 other tools do at least one of the 2 tasks ABBYY FineReader does. Tools with a tested score come first; the rest are ordered by how many tasks they share with ABBYY FineReader.
Disclosure: agathox makes some of the tools listed here. They are labelled and scored by the same method as every other tool.
agathox PDF toolsMade by agathox
4.4 / 5 overall34 tools: merge, split, edit, sign, compress, convert, protect and OCR. They run in your browser, so files are not uploaded. HTML to PDF asks our server only to fetch the web page you enter.
Adobe Acrobat online
Not enough dataAdobe's free online PDF tools, from Adobe, Inc.
Shares 2 of 2 tasks: OCR PDF, Edit PDF
- Free tier
- Free tools with limits per tool, for example merge up to 100 files and 1,500 pages, split up to 1 GB and 1,500 pages, Word to PDF up to 100 MB, compress up to 2 GB with limited use. PDF to Word has a daily limit whose number is not stated.
- Signup
- Depends on the tool. Merge and compress say no signup; split, OCR and edit ask you to sign in to download; Fill & Sign requires it.
iLovePDF
Not enough dataOnline PDF tools by iLovePDF, S.L. (Barcelona, Spain).
Shares 2 of 2 tasks: OCR PDF, Edit PDF
- Free tier
- A free plan with limited document processing. The exact free limits are not stated on the pricing page; the terms say it may apply reasonable technical limits on file size and processing.
- Signup
- Not stated.
PDF-XChange
Not enough dataPDF-XChange develops fast, light PDF software for viewing, converting, and editing PDF documents, with unparalleled support and service, including the Best PDF Reader - as voted by Life Hacker…
Shares 2 of 2 tasks: OCR PDF, Edit PDF
- Free tier
- The pricing page recommends testing the free version before buying, but does not list its features or limits.
- Signup
- Not stated.
PDF24 Tools
Not enough dataFree online PDF tools and a desktop app by geek Software GmbH (Berlin, Germany).
Shares 2 of 2 tasks: OCR PDF, Edit PDF
- Free tier
- Says all tools are free without restrictions and that there are no artificial limits. File-size limits are not stated.
- Signup
- No registration required.
Sejda PDF
Not enough dataOnline PDF tools and a desktop app by Sejda BV (Amsterdam, Netherlands).
Shares 2 of 2 tasks: OCR PDF, Edit PDF
- Free tier
- Free for documents up to 50 pages or 50 MB, and 3 tasks an hour. Some tools are tighter: one file per task, 20 pages per conversion, 10 pages per OCR task.
- Signup
- No signup required.
Smallpdf
Not enough dataOnline PDF tools by Smallpdf AG (Zurich, Switzerland).
Shares 2 of 2 tasks: OCR PDF, Edit PDF
- Free tier
- Limited access to basic features of 21 tools, with up to 2 conversions a day. The same limit applies with or without a free account. File-size and page limits are not stated.
- Signup
- Not required for most tools. Sign needs a free account.
UPDF
Not enough dataCreate, edit, annotate, convert, translate, and sign PDFs with UPDF. Use AI to understand documents faster and work seamlessly across Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and the web.
Shares 2 of 2 tasks: OCR PDF, Edit PDF
- Free tier
- Free version adds a trial watermark when saving. Free limits listed: 1 GB cloud storage with 10 MB per file, 2 file conversions per day, 5 OCR uses, batch processing of 2 files, AI assistant with 5 PDFs and 100 questions. The page contradicts itself on some limits.
- Signup
- Not stated. A pop-up says to sign in to get free access to some features, but it is unclear whether an account is needed for every use.
Wondershare PDFelement
Not enough dataWondershare PDFelement is a powerful yet easy-to-use PDF editor solution to create, edit, protect, and sign PDFs on desktop, mobile, and web.
Shares 2 of 2 tasks: OCR PDF, Edit PDF
- Free tier
- Not stated.
- Signup
- The interface includes a Sign In and Account Center option. The page says: “Sign In Account Center Sign out.”
DocHub
Not enough dataSign PDF documents online, request eSignatures, and send reusable PDF templates. It's a PDF editor in your browser that integrates with Google and Gmail. Sign up instantly and for free.
Shares 1 of 2 tasks: Edit PDF
- Free tier
- DocHub offers free access to premium tools without any time limits or hidden costs. The page says: “DocHub offers free access to premium tools without any time limits or hidden costs.”
- Signup
- Users must sign up to use DocHub. The page says: “BE READY TO GET MORE DocHub makes it easy to edit, sign, and share documents. Try, it`s free Sign up.”
Foxit PDF Editor
Not enough dataFast, secure PDF software trusted by businesses worldwide. Edit, convert, and eSign documents with Foxit’s affordable tools.
Shares 1 of 2 tasks: Edit PDF
- Free tier
- No free plan for the editor is described. Every plan starts with a 14-day free trial, and every subscription includes 300 free AI credits per month. Foxit PDF Reader is listed as free but not described.
- Signup
- Not stated clearly. The trial needs no credit card. A Foxit account is needed for the education discount.
Lumin
Not enough dataAutomate agreements from draft to signature through one secure platform. Document creation, editing, and eSignatures trusted by 140+ million users worldwide.
Shares 1 of 2 tasks: Edit PDF
- Free tier
- Free plan at $0: basic PDF editing, basic eSignatures, annotation of up to 3 docs, plus mobile and desktop apps. The limit is 3 docs per month; a doc counts once you share, download, print or sync it.
- Signup
- Not stated directly. The Free plan and trials link to a sign-up page.
Master PDF Editor
Not enough dataMaster PDF Editor for macOS, Windows and Linux. Edit PDF and XPS files with Master PDF Editor. Print any documents to Image or PDF using ImagePrinter Pro.
Shares 1 of 2 tasks: Edit PDF
- Free tier
- Not stated.
- Signup
- Not stated.
Nitro PDF
Not enough dataSimplify how your business works. Streamline document workflows, boost productivity, and ensure data security with Nitro's powerful PDF & eSign solutions.
Shares 1 of 2 tasks: Edit PDF
- Free tier
- No ongoing free tier described. A 14-day free trial with no credit card covers PDF editing and eSign, with the page saying no features locked. Free online conversion tools are mentioned without limits.
- Signup
- Trial starts through a signup page. Not stated for the free online tools.
PDF Expert
Not enough dataDownload a free trial of PDF Expert – the best PDF software for your Mac. Enjoy advanced reading layouts, powerful PDF editing and classical annotation tools.
Shares 1 of 2 tasks: Edit PDF
- Free tier
- Not stated. The pricing page links to a free download but describes no free features or limits. The terms say that on installation you get a free license with limits on some features.
- Signup
- Partly. The terms say you may need to register a personal cross-platform account, by email or Google or Apple sign-in. Not stated for the listed tasks.
PDFescape
Not enough dataEdit PDF documents, fill PDF forms, and view PDFs online using PDFescape, the free PDF reader, PDF editor, and PDF form filler software.
Shares 1 of 2 tasks: Edit PDF
- Free tier
- Not stated.
- Signup
- Not stated.
pdfFiller
Not enough dataEdit, create, and manage PDFs online with pdfFiller. Streamline workflows with seamless eSignatures, unlimited cloud storage, and extensive form libraries.
Shares 1 of 2 tasks: Edit PDF
- Free tier
- pdfFiller offers a free 30-day trial. The page says: “Free 30-day trial.”
- Signup
- Users must register an account to work on PDFs. The page says: “Register your account and start working on PDFs in minutes on any device.”
PDFgear
Not enough dataFree PDF apps for desktop and mobile plus online tools, by PDF GEAR TECH PTE. LTD. (Singapore).
Shares 1 of 2 tasks: Edit PDF
- Free tier
- Says it is free to use. The online editor is limited to 50 MB; the desktop app has no file-size limit. No daily caps are stated.
- Signup
- Not required.
Stirling PDF
Not enough dataA free, private PDF editor you can run on any infrastructure.
Shares 1 of 2 tasks: OCR PDF
- Free tier
- Stirling PDF is free for individual use. The page says: “30M+ downloads, free for individual use.”
- Signup
- Not stated.
Jotform PDF Editor
Not enough dataJotform PDF Editor is listed for: edit pdf.
Shares 1 of 2 tasks: Edit PDF
OCRmyPDF
Not enough dataOCRmyPDF is listed for: ocr pdf.
Shares 1 of 2 tasks: OCR PDF
Free-tier and signup lines come from each tool's own pages. Prices and limits change; check the tool before you rely on them.
Know a tool that should be here? Submit it, or write to hello@agathox.com.