Chromebooks have been getting increasingly popular since their advent back in 2011. Initially underrated for being “limited,” the minimalist laptop is now viewed by many as a powerful no-frills tool. Users who work with documentation a lot appreciate the fact they can deal with PDFs using top PDF editor options for Chromebooks.
Top 5 PDF Editors for Chromebook
If you are looking for ways to edit a PDF on Chromebook devices, you should concentrate primarily on web-based applications. The best Chrome PDF editor is quick and easy to navigate and offers extensive functionality in case you are looking for in-depth editing opportunities.
1. PDFLiner
An all-web multipurpose PDF platform that’s capable of more than you’d think looking at its minimalist interface. Robust and easy to get the knack of, PDFLiner is arguably the best PDF editor for Chromebook devices.
With PDFLiner, you can create a new PDF from scratch or upload/link an existing one. In particular, it can be used to fill out tax forms and other documentation blanks in PDF format. The platform offers an entire library of these fillable forms from various domains such as tax reporting, insurance, and more. You can attach a signature to a form once you complete it by either typing it in, drawing it with your mouse, or adding a picture of your physical signature.
You can start with a free plan if in doubt and switch to one of the flexible subscription plans as needed.
2. Adobe Acrobat
Users who’ve grown attached to Adobe Acrobat over the years might be disappointed by the fact it doesn’t run on Chromebooks. Luckily, the company offers online services that can be accessed from a regular browser. All you need to do is visit Adobe’s website and upload the document you are interested in.
This online editor is much more limited in terms of functionality compared to its big brother. It still can be regarded as an efficient markup tool. You can use it to add text to existing documents or highlight portions as necessary, add sticky notes, underline certain passages for attention-grabbing purposes, or draw on your PDF.
One downside of Adobe for Chromebooks is the time-consuming sign-up procedure. You’ll have to pay for full access, too.
3. Lumin PDF
Another cloud-based PDF service with an unfussy interface that gives you a lot of possibilities. If you are a beginner, you’ll love their easy-to-take demo. On the flip side of it, you’ll see that most of the cool features aren’t available unless you subscribe. These include inserting text in your document, adding images, erasing parts of the PDF, and more.
Lumin PDF offers a lot of fine-tuning in terms of view mode, and the learning curve shouldn’t be too steep. You can use it to sign documents as well as to annotate them and add attention-grabbing details. The initial uploading might take some time, but the service is generally efficient.
4. PDFescape
This dedicated form-filler might look a bit old-fashioned, but it’s quite a powerful tool. It takes a split second to load and offers a lot of PDF editing functions, including image insertion, freehand drawing, whiteout, and much more. Additionally, you can rely on it to rotate or even crop pages. Sticky notes and highlights are all there, too.
PDFescape might not be particularly pleasing to the eye or easy to navigate, but it has a lot of useful functions packed into it once you learn how to use them.
5. DocFly
If a user interface matters to you, DocFly won’t leave you disappointed. It’s very minimalist and takes just a couple of moments to learn. Apart from standard editing features such as blackout, adding shapes, etc., it comes with a number of form-specific features like adding a particular kind of field, i.e. text, date, signature, and more.
DocFly is a solid solution if you work with documents a lot, though it tends to be punishingly slow with bigger files. Otherwise, though, it looks like a time saver.
And the Oscar Goes to… PDFLiner
If you are looking for an impressive diversity of features but aren’t prepared to pay for it with your waiting time, PDFLiner is the best tool to edit PDF using Chrome OS gadgets. With its flexible subscription options, it offers a number of useful function packs to choose from, and the form catalog will save you a lot of time looking for the documents you need.
Use PDFLiner to easily complete any forms and share them with the person who needs to see them, verified with your signature, and locked as necessary to prevent data leaks. You get full PDF functionality on your Chromebook.
FAQ
This section is a collection of common questions related to editing PDF files on a Chromebook, all with brief answers.
1. Can you use Adobe on Chromebook?
Adobe is an umbrella term that covers a number of products. In the context of PDFs, the most probable approach to use its solutions is the online services option described under Adobe Acrobat above. It runs perfectly well on Chromebook but it’s somewhat limited compared to the desktop version.
2. How to edit a PDF on a Chromebook?
We recommend using a cloud-based PDF editor. PDFLiner is a convenient solution that runs in your browser. There are more editors like this that will work on a Chromebook.
3. Are online PDF editors safe?
This depends on which data security solutions are in place. If encryption and other precautions are used to minimize the risk of leaks, such editors can be described as safe. PDFLiner offers additional safety options such as document locking.
Based on materials from pdfliner.com