Most businesses use PDF documents to share and store critical information, such as contracts, reports, proposals, and memos. However, as the number of teams using this file format increases, the need for a robust and reliable PDF editor cannot be overstated.
But how do you find the best solution with the plethora of PDF editing solutions in the market?
Well, let’s make this easy for you. In this article, we’ll explore the best options for every platform, ensuring your team can edit PDFs from mobile phones for on-the-go.
Mobile PDF editing apps
With mobile, easy-to-use online PDF editors, you can turn your smartphone or tablet into a workstation, keeping your team productive. They can review contracts with clients and instantly add comments and clarifications to expedite the approval process. Let’s explore some top apps:
Lumin (free & premium)
Designed to focus on mobility, Lumin offers a robust editing experience on your phone or tablet. It allows for smooth text editing directly within the document, adding comment highlights, inserting images, and splitting PDFs while maintaining a user-friendly interface. Plus, Lumin integrates with the desktop version, ensuring a smooth workflow transition when you’re back at your desk.
Adobe Acrobat Reader Mobile (free)
Acrobat Reader offers basic editing functionalities like adding highlights, comments, and text drawings. You can also use this tool to highlight key points and add comments for your team.
Xodo PDF reader & annotator (free & premium)
This free software allows you to edit PDFs. However, Xodo goes beyond basic editing, offering textbox insertion and image replacement features. Suppose you need to redact sensitive information from a document while traveling. In that case, Xodo allows you to black out confidential details within the file, ensuring document security even when on the move.
Cloud-based PDF editors
Cloud-based PDF modifiers online allow your team to work on PDFs from any device with an internet connection, promoting efficient collaboration and facilitating document workflows. Let’s see the top cloud-based editors that show how to sign a PDF form:
Lumin (free & premium)
Lumin offers a comprehensive editing experience that is accessible from any web browser. It allows you to share, edit, sign, and fill PDF documents directly from your Google Drive account without downloading and installing any software. During brainstorming sessions, Lumin allows team members to upload images and text directly into the cloud-based brochure, collaborate on design elements, and share drafts with clients for feedback.
Adobe Acrobat Pro DC (subscription)
Acrobat Pro offers a robust cloud-based editing experience with advanced features like document conversion, optimization, and eSign integration to sign PDFs. It allows you to upload documents to the cloud and send secure signing requests, ensuring smooth document workflows.
Smallpdf (free & premium)
While known for its capabilities in converting PDFs, Smallpdf also provides features like PDF highlighting online, document merging, and content redaction. Suppose you have to prepare a client report with confidential information. In that case, Smallpdf allows you to upload financial reports to the cloud, redact sensitive details securely, merge PDFs, and share a clean version with the client – all within their web browser.
Comparison of features across platforms
Equipping your team with the right PDF tools can streamline workflows and boost productivity. But how do you identify ideal options across mobile, cloud-based, and desktop platforms? Let’s see the key features of each platform to help you find the perfect fit to edit PDF pages online:
Mobile editing apps
Let’s see the strengths and weaknesses of mobile platforms:
Pros
- Unmatched convenience for on-the-go revisions.
- Perfect for tasks like reviewing documents, adding PDF annotations, and basic edits like text highlighting.
Cons
- Limited editing features compared to desktop software.
- Complex tasks might be tedious on smaller screens.
Ideal for
- Reviewing contracts with clients
- Making quick edits to presentations during meetings
- Annotating documents while commuting.
Cloud-based editors online
Here are the pros and cons of the cloud-based platform:
Pros
- It is accessible from any device with an internet connection.
- It enables synchronized collaboration, promoting efficient teamwork.
- These editors eliminate software installation hassles.
Cons
- Limited features compared to desktop software.
- Reliant on a stable internet connection for optimal performance.
Ideal for
- Brainstorming sessions with colleagues on marketing brochures
- Teams revising contracts collaboratively
- Collecting employee feedback.
Desktop editors
Let’s see what sets desktop editors apart and their limitations:
Pros
- It offers the richest feature set for editing and compressing PDFs, including advanced editing capabilities, document conversion, and batch processing.
- It provides offline editing capabilities.
Cons
- Requires software installation
- It may have a steeper learning curve compared to mobile or cloud-based options.
Ideal for
- Creating complex layouts for brochures or reports
- Adding interactive elements to proposals
- Manipulating data within financial documents.
Finding the perfect balance
The best approach often involves a combination of these platforms. Mobile apps keep your team productive, while cloud-based editors facilitate synchronized collaboration. A robust desktop PDF to editable PDF converter like Lumin provides the maximum functionalities and flexibility for complex editing tasks.
For example, a sales rep can use a mobile app to annotate a contract with a client on-site. Back at the office, they upload the annotated document to a cloud-based editor for further collaboration with the legal team. Finally, the legal team utilizes the editor on their desktops to finalize the contract with advanced editing features, ensuring a smooth and efficient process.
Workflow integration and syncing
PDF tools offer integration and syncing functionalities for effective collaboration across devices and platforms. Let’s explore how this works:
Cloud storage integration
These editors integrate with popular cloud storage platforms like Google Drive or Dropbox. So, you can edit a fillable PDF form using a mobile app, knowing the latest version is automatically saved and synced to your team’s shared cloud storage folder. It ensures everyone can access the most recent edits, eliminating version control challenges.
Synchronized collaboration
Some cloud-based and desktop PDF editors offer instant collaboration features. This allows team members to see each other’s edits and suggestions as they happen, promoting efficient communication and faster turnaround times.
Cross-platform compatibility
The best tools allow you to move your edits between mobile, cloud, and desktop platforms. That way, you can make minor edits to a presentation on your phone during your commute, and when you open the same document on your desktop editor, you can continue working with the latest version. This reduces PDF clutter as you incorporate further changes.
Integration with Lumin
Lumin takes integration a step further. It not only integrates with OCR PDF technology or popular cloud storage platforms but also offers functionalities like:
- Two-Way Sync: Edits made on the Lumin mobile app are automatically reflected in the desktop version and vice versa.
- Offline Editing: Work on your PDFs without an internet connection, knowing changes will sync upon reconnection.
Conclusion
The best editing tools for every platform, from mobile convenience to desktop, ensure workflow integration, effective collaboration, and streamlined document processes. For the perfect editing solution, you should equip your team with mobile apps, cloud-based tools, and a powerful desktop PDF editor like Lumin to increase productivity.
