We classify PDFpenPro as a word processor rather than just a PDF editor. The original company behind PDF editing software is Smile Software. However, Smile Software sold the PDFpenPro tool to Nitro Software Limited last year. Nitro is a software company specializing in PDF editing tools and is also listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.
PDFpenPro is an improved version of the PDFpen software sold by Nitro. What sets it apart from many other PDF editing tools is its Mac OS specialty. For example, you can save your PDF files directly to Apple's iCloud with PDFpenPro.
We'll review PDFpenPro based on specific criteria, including features, pricing, customer support, compatibility, user interface, and more.
packages and prices
PDFpenPro's pricing structure is very simple. It costs €129.95 to purchase a lifetime license, at no additional cost. This price is a bit expensive compared to other PDF editing software on the market. However, it should be noted that Nitro also offers PDFpen for Mac for €79.95 and PDFpen for iPad and iPhone for €6.99 at the time of writing.
A free trial version of PDFpenPro is available if you want to use it for a while before making a final purchase decision.
Features
The many features of PDFpenPro include;
PDFpenPro allows you to add new text, images and signatures to existing PDF documents. This feature is useful for people who need to edit PDF documents extensively. We usually think of PDF as a read-only format, but with the editing power of PDFpenPro, it will look like a wizard to the untrained eye.
You often receive a PDF file from someone and spot mistakes that need to be fixed. This situation mainly affects people who work in a professional environment. With PDFpenPro, you can quickly edit and proofread text just like you would in Microsoft Word and other word processing software.
Also, you may need images to highlight certain information in a PDF presentation. PDFpenPro allows you to effortlessly add images from your image library or from the Internet to your PDF files.
Finally, many PDF documents are legal documents for which the appropriate people must affix signatures. PDFpenPro allows you to easily add signatures to a PDF document.
Remove personal information from PDF documents
PDFpenPro allows you to easily write specific text in a PDF document that you don't want to share with others. This text is usually personal information such as phone numbers, home addresses, social security numbers, dates of birth, etc. PDFpenPro allows you to redact text with a block or delete it completely from the document.
This redaction feature is essential for law firms that often work with sensitive information.
annotate documents
PDFpenPro allows you to annotate PDF documents. Annotation means adding additional information associated with a particular point in a document. This additional information is usually not present in the main text but in the form of comments linked to specific highlighted text. Annotations allow you to explain information that may not be clear in a document.
You can annotate with text or audio in PDFpenPro.
Scanning and OCR of paper documents
You can use PDFpenPro to scan paper documents and convert them to text through Optical Character Recognition (OCR). After conversion, you can edit the text directly in PDFpenPro.
Imagine that your colleague has handed you a long paper document that you need to edit on your computer. You don't want to go through the stress of retyping it to make corrections. PDFpenPro allows you to easily scan paper documents and convert them into text that you can start editing right away.
PDFpenPro's OCR function does an excellent job of converting written text into editable electronic copy formats.
Sign and complete forms
In a professional setting, you will need to complete certain forms electronically. PDFpenPro allows you to do it quickly. All you have to do is load the PDF form into PDFpenPro and add text as you would any other PDF document. Boom, your form is complete and ready to submit.
Merge/attach PDF files
PDFpenPro allows you to merge and add two or more PDF files into one document.
Interface and in use
PDFpenPro's user interface is convenient for any Mac user. You download it as an application that runs directly on your computer. It is required to download and cannot be accessed through a web browser, which is a minor inconvenience.
You can install PDFpenPro on any computer running macOS, and you can download the application file via the PDFpen website or the Mac App Store.
Support
Nitro, the Australian company that owns PDFpenPro, handles customer support. Customer service is available by email or phone. Additionally, there is an official user guide, video tutorials, and FAQ page posted on the PDFpenPro website.
Competition
PDFpenPro has many competitors. Some include Smaply, LibreOffice, Windward Core, PDFelement, and PDF Expert. PDFpenPro is more expensive than many of its competitors. However, its price advantage is a one-time purchase, unlike many competitors that require a recurring subscription.
PDFpenPro also specializes in the Mac operating system and builds its features around it. Unfortunately, this is a limitation because Windows users, a large part of the working population, cannot install it.
final verdict
PDFpenPro delivers on its promise of being a powerful PDF editing software tool. However, we would like to see an improvement: PDFpenPro should be available in a web interface and not require you to install it on your computer before using it.
Also, PDFpenPro is not available for people using Windows operating systems. We would like that to happen.
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