If you've never used a PDF editor before, it can be surprisingly difficult to find the right one in today's market. There are many different products and some of them are much more complex than others. Some PDF editors are aimed at advanced users who make a lot of conversions and other changes every day, while others are more aimed at the average user who occasionally needs to convert a document for their own archive.
PDFZilla is a good compromise between these two ends of the spectrum, offering a good variety of features in a clean and comfortable interface, but without overloading the user with too many features that most won't even touch. It is stable and works very fast, which also makes it a good option for less powerful computers. However, this is not a good option if you want to try all of its features for free, due to the way its free demo is structured. If you decide that you like how PDFZilla works, the premium version is definitely worth the investment.
Packages and prices
The app comes with a free demo, but that alone is enough to get a basic overview of its features as it limits its operation somewhat. For example, you can only convert half a document. However, this should be enough to give you an idea of how effective PDFZilla is and if it suits your specific needs. You are allowed to use most of the features available in the free version for verification, but the above limitation (and a few more here and there) still applies.
The full version costs € 49.95, but you need to visit the site often if you want to buy it, as the developers run various promotions regularly. Sometimes you can get it for as little as 20% off, which is a nice bonus in the context of what the app has to offer. However, there are no different price tiers, at least not for individual users, so you can't buy a cheaper subscription if you don't plan to use all the features. However, you can purchase multiple licenses at a reduced price.
Features
You can perform different types of conversions and edits, all offered from a centralized main menu. It can convert PDF to various formats, including Microsoft Word, images, plain text files, HTML pages, and even Flash, despite being out of date at this time. You can also convert PDF files containing tables to Excel sheets, which can be very useful for accounting and other similar use cases.
Some additional features include the ability to split a document into multiple separate documents or, conversely, merge multiple PDFs into one. You can also convert an image to PDF, which can be useful if you ever need to send documents to a site that only accepts PDF documents and nothing else. However, the conversion is a bit limited in this regard and you shouldn't expect too much flexibility.
Interface and in use
PDFZilla's interface is nice and clean, although it seems a bit outdated in places. The app hasn't received major UI updates for quite some time, but that's not a problem as the current UI does a great job of presenting you with all the options you might need and making them easily accessible. There are no flashy animations or effects, and the interface remains very straightforward for the most part.
That doesn't stop PDFZilla from being a powerful tool and it allows you to access most options quickly and without having to search through complicated menus. The tool can be perfect for those who need to get a job done quickly and want to streamline this process as much as possible.
Support
A detailed tutorial and help section are available on the official website, and these cover most of the potential problems you may encounter with the tool. Developers can also be reached through their site, but their support leaves a little to be desired. They respond quickly in most cases, but more complex issues can take longer to resolve and the company doesn't seem to have a full support service. Still, they did a good job covering most of the points in their help section.
Competition
PDFZilla has several competitors, including PDF24 and Adobe Acrobat, and it is difficult to make a good comparison between them because each application in this area generally shines with something unique. Where PDFZilla really comes in handy is for users who need something fast and convenient, and don't mind paying a one-time fee for a lifetime subscription to the product. If you don't mind the slightly outdated interface, this is definitely a tool that can meet most people's needs well.
Final verdict
PDFZilla is a great choice for a PDF editor and converter, and the app is reasonably priced. It takes very little time to get used to how it works, and it comes with many out-of-the-box features. If you don't mind the somewhat slow customer support compared to other similar tools, it's definitely worth a look.
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