PDF Expert

4.6 (17.0k reviews)

Professional PDF editor and reader designed for Apple devices, offering advanced...

VS 2026

Foxit PDF Editor

4.4 (2.5k reviews)

Professional PDF editing software that serves as a comprehensive alternative to ...

PDF Expert vs Foxit PDF Editor: Which Is Better in 2026?

Comprehensive comparison of PDF Expert and Foxit PDF Editor covering features, pricing, pros & cons, and our expert verdict to help you make the right choice for your business.

PDF Expert vs Foxit PDF Editor: Overview

Choosing between PDF Expert and Foxit PDF Editor is a common dilemma for pdf tools users. Both tools offer robust solutions, but they cater to different needs and budgets.

PDF Expert offers a free tier and starts at $4.99/weekly, while Foxit PDF Editor begins at $10.99/monthly. But pricing is just one factor—let's dive into features, use cases, and which tool fits your specific needs.

PDF Expert is best known for excellent apple ecosystem integration, whereas Foxit PDF Editor stands out for significantly cheaper than adobe acrobat. In this detailed comparison, we'll analyze both tools across pricing, features, ease of use, and ideal use cases.

Quick Overview

PDF Expert

  • Best for: Apple device users, Business professionals
  • Starting price: Free
  • Category: pdf tools
  • Founded: 2013
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Foxit PDF Editor

  • Best for: Businesses needing Adobe Acrobat alternative, Legal teams requiring document redaction
  • Starting price: $10.99/mo
  • Category: pdf tools
  • Founded: 2001
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Feature Comparison

Side-by-side feature comparison to help you understand the key differences between PDF Expert and Foxit PDF Editor.

Feature
PDF Expert
Foxit PDF Editor
PDF Text Editing Premium feature
Advanced Annotations Basic in free, advanced in premium
AI PDF Copilot Premium feature - summarize, analyze, and chat with PDFs
PDF to Word/Excel/PPT Conversion Premium feature
OCR Text Recognition Premium feature
Digital Signatures Premium feature
PDF Merging & Splitting Premium feature
Cross-Device Sync Works across iPhone, iPad, and Mac
PDF Compression Premium feature
Construction Tools Premium feature - measure and scale drawings
PDF Creation and Editing Create, merge, split, and edit PDF documents
OCR Technology Convert scanned documents to searchable, editable PDFs
AI Assistant Document summarization, translation, and Q&A capabilities
Smart Redaction AI-powered PII identification and removal (PDF Editor+ only)
E-signature Tools Digital signing and signature request workflows
Document Comparison Compare two PDF versions to identify differences
Mobile App iOS and Android apps (PDF Editor+ only)
Format Conversion Convert PDFs to/from Word, Excel, PowerPoint formats
Security Features Password protection and encryption capabilities
Collaboration Tools Comments, annotations, and team sharing features

Features Deep Dive

Both PDF Expert and Foxit PDF Editor offer core pdf tools functionality, but their feature sets differ in key areas.

Shared features: Core functionality.

PDF Expert unique strengths: PDF Text Editing, Advanced Annotations, AI PDF Copilot. This makes it ideal for apple device users.

Foxit PDF Editor unique strengths: PDF Creation and Editing, OCR Technology, AI Assistant. This makes it better suited for businesses needing adobe acrobat alternative.

PDF Expert offers 10 core features with 4 integrations, while Foxit PDF Editor provides 10 features and 4 integrations.

Our Verdict

After extensive testing and analysis, PDF Expert edges out as the winner in this comparison. While both tools excel in their respective areas, PDF Expert offers better overall user satisfaction. Foxit PDF Editor remains a strong alternative, especially for users who prioritize businesses needing adobe acrobat alternative.

Winner

PDF Expert

Best for Apple device users and Business professionals. Excellent Apple ecosystem integration.

Try PDF Expert
Alternative

Foxit PDF Editor

Best for Businesses needing Adobe Acrobat alternative and Legal teams requiring document redaction. Significantly cheaper than Adobe Acrobat.

Try Foxit PDF Editor

Pros & Cons

PDF Expert Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Excellent Apple ecosystem integration
  • AI-powered PDF analysis and summarization
  • Professional-grade editing capabilities
  • Intuitive and well-designed interface
  • Strong customer support
Cons
  • Apple devices only (no Windows or Android)
  • Premium features require subscription
  • Expensive compared to competitors
  • Free version is quite limited

Foxit PDF Editor Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Significantly cheaper than Adobe Acrobat
  • Excellent text editing with linked text boxes
  • Powerful OCR and redaction capabilities
  • Multi-platform support (Windows, Mac, mobile)
  • AI-powered features included
Cons
  • Web-to-PDF conversion can be glitchy
  • AI responses occasionally inconsistent
  • No completely free version available
  • May be overkill for casual users

Pricing Comparison

Compare the pricing plans and see which tool offers better value for your budget.

PDF Expert

freemium
Starting from $5 /yr
Free tier available
Free Free
  • Basic PDF reading
  • Basic annotations
  • Fill PDF forms
Weekly $5 /mo
  • All premium features
  • PDF editing
  • AI PDF Copilot
Lifetime $140 /mo
  • All premium features
  • PDF editing
  • AI PDF Copilot

Foxit PDF Editor

subscription
Starting from $11 /mo
PDF Editor $11 /mo
  • Create and edit PDFs
  • Convert to Word/Excel/PowerPoint
  • OCR scanning
eSign Essentials $10 /mo
  • 150 envelopes/year
  • Payment collection
  • Basic templates
eSign Business $25 /mo
  • Unlimited envelopes
  • Advanced integrations
  • Team management

Pricing Comparison Analysis

PDF Expert Pricing: Free tier available. Paid plans start at $4.99/weekly. 4 plans available: Free, Weekly, Yearly, Lifetime.

Foxit PDF Editor Pricing: Paid plans start at $10.99/monthly. 4 plans available: PDF Editor, PDF Editor+, eSign Essentials, eSign Business.

Verdict: PDF Expert is more affordable at the entry level and offers a free tier. However, Foxit PDF Editor may offer better value at scale with AI-powered features included.

For budget-conscious teams, PDF Expert is the clear winner. For teams prioritizing businesses needing adobe acrobat alternative, Foxit PDF Editor's pricing may be justified.

Which Tool Is Best For You?

Choose PDF Expert if you need:

  • Apple device users
  • Business professionals
  • Students and educators
  • Document-heavy workflows
  • Excellent Apple ecosystem integration
  • AI-powered PDF analysis and summarization
Try PDF Expert Free

Choose Foxit PDF Editor if you need:

  • Businesses needing Adobe Acrobat alternative
  • Legal teams requiring document redaction
  • Educational institutions with PDF workflows
  • Remote teams collaborating on documents
  • Significantly cheaper than Adobe Acrobat
  • Excellent text editing with linked text boxes
Try Foxit PDF Editor Free

Final Verdict

Choose PDF Expert if: You need apple device users or business professionals. It excels at excellent apple ecosystem integration and ai-powered pdf analysis and summarization.

Choose Foxit PDF Editor if: You prioritize businesses needing adobe acrobat alternative or legal teams requiring document redaction. It's particularly strong for significantly cheaper than adobe acrobat and excellent text editing with linked text boxes.

Overall: PDF Expert has a slight edge with a 4.6/5 rating from 17,000 reviews. However, PDF Expert has a larger user base with 17,000 reviews, suggesting broader market validation.

Both tools are solid choices in the pdf tools space. Your decision should ultimately depend on your specific requirements, team size, and budget.

PDF Expert vs Foxit PDF Editor FAQ

What are the main differences between PDF Expert and Foxit PDF Editor?

PDF Expert focuses on apple device users with excellent apple ecosystem integration, while Foxit PDF Editor excels at businesses needing adobe acrobat alternative with significantly cheaper than adobe acrobat. Key differences include pricing structure, feature depth, and target user base.

Is PDF Expert or Foxit PDF Editor better for small businesses?

PDF Expert offers a free tier which is great for small businesses starting out. For small businesses with limited budgets, consider starting with the tool that offers PDF Expert's lower starting price of $4.99/month.

What is the pricing difference between PDF Expert and Foxit PDF Editor?

PDF Expert starts at $4.99/month with a free tier available, while Foxit PDF Editor starts at $10.99/month. Both offer multiple pricing tiers with different feature sets.

Can PDF Expert integrate with Foxit PDF Editor?

While direct integration may vary, both PDF Expert and Foxit PDF Editor support third-party integrations through platforms like Zapier. PDF Expert integrates with iCloud, Dropbox, Apple Pencil, while Foxit PDF Editor works with Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive.

Which tool is easier to use, PDF Expert or Foxit PDF Editor?

Based on user reviews, PDF Expert generally receives higher marks for ease of use with a 4.6 rating. However, ease of use can depend on your specific needs and technical background. PDF Expert is known for ai-powered pdf analysis and summarization.

Does PDF Expert or Foxit PDF Editor offer better customer support?

Both PDF Expert and Foxit PDF Editor provide customer support, with options varying by plan tier. PDF Expert offers support through standard support channels. Check each tool's specific plan for support details.

What are the pros of PDF Expert compared to Foxit PDF Editor?

PDF Expert's main advantages include: Excellent Apple ecosystem integration, AI-powered PDF analysis and summarization, Professional-grade editing capabilities. Compared to Foxit PDF Editor, it's particularly strong for apple device users.

What are the cons of PDF Expert compared to Foxit PDF Editor?

PDF Expert's potential drawbacks include: Apple devices only (no Windows or Android), Premium features require subscription. Foxit PDF Editor may be a better choice if these limitations affect your use case.

Should I switch from PDF Expert to Foxit PDF Editor or vice versa?

Consider switching if your current tool doesn't meet your needs. Key factors include: current pain points, migration complexity, team training, and total cost of ownership. Use our ROI calculator to estimate the potential impact of switching.

Which tool is best for pdf tools in 2026?

In 2026, PDF Expert leads in this comparison with a 4.6 rating. However, the best choice depends on your specific requirements. PDF Expert excels for apple device users, while Foxit PDF Editor is ideal for businesses needing adobe acrobat alternative.

Written by

AM
Alex Morgan Senior SaaS Analyst

Alex has spent over 8 years analyzing and comparing business software solutions. With a background in enterprise software sales and product management, he brings hands-on experience to every review. Alex specializes in CRM, marketing automation, and sales enablement tools.

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