Best Free PDF and Document Tools for Windows PC

Managing documents efficiently is essential in 2026, whether for work, school, or personal projects. Windows PCs have plenty of free tools that help create, edit, convert, and organize PDFs and other documents without spending a dime. This guide highlights the best free PDF and document tools for Windows, explains their features, practical use cases, and alternative options.

1. PDF-XChange Editor – Powerful Free PDF Editing

Features:

• View, edit, and annotate PDFs

• Highlight, add text, and insert shapes

• OCR (optical character recognition) for scanned documents

• Export PDFs to images or text

Benefits:

• Offers advanced editing features for a free tool

• Lightweight and fast

• Easy to use for beginners

Use Case:
Ideal for students editing lecture notes, professionals reviewing reports, or anyone needing simple PDF annotations.

Alternative:
Foxit PDF Reader – also free with annotation and commenting features.

2. LibreOffice – Complete Office Suite

Features:

• Word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation tools

• Export documents as PDF

• Compatible with Microsoft Office formats

Benefits:

• Completely free and open-source

• Works offline, no internet required

• Suitable for both personal and professional use

Use Case:
Perfect for users who need a full office suite without paying for Microsoft Office.

Alternative:
Apache OpenOffice – similar features for document editing and PDF export.

3. PDFsam Basic – Split and Merge PDFs Easily

Features:

• Merge multiple PDF files into one

• Split PDFs by pages or bookmarks

• Rotate and reorder pages

Benefits:

• Simple interface for common PDF tasks

• Lightweight and fast

• No watermark or ads

Use Case:
Great for combining scanned documents or splitting large PDFs into smaller files.

Alternative:
Sejda PDF Desktop – free version with limited daily tasks.

4. Smallpdf Desktop – Online and Offline PDF Tools

Features:

• Convert PDFs to Word, Excel, or PowerPoint

• Compress PDFs without losing quality

• Merge, split, and annotate PDFs

Benefits:

• Clean, beginner-friendly interface

• Works both online and offline

• Free tier provides most essential features

Use Case:
Suitable for professionals handling contracts, reports, or presentations regularly.

Alternative:
ILovePDF Desktop – similar free PDF management functions.

5. Microsoft OneNote – Notes and Document Organization

Features:

• Create digital notebooks for text, images, and PDFs

• Annotate PDFs and insert multimedia

• Sync across devices

Benefits:

• Integrates well with Windows and Microsoft ecosystem

• Keeps all your notes and PDFs in one place

• Free version includes most features

Use Case:
Students or professionals who want to organize research, meeting notes, and PDFs together.

Alternative:
Evernote – free tier offers basic note-taking and PDF attachment features.

6. WPS Office Free – Lightweight Office Suite

Features:

• Word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation apps

• Export and edit PDFs

• Cloud integration for file storage

Benefits:

• Smaller and faster than some full office suites

• Compatible with Microsoft Office formats

• Includes PDF conversion tools

Use Case:
Perfect for users with limited storage or older PCs who need basic office and PDF functions.

Alternative:
FreeOffice by SoftMaker – lightweight suite with PDF export.

Tips for Using Free PDF and Document Tools

1. Choose tools based on your needs: Editing, converting, annotating, or organizing?

2. Combine tools wisely: For example, use PDF-XChange Editor for editing and PDFsam for splitting/merging.

3. Check compatibility: Ensure PDFs or office files can open in other apps if sharing with colleagues.

4. Use official downloads: Avoid unofficial sites to stay safe from malware.

Final Thoughts

Free PDF and document tools for Windows PCs can replace paid software for most tasks, from editing and annotating PDFs to creating professional documents. By using the right combination of tools, you can save time, stay organized, and work efficiently without spending money.

The key is choosing apps that match your workflow and exploring alternatives to find what works best for you.