Our verdict: Acrobat Pro is the reference PDF editor: forms, redaction, OCR and e-signatures work reliably, and other people's PDFs open the way they were made. It is also one of the most expensive options, and the cheapest price requires a one-year commitment. For reading, filling and signing PDFs the free Acrobat Reader or free editors are enough.
About Adobe Acrobat Pro
Acrobat Pro is Adobe's top desktop PDF app for individuals. It edits text and images inside PDFs, turns scanned pages into searchable and editable text with OCR, converts PDFs to and from Word, Excel and PowerPoint, compares two versions of a document, permanently redacts sensitive data and sends documents for e-signature with tracking. Acrobat Standard is a cheaper plan without OCR, compare and redaction; Acrobat Studio adds the AI Assistant and Adobe Express Premium.
The free trial lasts 7 days and gives full access to Acrobat Pro on desktop, web and mobile. You sign in with an Adobe account and choose a plan, and the trial converts to a paid subscription unless you cancel before it ends. The lowest Pro price is $19.99 a month on an annual plan billed monthly; Adobe charges a fee if you cancel that plan after the first 14 days. If you stop paying, you can keep opening PDFs with the free Acrobat Reader.
What it does well
- Edit text and images. Change typos, fonts and pictures directly inside a PDF.
- OCR for scans. Turns scanned pages into searchable, editable text.
- Convert to Office. Exports PDFs to Word, Excel and PowerPoint and creates PDFs from them.
- Redaction. Permanently removes sensitive text and images from a document.
- E-signatures. Send documents for signature, track status and set reminders.
Who it is for
Good fit
Office workers and freelancers who edit, redact and sign PDFs every week and need files to look right for clients.
Look elsewhere
Anyone who only reads, fills in or signs the occasional PDF, which free tools already do.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Most complete PDF feature set
- Reliable OCR and Office conversion
- Built-in e-signature workflow
- Works on desktop, web and mobile
Cons
- Trial is only 7 days and turns into a paid plan unless cancelled
- Cheapest price needs a one-year commitment with a cancellation fee
- Expensive compared with other PDF editors
How to install Adobe Acrobat Pro
Start the trial on Adobe's page and sign in or create an Adobe account; you choose a plan before the download starts. The installer replaces Acrobat Reader if it is installed. Cancel in your Adobe account under Manage plan before day 7 if you do not want the subscription.
Questions about Adobe Acrobat Pro
Is Adobe Acrobat Pro free?
No. There is a 7-day free trial with an Adobe account; it converts to a paid plan unless you cancel. After that Acrobat Pro costs $19.99 a month on an annual plan. Adobe Acrobat Reader is the free app for viewing, filling and signing PDFs.
What is the difference between Acrobat Standard and Pro?
Pro adds OCR for scans, PDF comparison, redaction, web forms and bulk e-signature requests on top of Standard's editing and conversion.
Can I buy Acrobat without a subscription?
Adobe sells Acrobat Pro 2024 as a one-time purchase that gives three years of desktop use with security updates but no new features or online services.
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