The Best Free PDF-XChange Alternative in 2026

PDF-XChange Editor is a Windows-only desktop application priced at $62 as a one-time purchase (a perpetual license, not a subscription). Its free evaluation mode covers about 70% of core functionality, but advanced features like enhanced OCR, fillable forms, and document comparison require the paid license — and using licensed features in evaluation mode adds a watermark to your output. PDFlexa runs entirely in the browser on any operating system, free, with no watermarks.

PDF-XChange Editor vs PDFlexa: Side-by-Side Comparison

FeaturePDF-XChange EditorPDFlexa (Free)
PriceFree (limited) / $62 one-time for full license✅ Free (core tools, no purchase)
PlatformWindows only✅ Any browser, any OS
Installation required✅ Yes, desktop download❌ No install needed
Basic editing & annotation✅ Free✅ Free
Advanced OCR❌ Licensed version only✅ Yes, free
Fillable form creation❌ Licensed version only✅ Yes, free
Document comparison❌ Licensed version only✅ Yes, free
Watermark-free output on all features❌ Evaluation mode watermarks licensed features✅ Always watermark-free
AI Summary / Translate / Chat❌ Not offered✅ Yes — free
Mobile access❌ Not available✅ Works on any mobile browser

Why People Look for a PDF-XChange Alternative

1. Windows-Only, With a Required Download

PDF-XChange Editor only runs on Windows and requires installing a desktop application. PDFlexa works in any modern browser on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, or Android with no install.

2. Evaluation Mode Watermarks Your Output

Using licensed-only features without paying adds a watermark to the resulting file. PDFlexa's output is always clean, whether you're on the free or premium tier.

3. Advanced Features Require a One-Time Purchase

Enhanced OCR, fillable form creation, and document comparison are locked behind the $62 license. PDFlexa includes OCR, form filling, and comparison in its free plan.

4. No AI Features

PDF-XChange Editor is a traditional desktop PDF editor with no AI-assisted tools. PDFlexa includes free AI summarization, translation, and chat-with-PDF on every account.

Where PDF-XChange Editor Has an Edge

PDF-XChange Editor's perpetual one-time license — rather than a recurring subscription — appeals to users who prefer paying once and owning the software indefinitely, and its free tier already covers roughly 70% of core functionality for viewing, annotating, and basic editing. For power users doing heavy, offline desktop annotation work on Windows specifically, its depth of markup tools is well established.

Which PDFlexa Tools Replace PDF-XChange Editor?

Here is every common PDF-XChange Editor task and its PDFlexa equivalent:

Frequently Asked Questions

Does PDF-XChange Editor work on Mac or Linux?
No, PDF-XChange Editor is Windows-only. PDFlexa works in any modern browser regardless of operating system.

Will my file have a watermark if I use PDF-XChange Editor's free version?
Using licensed-only features in evaluation mode adds a watermark to your output. PDFlexa's output is always watermark-free.

Is PDFlexa a one-time purchase like PDF-XChange Editor?
No — PDFlexa's core tools are free to use with no purchase required. A €4.99/month premium plan is available for higher AI usage limits and extended cloud storage.

Do I need to install anything to use PDFlexa?
No. PDFlexa runs entirely in your browser — no download, plugin, or account needed for core tools.

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