All iPads Can an iPad edit PDFs as easy as a Mac?

[ian87w]

I'm using Windows PC, and dealing PDFs (editing, adding signature/text/images, rearranging pages, etc) on it is a chore. And I don't really want to pay Adobe money just for this. At the same time, I don't wan't to spend a lot of money on a Macbook. Why I mentiond Mac? Because I saw my friend using his Macbook, and handling PDFs on it is like a simple ordeal with Preview, and it's free.

My question is, will I be able to do the same thing on an iPad, for free (without having to pay a 3rd party app)?

 

[cupcakes2000]

You can edit in place PDF’s directly within the files app using markup. It’s even easier with an iPad than a Mac (especially with a pencil).
My experience is limited to basic form filling though, I’m not sure about more advanced editing such as adding pictures or rearranging pages.

 

[secretk]

You can edit in place PDF’s directly within the files app using markup. It’s even easier with an iPad than a Mac (especially with a pencil).
My experience is limited to basic form filling though, I’m not sure about more advanced editing such as adding pictures or rearranging pages.

Yep, this is what I know as well. You can annotate them and add signature (with the help of the pencil) but that's it. You cannot re-arrange elements or add/delete images.

You can do this from the OneDrive app preview though. Like if I open PDF in OneDrive I can add signature, I can draw on it, I can add images/shapes/texts and I can highlight. However this requires you to have Microsoft Subsciption/account in some form to be able to use OneDrive and to store your PDFs on the OneDrive folder.

 

[cupcakes2000]

You can add shapes and text in markup too, you’re not restricted to the pencil.
But I was having a little look around and this appears to offer some more advanced stuff, and it’s free for a lot of it- though you have to pay for some. Maybe it’s useful to you?

https://itunes.apple.com/uk/app/pdf-viewer-pro-by-pspdfkit/id1120099014?mt=8

 

[secretk]

You can add shapes and text in markup too, you’re not restricted to the pencil.

Thanks for sharing this! I honestly had not seen it.

 

[AutomaticApple]

It’s even easier with an iPad than a Mac (especially with a pencil).

I should really try editing PDFs with my Apple Pencil at some point.

 

[ian87w]

Yep, this is what I know as well. You can annotate them and add signature (with the help of the pencil) but that's it. You cannot re-arrange elements or add/delete images.

You can do this from the OneDrive app preview though. Like if I open PDF in OneDrive I can add signature, I can draw on it, I can add images/shapes/texts and I can highlight. However this requires you to have Microsoft Subsciption/account in some form to be able to use OneDrive and to store your PDFs on the OneDrive folder.

Wow, OneDrive can do that? Will give it a try, at least on my phone. The app functionalities should be the same with the iPad version, I assume.
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You can add shapes and text in markup too, you’re not restricted to the pencil.
But I was having a little look around and this appears to offer some more advanced stuff, and it’s free for a lot of it- though you have to pay for some. Maybe it’s useful to you?

https://itunes.apple.com/uk/app/pdf-viewer-pro-by-pspdfkit/id1120099014?mt=8

Will check that out. Thanks.

 

[secretk]

Wow, OneDrive can do that? Will give it a try, at least on my phone. The app functionalities should be the same with the iPad version, I assume.

Yep, it seems that this can be done. Not sure how it handles in iPhone but for iPad for sure.

 

[ian87w]

Yep, it seems that this can be done. Not sure how it handles in iPhone but for iPad for sure.

Alright, I gave OneDrive a whirl. I tried the OneDrive app on my Android phone and my iPhone 7 Plus. My task was simple, adding a PNG with transparency on a PDF.

Here are my findings. Both versions can do it!! But, the Android version maintained the transparency while the iOS version lost it (resulting in the PNG having a white background). Well well, one point for Android...

Don't see a way to rearrange pages or adding pages to the PDF.

 

[chabig]

One of my favorite iPad apps is GoodNotes 5. You can write, draw, add text to, rearrange and add pages to PDFs. I think it costs $5-$10 (since I have the app already installed, the store doesn't show me the price).

 

[ian87w]

One of my favorite iPad apps is GoodNotes 5. You can write, draw, add text to, rearrange and add pages to PDFs. I think it costs $5-$10 (since I have the app already installed, the store doesn't show me the price).

Will take a look at it. Thanks.

 

[bluespark]

Download PDF Expert for the iPad. The basic version is free, but the in-app upgrade is also worthwhile. It's a beautiful and very powerful app that, in my view, makes PDF editing on the iPad better than on any other platform.

 

[ian87w]

You can add shapes and text in markup too, you’re not restricted to the pencil.
But I was having a little look around and this appears to offer some more advanced stuff, and it’s free for a lot of it- though you have to pay for some. Maybe it’s useful to you?

https://itunes.apple.com/uk/app/pdf-viewer-pro-by-pspdfkit/id1120099014?mt=8

I gave this app a whirl. Same task, attaching transparent PNG on a PDF. This app did it perfectly.

Now the curious part.
On iOS, the ability to add another PDF into an existing PDF requires a Pro subscription.
On Android, that feature is available for free!! I can add PDFs into another PDF and export them into a new PDF just like that....

I guess another point for Android....? This is not what I was expecting.
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Download PDF Expert for the iPad. The basic version is free, but the in-app upgrade is also worthwhile. It's a beautiful and very powerful app that, in my view, makes PDF editing on the iPad better than on any other platform.

I tried PDF Expert. Adding pictures to a PDF already requires the subscription... which is what I'm trying to avoid in the first place (paying subscription to Adobe on my Windows PC).

 

[ugahairydawgs]

It depends on what you want to do. For basic markup, sure. If you want to start doing redactions, TOC work, file merging, etc.....I'd be hard pressed to say that it would be faster on an iPad. File management alone is still much better on MacOS than iPadOS with just the built in tools, and that notches up even more if you are using 3rd party software to enhance the process even more.

 

[cupcakes2000]

It depends on what you want to do. For basic markup, sure. If you want to start doing redactions, TOC work, file merging, etc.....I'd be hard pressed to say that it would be faster on an iPad. File management alone is still much better on MacOS than iPadOS with just the built in tools, and that notches up even more if you are using 3rd party software to enhance the process even more.

Dunno, redacting with a pen directly on to the screen is pretty much the fastest way of doing it, I would think.
File management on the iPad is different to the Mac, and does lack in comparison, but in this context I feel it hardly makes a difference?
Open in files, edit with mark up.
Or- find it in files, open with app, edit with app.
The work flow is exactly the same.

 

[ian87w]

It depends on what you want to do. For basic markup, sure. If you want to start doing redactions, TOC work, file merging, etc.....I'd be hard pressed to say that it would be faster on an iPad. File management alone is still much better on MacOS than iPadOS with just the built in tools, and that notches up even more if you are using 3rd party software to enhance the process even more.

Preview on macOS is just an amazing app, that is available for free built-in to the OS. My friend with his Macbook can rearrange and combine PDFs simply by drag-n-dropping the thumbnails into each other with ease. Wish Apple make it for iOS as well.

But not sure I can justify buying a Mac just for that.... which is why I put the question for the iPad, which can be had for less than a brand new Macbook.

 

[Abazigal]

I think a distinction needs to be drawn between annotating on pdf documents and editing them.

When it comes to the former, it’s basically a solved problem on iOS, with so many apps readily available, from notability to LiquidText to even the stock files app in a pinch.

For editing, so far, only PDF expert comes to mind. From what I see, pdf editing functionality is available without the need for a subscription.

 

[ian87w]

I think a distinction needs to be drawn between annotating on pdf documents and editing them.

When it comes to the former, it’s basically a solved problem on iOS, with so many apps readily available, from notability to LiquidText to even the stock files app in a pinch.

For editing, so far, only PDF expert comes to mind. From what I see, pdf editing functionality is available without the need for a subscription.

I tried PDF Expert. One function I am looking is ability to insert a PNG with transparency into a PDF. That action requires the subscription on PDF Expert.

The PDF Viewer app mentioned by cupcakes2000 has that feature on its free version. OneDrive can do it also, but it lost transparency of the PNG on the iOS version.

 

[muzzy996]

I love PDF Expert on my iPad but if you’re going to be doing a lot of editing of PDF files on Windows check out PDF Xchange Editor Plus. Much more control over annotation functions. I have created custom stamps using transparent PNG in it before.

 

[ian87w]

UPDATE

So I am playing around with another app called Xodo for iOS. It can rearrange PDFs and insert PDFs to another PDF, and it's free. But it seems that it cannot insert pictures into a PDF.

BUT

They make a Windows version, and the Windows version can do all the things I need. It can insert PNG with transparency onto a PDF, rearrange PDF pages around, insert PDFs into another PDF. And it's free!

Thanks for all the input guys. Although in the end I actually found a solution for Windows and not having to purchase an iPad, I learned new things or two (like how OneDrive app can act as PDF editor, and plethora of PDF options on iOS and Android). Cheers!