Although almost 25 years old, PDFs are more useful than ever before in today’s multi-platform, multi-device world. Most of the time you can manage your work with a free PDF reader that will help you review and comment on various documents. But inevitably, especially in a business environment, you will need to occasionally edit or even unlock a PDF file that will generally require upgrading to a premium service of the PDF editor you are currently using.

Historically, Adobe Acrobat has been the best, but also the most expensive option, often being out of reach for individuals and small businesses. This has led to a large number of alternatives with different characteristics and costs. One of these alternatives is Sodapdf, a simple but powerful tool with which you can edit, merge, convert, compress, sign & secure your documents in just a few clicks.

We reviewed a couple of PDF editors that will be able to help you in almost any situation you find yourself in. These tools will help you convert PDF to excel and Excel to PDF or any other format, unlock PDF documents, and view PDF files.

How to convert PDF to Excel or to any other format?

One very practical and easy to use editor is EasyPDF, a free online tool that you can use to convert PDF to excel and make your spreadsheets editable again. You don’t have to register, you don’t have to install anything and it is ideal for occasional users. It also can be used to edit an emergency file if there are no other options. It works on all Windows, Linux, and macOS devices and in the most common browsers such as Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari.

To convert PDF to Excel using EasyPDF simply drag and drop the PDF file right into the PDF editor or upload it from your computer. Once uploaded, your file will start converting automatically and afterward, you will be able to download it to your device. There is also an option to convert Excel to PDF using the PDF Creation feature.

EasyPDF is a free online PDF converter that will allow you to convert your PDF files to the most popular file formats and vice versa. Unlike competitors, EasyPDF is completely free to use, has no limitations, and has no ads so we would really recommend trying it out!

How to view PDF files?

One of the best alternatives to Adobe Reader or any default PDF reader is Slim PDF Reader. A tool for Windows, macOS, and Linux that should undoubtedly be part of your productivity toolbox. Slim PDF will help you open and enjoy any PDF document with comfort. Besides that, you will be able to fill forms, validate signatures, annotate, and organize PDF documents. It is extremely easy to use and has a light and dark theme support. Slim PDF is a free tool, has no bloatware, and is the smallest desktop PDF reader (only 15 MB in size). We recommend checking it out!

How to unlock PDF file?

To make your life easier, there are sites with web apps capable of removing protection on the PDF file, without having to download any programs or to register. One of those online tools is Smallpdf utility, known for its design and ease of use. Among many other features is has an option to unlock PDF files and remove passwords.

Just drag a file from the desktop to the designed place on the webpage or import it directly from the Dropbox or Google Drive cloud services. The next step would be to confirm that you have the right to the file and in a few seconds, your PDF will be unlocked and you will be able to download it to your device. It is a really easy and straight forward process.

To conclude

PDF is one of the most popular file formats in the world. It is used by many people in various industries. It has become a standard for a secure and lightweight transfer of information. With all that in mind, people who deal with PDFs on regular bases should find previously mentioned tools extremely useful since they will make their work a lot easier. If we forgot to mention some of your favorite tools, feel free to let us know in the comments below.