Which PDF Software is Best for Your Law Firm?

From submissions to deeds to contracts, the PDF is the prevailing document format for law firms around the world. With more firms working in a more distributed way, access, mobility and security of PDFs becomes critically important to maintaining productivity.

Your firm needs capable PDF software that can deliver the essential features clients and firm members expect, but with so many features to consider, choosing the right option can be overwhelming.

We compared PDF software from four popular vendors to help you determine which is best for your firm:

At-a-Glance Comparison

Scroll down to learn more about each application: 

  ADOBE
Acrobat DC Standard for teams
ADOBE Acrobat DC Pro for teams FOXIT
PDF Editor
FOXIT PDF Editor Pro NITRO
PDF Pro
NITRO PDF Productivity KOFAX Power PDF Standard KOFAX Power PDF Advanced
Insert Images  
Convert to MS Word √  √  √ 
Edit scanned documents    
Create bookmarks & links
Combine pages & documents
Redaction      
Bates numbering

     
PDF/A

 
Add & validate certified digital signatures √ 
Request certified digital signatures          
Price

$$$$ $$$$ $$ $$ $$$ $$$ $ $$$

 

Digital Signatures:

Touch screen signatures, copy & pasted signatures, stamps, tick boxes or typed names, these types of electronic signatures are easily inserted into a PDF document but provide no evidence of authenticity.

Accompanying the e-signature, a cryptographic digital signature is inserted into the meta data of the document using a server-held signing key, which usually requires the user to be registered and verified. The ability to request a certified signature from another party is a separate feature that typically comes with a subscription or through integration with another application.

PDF/A:

PDF/A is an ISO standardized version of the PDF for archiving and long-term preservation of electronic documents, ensuring they can be accessed years in the future, when technologies have changed. PDF/A isn’t widely used by Canadian law firms or courts today, however firms may wish to keep it on their radar as other countries, particularly the US, require PDF/A format in courts and various government agencies.

Mac Devices:

One benefit of LexCloud.ca is that you don’t have to worry about compatibility with Mac devices. By logging into your Virtual Desktop, Mac users are able to access Windows licensed software and use them in exactly the same way.

 

Adobe


Adobe invented the PDF in 1991 and has since established it as the standard format for portable documents across every industry. Its Acrobat DC PDF editors offer the highest compatibility and most comprehensive range of capabilities, making them the conservative choice for PDF software.  Unlike most PDF software, a subscription to Acrobat DC includes the capability to add and request certified digital signatures.

As an Adobe product, Acrobat DC performs very well in a hosted Private Cloud, and it also integrates seamlessly with third-party applications such as Microsoft 365 and Worldox to enhance document workflows.

Adobe online support is available through its Learn and Support portal with tutorials, community forums and online chat for service and product issues.

Acrobat Standard DC for teams

$19.99 CAD per user, per month ($239 CAD per year)

Adobe Standard DC is a solid option for firms that require essential features for PDF editing and creation. Beyond the core features we’ve reviewed, it also provides convenient editing features like comparing document versions, annotations and mark-up.

Features:

  • Insert images
  • Convert to MS Word
  • Edit scanned documents
  • Combine pages and documents
  • Create bookmarks and links
  • PDF/A
  • Add & validate certified digital signatures
  • Request certified digital signatures

View all features

 

Acrobat Pro DC for teams

$21.99 CAD per user ($263.88 CAD per year)

Adobe Pro DC is the most robust PDF software on the market. It includes all the features of Acrobat Standard, as well as powerful features suitable to law practices with a high volume of documents, sensitive information or that require secured versioning and authentication of digital signatures. Other useful features for law practices include creation of forms, document templates, and powerful OCR capabilities.

Features:

  • Insert images
  • Convert to MS Word
  • Edit scanned documents
  • Combine pages and documents
  • Create bookmarks and hyperlinks
  • Bates numbering
  • Redaction
  • PDF/A
  • Add & validate certified digital signatures
  • Request certified digital signatures

View all features

 



Foxit


Foxit offers PDF products and services to 425k organizations across the globe. Their business is focused exclusively on PDF products, offering PDF Editor, PDF Reader and the newly launched Foxit Sign.

Though less robust than Adobe Acrobat DC, Foxit PDF Editors are strong applications that offer the necessary capabilities at a lower price point. Certified digital signature requesting is not included but can be integrated with a subscription to FoxitSign or DocuSign.

Foxit performs very well in a Private Cloud hosted environment, which enhances the software’s mobility and management.

Foxit support is delivered via its online Support Centre with tutorials, manuals and community forums. Users can also submit tickets directly to Foxit’s support team.

Foxit PDF Editor

$200 CAD per device, one-time purchase

Foxit PDF Editor is a reliable, light option for cost-conscious, small and mid-sized firms seeking essential PDF editing and creation capabilities. Monthly subscriptions are available at a higher price.

Features:

  • Edit scanned documents
  • Combine pages and documents
  • Create bookmarks and hyperlinks
  • PDF/A
  • Add & verify certified digital signatures

View all features

 

Foxit PDF Editor Pro

$226 CAD per device, one-time purchase

PDF Editor Pro is a great option for the cost-conscious firm with more advanced PDF requirements, offering capabilities like bates numbering and redaction for legal documents. It doesn’t include certified digital signatures, however firms can purchase a separate subscription to Foxit Sign. Foxit also offers a monthly subscription at a higher price.

Features:

  • Insert images
  • Convert to MS Word
  • Edit scanned documents
  • Combine pages and documents
  • Create bookmarks and hyperlinks
  • Bates numbering
  • Redaction
  • PDF/A
  • Add & validate certified digital signatures

View all features

 

Resizing-PDFs-CTAMake E-Filing Easier

Tips for Reducing PDF File Sizes

Read More

 

 

Nitro

Nitro PDF was founded in 2005, serving more than 13k business customers worldwide, specializing in PDF editors and e-signatures. In 2021 Nitro acquired PDFpen, a suite of macOS, iPhone and iPad PDF productivity applications for Apple devices.

Nitro offers robust capabilities for a lower cost than Acrobat DC, ideal for cost-conscious firms with advanced PDF production needs. Nitro’s third-party integrations are less sophisticated than Acrobat and Foxit, and it has less flexibility to work in different IT environments, which can affect performance.

Nitro’s online Support Centre offers product FAQs, tutorials and extensive user guides for customers.

Nitro PDF Pro

$282 CAD per device, one-time purchase

Nitro PDF pro is a fairly robust product, offering the standard PDF editing and creation tools as well as good legal features such as bates numbering and redaction tools. Certified digital signature requesting is not included but is available through a subscription to Nitro Sign.

Features:

  • Insert images
  • Convert to MS Word
  • Edit scanned documents
  • Combine pages and documents
  • Create bookmarks and hyperlinks
  • Bates Numbering
  • Redaction
  • PDF/A
  • Add & verify certified digital signatures

View all features

Nitro PDF Productivity

$17.67 CAD per user, per month

Nitro has introduced a free trial of Nitro PDF Productivity, a package that delivers all the capabilities of PDF Pro with the addition of adding, verifying and requesting certified digital signatures using Nitro Sign.

 

 

Kofax

Kofax serves more than 25k companies and agencies worldwide. Their wide range of products include an Intelligent Automation software platform and solutions to digitally transform content-intensive workflows.

Kofax’s PDF software is typically sold as part of a larger suite of Kofax corporate workflow products. Designed to work within their own productivity platform, they aren’t intended to integrate with third-party applications or to perform within another provider’s hosted IT environment.

Kofax users can access their online knowledge base and community forums for product and workflow support or submit technical tickets directly by email and through chat.

Kofax Power PDF Standard

$190 CAD per device, one-time purchase

Power PDF Standard is a reliable, low-cost solution for small to mid-sized firms with basic requirements for PDF creation and editing.

Features:

  • Insert images
  • Convert to MS Word
  • Edit scanned documents
  • Combine pages and documents
  • Create bookmarks and hyperlinks
  • PDF/A
  • Add & verify certified digital signatures

View all features

 

Kofax Power PDF Advanced

$239 CAD per device, one-time purchase

5+ user business pricing available

Power PDF Standard is a comprehensive PDF editor best suited to law firms with advanced requirements for PDF creation, editing, document conversion,  digital signatures, security settings and more. A subscription to DocuSign is required to perform certified digital signature requests. 

Features:

  • Insert images
  • Convert to MS Word
  • Edit scanned documents
  • Combine pages and documents
  • Create bookmarks and hyperlinks
  • Bates Numbering
  • Redaction
  • PDF/A
  • Add & verify certified digital signatures

View all features

 

Conclusion

Taking the time to invest in the right PDF software will provide your firm with a basis for future growth and competitiveness. An investment in the right document software will enable you to present the firm as a more modern and economical practice, attracting top-notch talent and forward-thinking clients.

Contact our knowledgeable helpdesk or your LexCloud IT Manager to discuss these options further.

Not a LexCloud client? Learn how we help firms leverage technology to improve efficiency and client service.

 


New call-to-action
Reduce Law Firm PDF Sizes

Subscribe!