Sejda
Dutch PDF editor that does real text editing, and deletes every uploaded file after two hours
Quick Overview
| Company | Sejda BV |
|---|---|
| Category | PDF Tools |
| Headquarters | Netherlands, Netherlands |
| Founded | 2010 |
| EU Presence | Yes - Netherlands (EU) |
| Data Location | EU; desktop version processes locally |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | Desktop version runs locally |
| Main Features | Real PDF text editing, forms, merge and split, OCR, compress, sign, redact, desktop version, two-hour file deletion |
| Pricing | Free with daily limits / Web from about $7.50/month / Desktop licence available |
| Best For | Editing text inside existing PDFs without buying Acrobat |
| Replaces | Adobe Acrobat, Smallpdf, iLovePDF |
Detailed Review
The one thing people assume only Acrobat can do is edit the text inside an existing PDF — clicking into a paragraph and changing a word. Sejda does it, in a browser, from a Dutch company, and does it better than most of the alternatives.
It also states its retention plainly: uploaded files are deleted after two hours, and the desktop version does not upload at all.
Actual Text Editing
Sejda's editor lets you click into existing text and change it, with reasonable font matching and reflow within a text block. It is not a word processor and complex layouts will fight back, but for correcting a typo in a contract or updating a date on a form it does exactly what people expect and rarely get.
Form creation and filling are handled well too, including flattening a completed form so the values cannot be changed.
Two-Hour Deletion and a Desktop Option
Files uploaded to the web service are deleted after two hours, which is stated clearly rather than buried. The desktop version, available for Windows, macOS and Linux, processes everything locally with no upload — the option to use for anything genuinely confidential.
Linux support on the desktop is unusual in this category and worth noting.
Free Tier
Three tasks per hour, with page and size limits, free without an account. That is enough for occasional use, and unlike some competitors the free tier includes the text editor rather than reserving it for paying users.
Limitations to Consider
Text editing works well on simple, well-structured documents and struggles with complex layouts, scanned pages and unusual fonts — expectations should be calibrated accordingly. The free tier's hourly task limit is restrictive for real work. The interface is plain, and the toolset is narrower than iLovePDF's or PDF24's.
Who Should Use Sejda
Anyone who needs to change text inside existing PDFs regularly — contracts, forms, reports — without an Acrobat subscription, and Linux users who want a proper local PDF editor.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Genuine in-document text editing
- Files deleted after two hours
- Desktop version for Windows, macOS and Linux
- Free tier includes the text editor
- Dutch company, EU jurisdiction
Cons
- Struggles with complex layouts and scans
- Restrictive hourly limit on the free tier
- Narrower toolset than rivals
Alternatives to Sejda
Other European pdf tools worth comparing before you decide:
Smallpdf
Switzerland · 21 PDF tools in one Swiss-hosted workspace
iLovePDF
Spain · Merge, split, compress and sign PDFs in the browser
Stirling PDF
United Kingdom · Self-hosted PDF suite that runs entirely on your own server
OnlyOffice
Latvia · Office suite with a full PDF editor and form filling
See all European pdf tools or compare them directly against Adobe Acrobat on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, genuinely — you click into existing text and change it, with font matching and reflow within the block. It works best on simple, well-structured documents; complex layouts and scans are harder.
Two hours for the web service, after which they are deleted automatically. The desktop version does not upload files at all.
Yes, the desktop application runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, which is unusual among PDF editors.
Three tasks per hour with page and size limits, and no account required. Importantly, the text editor is included in the free tier rather than reserved for paying users.