Do you only read and annotate?
A free reader with search, highlights and notes may be enough. Starix keeps these tools in its no-time-limit Free tier.
PDF SOFTWARE BUYER GUIDE
Choose PDF software by workflow, not by the longest checklist.
Most people need a smaller set of PDF tools repeatedly. Start with document type, privacy, platform, collaboration and device licensing, then pay only for the gaps you actually need covered.
Do you work with scans?
Check OCR languages and whether you need direct scanner capture. Starix creates searchable PDFs in Traditional Chinese, English, Japanese and Korean, but it does not connect directly to scanners.
Do you edit existing layouts?
Starix Pro corrects supported existing text, adds text boxes and crops or resizes pages, with undo and redo for general edits. Automatic paragraph reflow and advanced original image/vector editing are not provided.
Do you handle sensitive data?
Look for permanent redaction, encryption, permissions and a workflow that verifies saved output. Starix performs these PDF operations locally.
Do you collaborate in the cloud?
Starix processes documents locally on Windows. Browser/mobile editing, shared reviews and cloud signature requests are not currently provided.
How many computers do you use?
Starix Pro is licensed to one named user on up to three of that person's personal computers simultaneously; it is not a three-person shared licence.
Where Starix is strongest
Windows users who need local PDF review, four-language OCR, comparison, page organization, forms, permanent redaction, encryption, signatures and batch output.
Features not currently provided
Automatic paragraph reflow and advanced original image/vector editing, scanner capture, standards/accessibility preflight, cloud collaboration, mobile editing, AI assistants and large enterprise workflows.
Continue with evidence.
Explore Starix features, then find the workflows that fit your work.