Nitro PDF Review — 2025

What is Nitro?

Nitro is a professional-grade PDF editor designed for teams, offices, and power users who need to edit PDFs, convert files, apply OCR to scans, add and track eSignatures, and manage document workflows securely across devices.

It's often positioned as one of the leading alternatives to Adobe Acrobat for business users. Nitro's ecosystem includes Nitro PDF for editing, Nitro Sign for e-signing, and newer features like Nitro AI, which helps summarize and extract data from documents.

How does Nitro work?

PDF editing tools

• Edit text and images directly within PDFs.
• Annotate, highlight, comment, compare versions, and redact sensitive content.
• Add watermarks, headers, footers, Bates numbering, and legal-style marks often used in law and finance.
• Support for advanced markup and commenting tools makes it suitable for document review in regulated industries.

PDF management tools

• Merge multiple PDFs, split or extract pages, and batch-process large collections of documents.
• Apply password protection, permissions, and document restrictions.
• Add or remove metadata, and automate repetitive document preparation tasks.

File conversion

• Convert PDFs to and from Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and popular image formats while preserving layout and structure.
• Export scanned or image-based PDFs into editable Office files.

We did run into a small glitch while using Nitro PDF Converter. The program froze, but support was quick to respond and had the issue resolved almost immediately.

OCR (Text Recognition)

Nitro includes built-in OCR to turn scans into searchable, editable PDFs. It's widely used for digitizing archives, contracts, and paperwork — one of the key reasons offices choose it over lightweight web-based tools.

E-signatures and forms

• Create, fill, and sign PDFs directly in Nitro.
• Track document status and audit trails through Nitro Sign, which provides enterprise-grade routing, access control, and compliance logs.

Cloud & mobile access

• Available for Windows and macOS as desktop applications.
• Nitro also offers mobile apps for iOS and Android, focused on reviewing, signing, and sharing PDFs on the go.
• Teams can access documents through Nitro Cloud for e-signing, review, or approval without emailing large attachments.

Pros and cons

What you'll like

• Full professional toolkit — editing, OCR, redaction, eSign, and forms.
• Tight Microsoft Office integration.
• Advanced tools like Bates numbering and batch processing.
• Works across Windows, macOS, and mobile.
• Nitro AI adds smart summaries and data extraction.

What to consider

• Higher cost than casual PDF editors.
• Interface can feel dense and complex for new users.
• Some workflows have a mild learning curve.
• Licensing for small teams may be less flexible.

Is Nitro PDF editor legit?

Yes, it's been around for years and is trusted by businesses and professionals worldwide for editing, signing, and managing documents securely.

TechRadar called it a must-have for small businesses, praising how capable it is across all the key tasks:

"Nitro PDF Pro is a good PDF editing software package that allows you to make changes to documents, annotate them, and perform numerous alterations on them. The PDF editor is positioned as an essential tool for small businesses and individuals, and includes a mass of must-have features, like PDF conversions, eSignatures, OCR."

Is Nitro safe?

Yes. Nitro is built for business security and compliance:

• Strong encryption, password protection, and permission settings for sensitive PDFs.
• Digital certificates and certified eSignatures for legal documentation.
• Built-in audit trails and document history in Nitro Sign for compliance monitoring.
• Desktop processing ensures confidential documents stay local, not on third-party servers.
• Enterprise controls for deployment, updates, and integration with secure IT policies.

User reviews of Nitro

Nitro has a Trustpilot rating of 2.8 out of 5. Users are divided between those who value its features and pricing and those who are frustrated by licensing and stability issues.

Positive reviews

Good value for the money:

"This is a GREAT product at a reasonable price!"

Handles tasks well:

"Very helpful in editing & consolidating files."

Quick, helpful responses from support:

"The team was very prompt & helpful!"

Negative reviews

Licensing changes and trouble reaching support:

"Purchased a perpetual licence, but was physically discontinued to force to subscription model. The customer support website does not work, blocking ability to even lodge a complaint. Appallingly unethical company."

Activation problems even after paying:

"NITRO PDF PRO is a pdf software that will leave you helpless when you need it the most. Paid 179 USD for this, 165 days remaining yet I can't get this shi show working...."*

Frequent crashes and software instability:

"Crashing all the time."

We suggest visiting Trustpilot for more Nitro PDF reviews, where you can sort feedback by score or specific use cases.

Nitro pricing

As of now, Nitro PDF pricing is the following:

• Standard – $18/user per month (billed annually). Full editing, AI tools, and team management.
• Plus – Enterprise plan with volume discounts, added security, analytics, and dedicated support.
• Classic – $324 one-time, three-year Windows license with core editing and protection tools.

Nitro contacts

Need help? Here's how to get in touch with the Nitro team:

• Support portal: gonitro.com/support
• Phone: +1 (415) 651-4700
• Data privacy: privacy@gonitro.com

Is Nitro worth trying?

It's a good fit if:

• You work with PDFs daily in a professional setting.
• You need advanced tools for editing, signing, redaction, and OCR.
• You manage contracts, legal documents, or reports that require compliance tracking.
• You want an Adobe-class experience with better pricing control.

It might not be ideal if:

• You only merge or annotate PDFs occasionally.
• You prefer ultra-simple browser tools with no installation.
• You want a personal, one-click subscription instead of quote-based licensing.

Nitro PDF reader is still a solid pick for business use, but lately, tools like PDF Guru and PDFLeader have caught up quickly. They feel easier to use, and keep getting smarter with every update.