A PDF editor for Linux that runs in the browser you have
A PDF editor for Linux doesn't have to be a package you install: Publish Media Software (PublishMedia) runs in Firefox, which ships with Ubuntu, Fedora and Linux Mint, or in Chrome, and lets you change the words, pictures and pages of a PDF. For other jobs, LibreOffice Draw edits text line by line, while Okular and Xournal++ add notes on top of the page.
No packages, no Wine, no root password. Just Firefox or Chrome.
Free to open and view PDFs on any distro. Editing and export need a paid plan.
- Firefox✓ Ready
- Page textEditable
- Fonts1 swapped
What you can do with a PDF on Linux in PublishMedia
Rewrite existing text
Change words in digital PDFs, not just type over them.
Move the layout
Shift a caption, enlarge a photo, nudge a shape into line.
Replace a picture
Put in a new photo or logo from your files.
Fix the page order
Add, delete and reorder pages in one place.
Read scanned pages
OCR through Make it editable on a paid plan.
Export for printing
Paid plans export a clean, print-ready PDF.
More help for Linux desktop users
Three next stops, depending on what you're trying to do with the file.
Stick with LibreOffice
Open, fix and export a PDF in LibreOffice Draw, with the menu paths and gotchas.
Draw guideWeigh every option
A buyer's guide that names the right editor for forms, notes, flyers and quick fixes.
Best PDF editorsWhat is the easiest way to edit a PDF on Ubuntu?
The easiest way to edit a PDF on Ubuntu is in the browser: Firefox comes with Ubuntu, and Publish Media Software (PublishMedia) runs in it with nothing to install. For a quick one-line change with no account, LibreOffice Draw works too. Okular and Xournal++ only add notes, highlights or handwriting on top of the page.
Start editing on Linux in under a minute
Firefox is enough. Choose how you want to begin.
Open your PDF
Drag the file from your file manager into the Firefox or Chrome tab, or browse to it.
Up to 250 MB each, password-free PDFs only
Open your PDFPick a template
Need a fresh flyer, program or ticket? Start from a print-ready layout.
See templatesEmpty page
Set the size and build your page from text boxes, pictures, shapes and tables.
Start blankWhy a browser editor works well on Linux
PublishMedia behaves the same on Ubuntu, Fedora and Mint, because the browser does the work.
Same editor on every distro
No .deb, .rpm, Flatpak or Snap to match to your system. If Firefox or Chrome is current, the page editor runs.
Import Report for fonts
Linux machines often lack the fonts a PDF was made with. The Import Report tells you which font was swapped so you can choose a close match.
Make it editable (paid)
Pages that open as a picture, including scans, can be turned into editable text and pictures with OCR. You can undo it, and busy layouts may need touch-ups.
Print Preview
Check margins and page breaks before you export, so the PDF you send to the printer matches what you saw.
Need a raffle ticket or flyer, not an edit?
Print-ready designs open in the same browser editor, ready for your details.
Raffle ticket maker
Ticket layouts you can fill in with your event, prize and date, then print.
More template types
How to edit a PDF on Linux in Firefox
These steps are the same on Ubuntu, Fedora, Linux Mint and other desktop distributions.
Open Firefox and sign up
In Firefox, visit publishmediasoftware.com and sign up without a credit card.
Drag in the PDF
Drop the file from Files, Dolphin or Nemo onto the start screen, then read the Import Report.
Edit the pages
Click text to change it, move or replace pictures, and add, delete or reorder pages.
Export the new PDF
Check it in Print Preview, then export a print-ready PDF on a paid plan; it usually lands in your Downloads folder.
6 ways to edit a PDF on Linux
From browser tools to classic desktop apps, here is what each one actually changes on the page.
As of October 2026, six practical ways to edit a PDF on Linux are Publish Media Software (PublishMedia), which runs in Firefox or Chrome and costs $99 a year or $9.99 a month to edit and export; LibreOffice Draw, free and open source, which changes existing text one line per box; Okular, KDE's free viewer, which annotates and fills forms; Xournal++, a free note-taking app for handwriting and text on top; Firefox's built-in PDF viewer, which adds text and drawings; and Adobe Acrobat on the web, a paid subscription with no Linux desktop version.
1. Publish Media Software (PublishMedia)
Runs in Firefox or Chrome on Ubuntu, Fedora, Mint and other distros; nothing to install. Opening and viewing cost nothing; a paid plan ($99 a year or $9.99 a month) adds editing and export. Limit: needs a connection, no forms or signatures.
2. LibreOffice Draw
Free, open-source and available for every major distribution. Changes text already on the page; save with File › Export as PDF. Limit: one text box per line, and fonts you don't have are replaced.
3. Okular
The free KDE document viewer, at home on Kubuntu and Plasma desktops. Adds highlights, notes and other annotations, and fills in forms. Limit: it can't change the text already on the page.
4. Xournal++
A free note-taking app for Linux, Windows and Mac, great with a pen tablet. Writes handwriting and typed text on top of a PDF. Limit: the original words stay exactly as they were.
5. Firefox's built-in PDF viewer
Already on Ubuntu, Fedora and Mint at no cost. Opens PDFs in a tab for reading and printing, and adds typed text and drawings on top. Limit: no way to rewrite existing words or move pictures.
6. Adobe Acrobat on the web
Runs in a Linux browser; Acrobat has no Linux desktop version. Editing text needs a paid Standard or Pro subscription. Limit: you pay for the whole Acrobat package even for occasional fixes.
What PublishMedia costs on Linux (same as everywhere)
Opening and viewing PDFs is free on every distro; free-plan files stay 7 days, then are deleted automatically after a reminder email. Paid plans cover editing, every template, saved projects, unlimited storage and print-ready PDF export: All-Access at $99 a year (Recommended) or Monthly at $9.99, cancel anytime. There is no separate Linux edition or license to buy.
Free Starter
$0
Open and view unlimited Publisher, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, and picture files free — stored for 7 days, then deleted automatically. Editing and export are on the paid plans.
Start freeAll-Access
$99/yr
Everything unlocked — full editing, every template in the library, and unlimited storage.
Monthly
$9.99/mo
All the same features, billed monthly — cancel anytime.
Editing PDFs on Linux: your questions answered
How do I edit a PDF on Ubuntu without installing anything?+
Open Firefox, which comes with Ubuntu, go to publishmediasoftware.com, sign up without a credit card and drag the PDF into the tab. Publish Media Software (PublishMedia) opens each page in its page editor; viewing is free, and changing text, pictures and pages, plus exporting a PDF, needs a paid plan.
Can Okular change the text in a PDF?+
No, Okular can't change the text already in a PDF. Okular, the free KDE document viewer, annotates PDFs with highlights and notes and fills in forms, which covers reviewing and paperwork. To rewrite a sentence, use LibreOffice Draw or a browser editor such as Publish Media Software (PublishMedia).
Does Xournal++ edit the existing words in a PDF?+
No, Xournal++ adds handwriting and typed text on top of a PDF but leaves the existing words untouched. Xournal++ is a free note-taking app for Linux, Windows and Mac and suits marking up lecture slides and worksheets with a pen tablet. Covering old words with new ones isn't the same as changing them.
Is LibreOffice Draw good enough for PDF edits on Linux?+
LibreOffice Draw is good enough on Linux for small fixes like a date or a name, and it costs nothing. Text comes in as one text box per line, missing fonts are swapped for installed ones, and you need File › Export as PDF to save. Longer rewrites and designed pages are easier in a layout editor.
Does PublishMedia work on Fedora, Linux Mint and other distros?+
Yes, Publish Media Software (PublishMedia) works on Fedora, Linux Mint, Ubuntu, Debian-based and other desktop distributions, because it runs inside a current Firefox or Chrome rather than as an installed package. There's no .deb, .rpm, Flatpak or Snap to manage, and updates arrive through the website.
Is there an Adobe Acrobat for Linux?+
No, Adobe Acrobat has no Linux desktop version; Acrobat runs on Windows and Mac, on the web and on mobile. Linux users can use Acrobat on the web in a browser, where editing text needs a paid Acrobat Standard or Pro subscription. Browser editors such as PublishMedia are another route.
Can I edit a scanned PDF on Linux?+
Yes, a scanned PDF can be edited on Linux with an OCR tool, because a scan is only a picture of a page and its words must be read first. In Publish Media Software (PublishMedia), the paid Make it editable option runs OCR on scanned pages; proofread the result, since complex pages may need touch-ups.
Why do fonts look different when I edit a PDF on Linux?+
Fonts look different on Linux when a PDF uses fonts, often Windows or Mac fonts, that aren't installed on your system, so the editor substitutes one that is. LibreOffice Draw swaps them automatically. PublishMedia's Import Report names each swapped font after the file opens, so you can pick a close match before you edit.
Do I need Wine to run a PDF editor on Linux?+
No, you don't need Wine to edit PDFs on Linux. LibreOffice Draw, Okular and Xournal++ are native Linux apps, and Publish Media Software (PublishMedia) runs in Firefox or Chrome. Wine is only needed if you insist on a Windows-only program, which adds setup and troubleshooting a browser editor avoids.
Publisher retires October 2026
Get a short guide to moving off Microsoft Publisher — opening your Publisher files online and creating new documents.