PDFbat vs Sejda: which online PDF editor is better?
Sejda is a respected PDF editor with online and desktop versions. PDFbat is a browser editor with more generous free use, plus signing, AI and an API.
Updated by the PDFbat team
The short answer
PDFbat is a good free Sejda alternative if you hit Sejda's free task and page limits, or if you also need signing and AI. Sejda is the better choice if you want a desktop app that works offline.
Both can edit the text already in a PDF. Sejda's free online tier is limited per hour and per file, while PDFbat's Free plan allows 10 tool tasks a day, 25 MB files and no watermark, and Pro is $4 a month.
If privacy and offline work matter most, Sejda Desktop is a real advantage. If you want everything in a browser tab, PDFbat is simpler.
PDFbat vs Sejda: side by side
| Feature | PDFbat | Sejda |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free plan, Pro $4 a month | Free tier with limits, paid plans from about $7 a month |
| Edit existing text in place | Yes | Yes |
| Text in any language and script | Yes | Check their current plans |
| Desktop app that works offline | No | Yes |
| Browser based editor | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan limits | 10 tasks a day, 25 MB files | Per hour task, size and page limits |
| Merge, split, compress, OCR | Yes | Yes |
| True redaction | Yes | Check their current plans |
| E signatures with signing order and audit trail | Yes | Basic signing, check their current plans |
| Bulk send and templates for signing | Yes | No |
| Chat with PDF with page citations | Yes | Check their current plans |
| Translate a whole PDF to a new PDF | Yes | Check their current plans |
| Cloud Drive for results | 1 GB free, 10 GB on Pro | No |
| REST API | 250 free calls a month | Paid API, check their site |
| Community and track record | Newer, smaller | Established |
Competitor details reflect their public pricing pages in November 2026. Check Sejda's site for current limits and terms.
Choose PDFbat if
- you want a larger free allowance without hourly limits.
- you need e signatures with templates and bulk send next to your editor.
- you want AI chat, translation and data extraction on your PDFs.
- you want your results saved automatically to a private Drive.
Choose Sejda if
- you need a desktop app that works without internet access.
- you prefer a long established product with a clear one off day pass option.
- you handle very sensitive files and want to keep processing on your own machine.
- you like its straightforward tool pages and do not need signing or AI.
Editing quality and language support
Sejda has a solid text editor that works on real PDF text, which is more than many free online editors manage. PDFbat does the same in its PDF editor and puts extra effort into other scripts: Arabic and Hebrew right to left text, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali, Thai, Chinese, Japanese and Korean are shaped correctly and can be copied back out. See the every language page for details.
If your documents are in English only, the editing difference may be small. Test one of your own files in both.
Beyond editing
Sejda focuses on PDF tools. PDFbat adds e signatures with reminders and a sealed audit trail, AI PDF with page citations, and a PDF API that covers every tool. Free accounts get 3 envelopes and 200 AI credits a month.
Where Sejda wins
The desktop app is the big one. It lets you work without uploading anything, which some teams need. PDFbat is browser only, and files go to your private Drive on the server. Sejda is also older and better known, with a larger set of reviews.
Frequently asked questions
Is PDFbat a free alternative to Sejda?
Yes. PDFbat has a Free plan with all tools and an editor, 10 tool tasks a day and no watermark.
Can both edit existing PDF text?
Yes. PDFbat lets you click a line of real text and retype it. Sejda also edits existing text, though check their current free limits.
Does PDFbat have a desktop version?
No. PDFbat is browser based only. If you need an offline desktop app, Sejda offers one.
Which is cheaper?
PDFbat Pro is $4 a month. Sejda paid plans start from about $7 a month at the time of writing, so check their site.
Does PDFbat handle scans?
Yes. OCR is included on the Free plan and reads 45 languages. AI actions also work on scans.
Can I sign documents in PDFbat?
Yes, either by signing yourself with Fill and sign or by sending envelopes to others. Signers need no account.
Keep comparing
Try PDFbat free
Edit, sign and store PDFs in one account. Free plan with no credit card, Pro for $4 a month.