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PDFCreator is a free PDF converter tool that lets you create PDF files (Portable Document Format) from any Windows program.
If you can print your document, you can convert it to PDF with PDFCreator. And not only PDF, but you can also convert the document to other popular formats, like PNG, JPEG, and TIFF.
Creating PDF files with PDFCreator is simple. It operates like a virtual printer, turning printable documents into PDF files. Print your document to the PDFCreator printer to start the conversion.
PDFCreator converts generic printer commands from any program into PDF format and saves them as PDF files. Use it just like a printer in Word, StarCalc, or any other Windows application.
The software converts every printable document to PDF and many other formats.
- Transform your files into PDF, JPG, PNG, TIF, and more …
- Merge multiple documents into one file
- Profiles make frequently used settings available with one click
- Use automatic saving to have a completely automated PDF printer
The Professional Edition includes features that help you control and secure your output, ensuring you get the results you want.
- Compress and resize images to reduce the file size
- Encrypt your PDFs with AES and protect them with a password
- Prevent unauthorized access to your PDFs by changing the security settings
- Use the COM interface to control the program from your application
PDFCreator Features:
- Create PDFs from any software that is ready to print
- Send generated files by way of email
- Digitally sign your PDFs to ensure that you are the author and the file has not been modified.
- Automatically save files to folders and filenames based on tags such as username, computer name, date, and time.
- Security: Encrypt PDFs and protect them from being opened, printed, etc
- Create PDF/A files for long-term archives
- Create more than just PDFs: PNG, JPG, TIFF, BMP, PCX, PS, EPS
- Merge multiple files into one PDF
- Easy Install: Specify what you want, and everything is installed.
- Terminal Server: The software additionally runs on Terminal Servers without issues
- PDFCreator is free, even for business use! It is Open Source and released under the GNU General Public License.
Plus Edition does not include advertisements during setup. This results in a faster installation and a smaller download size.
PDFCreator – Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✓ Creates PDFs from virtually any Windows application that supports printing, making conversion available from common desktop software. | ✗ The software is Windows-only according to the listed operating-system requirements, limiting its use on macOS and Linux. |
| ✓ Converts printable documents into several formats, including PDF, JPG, PNG, TIFF, BMP, PCX, PS, and EPS. | ✗ Some advanced capabilities, including AES encryption, image compression, and COM control, are limited to the Professional Edition. |
| ✓ Supports merging multiple documents into a single PDF and provides profiles for quickly reusing frequently needed settings. | ✗ The latest release requires an internet connection on first launch to activate an internal library, which can be inconvenient on fully offline systems. |
| ✓ Includes digital signatures, PDF/A creation, automatic file naming and folder saving, and PDF security features. | ✗ The free edition may display advertisements during setup, while the Plus Edition specifically removes them. |
| ✓ The free edition can be used for business purposes, while additional editions provide features such as AES encryption, password protection, image compression, and COM control. | ✗ Its virtual-printer workflow depends on the source application being able to print, so it is less suitable for files or data that cannot be produced through a standard print operation. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can PDFCreator create PDFs from any application?
Yes. It works as a virtual printer, so you can create a PDF from any Windows application that supports printing. Simply select the PDF printer when printing a document.
Can PDFCreator merge multiple PDF files?
Yes. It can combine multiple documents into a single PDF file. This feature is available as part of its standard PDF creation tools.
Can PDFCreator password-protect a PDF?
Yes. PDFCreator can protect PDFs with passwords and security settings, while the Professional Edition adds AES encryption and additional control over PDF access.
Is PDFCreator better than PDF24 Creator?
It depends on your workflow. PDFCreator is particularly suited to creating PDFs through a virtual printer and automating output with profiles, automatic saving, and file naming, while PDF24 Creator provides a broader collection of PDF tools for tasks such as merging, splitting, compression, OCR, and conversion.
What’s New in PDFCreator 6.3.1:
Release Date 2026-09-09
- An internet connection is required on the first application start to activate an internal library. Installation succeeds offline, but the application won’t start until activation is completed. Once activated, it works offline as normal. NOTE Do not update if you’re in a fully offline environment.
- PDFCreator now includes our new PDF Architect 10.
- Improved modification actions such as Background, Watermark, Page Numbers, and Stamp.
- Digital signatures now reserve enough space to complete reliably.
- Fixed the font selection for the signature and stamp actions.
Official Homepage – https://www.pdfforge.org/pdfcreator
Supported Operating Systems: Windows 7 SP1, 8, 8.1, 10, 11.
