Desktop power vs browser intelligence. Different tools for different workflows.
Foxit is a full desktop PDF editor — think "Adobe Acrobat but cheaper." It edits text in-place, creates forms, has eSign workflows, and runs on Windows/Mac. Pricing starts at $10.99/mo ($129.99/yr) with an AI add-on option.
ModernPDF is browser-based — no install, no desktop app. PDF operations process locally via WebAssembly, AI document analysis is included (not an add-on), and it costs $49/yr. Less powerful as an editor, smarter about what's inside your documents.
| Feature | ModernPDF | Foxit |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Browser-based (no install) | Desktop app (500+ MB) More capable |
| File Privacy | PDF tools process locally; AI sends text via AES-256 encryption Winner | Desktop: local. Online editor: uploaded to Foxit cloud |
| AI Document Analysis | 10 document types, structured red-flag reports Winner | AI Assistant (20 free credits/mo, generic Q&A) |
| AI Translation | ✓ Claude-powered (50+ languages) Winner | ✓ AI Assistant translation (credit-based) |
| AI Redaction | ✓ Auto-detect PII | ✓ Smart Redact (Editor+ only) More advanced |
| PDF Editing | Basic (add text, images, shapes, annotations) | Full (edit existing text, images, reflow) Winner |
| eSignatures | ✓ Fill & Sign | ✓ Full eSign workflow with tracking Winner |
| Form Creation | ✓ Fill existing forms | ✓ Create interactive forms + auto-detect fields Winner |
| PDF Tools | 28 browser tools | Full desktop suite Winner |
| Annual Price | $49/yr (all features + AI included) 62% less | $129.99/yr (Editor) or $159.99/yr (Editor+) |
| Install Required | No Winner | Yes (500+ MB desktop app) |
| Mobile App | ✗ (responsive web) | ✓ iOS & Android (Editor+ only) Winner |
| Integrations | Standalone | SharePoint, Salesforce, cloud storage Winner |
Foxit and ModernPDF aren't really the same type of product. Foxit is a desktop PDF editor — a full application you install on your computer that lets you edit text in-place, create interactive forms, run eSign workflows, and integrate with enterprise systems like SharePoint and Salesforce. It's positioned as "Adobe Acrobat but cheaper," and that's accurate.
ModernPDF is a browser-based toolkit. No install, no desktop app, no enterprise integrations. It does 28 specific PDF tasks (merge, split, compress, convert, OCR, sign, etc.) in your browser, and adds AI intelligence that Foxit charges extra for or doesn't offer at all.
Foxit includes an AI Assistant with 20 free credits per month. You can upgrade to 2,000 credits/month for additional cost. The AI does generic tasks: summarize, translate, answer questions about a document. It's useful but credit-gated and general-purpose.
ModernPDF's AI is included in the $49/yr Pro plan with no credit system. The AI Document Analyzer provides structured analysis for specific document types — non-competes, employment contracts, NDAs, leases, and more. Each report identifies key terms, obligations, red flags, and exceptions specific to that document type. This isn't "summarize this PDF" — it's domain-specific intelligence.
ModernPDF also includes AI translation (Claude-powered, 50+ languages) and AI redaction with automatic PII detection, both without usage credits.
Foxit Desktop processes files locally — strong privacy if you use the installed app. Foxit's online editor uploads files to Foxit cloud servers. Their cloud is ISO 27001 certified and SOC 2 compliant.
ModernPDF processes all PDF operations locally in the browser via WebAssembly — no file upload for any PDF tool. For AI features (translation, analysis, redaction), only extracted text is sent to Anthropic's commercial API via AES-256 bank-grade encryption — never the file itself. No text is stored after processing.
Foxit Editor costs $129.99/yr. Foxit Editor+ (which adds mobile, Smart Redact, and 150GB cloud) costs $159.99/yr. AI credits beyond the free 20/month cost extra.
ModernPDF Pro costs $49/yr. AI document analysis, translation, and redaction are included. That's $80-110/yr less than Foxit, depending on the plan — though you're comparing a browser toolkit to a desktop editor, so the price difference reflects genuine capability differences.
Yes. Foxit Editor starts at $129.99/yr vs Adobe's $239.88/yr. ModernPDF is cheaper than both at $49/yr, though it's a browser toolkit rather than a desktop editor.
Yes. Foxit includes an AI Assistant with 20 free credits/month (upgrade available). It handles generic Q&A, summarization, and translation. ModernPDF's AI provides structured document analysis for specific document types — a different approach.
For common tasks (merge, compress, convert, sign, OCR) — yes. For advanced editing, form creation, eSign workflows, or enterprise integrations — no. They serve different use cases.
PDF tools (merge, compress, convert, etc.) process locally in your browser — no upload. AI features send only extracted text via AES-256 encrypted connection, never the file itself.
Free to start. Files never leave your device. No account required.
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