Foxit PhantomPDF is a professional software solution built specifically for creating PDF files. Not only does this tool manage to provide all the necessary options for helping you create PDFs, but it also comes packed with many advanced features, such as encryption, conversion and a built-in PDF editor. The program boasts an intuitive interface that can help you perform several actions on the go. Thanks to its multi-tabbed support, you can easily switch between your documents.

Phantom PDF’s interface utilizes the latest in Microsoft styles with the tool ribbon and Modern UI (Windows 8) look. The GUI is well-organized and easy to navigate. My only complaint, an exceedingly small one, is the small size of the type in the leftmost column of the file menu, which looks out of place with the larger text to the right. If I’m reaching that far to find something to complain about, you know things are in good shape.

Phantom PDF has all the usual form creation features (push and radio buttons, checkboxes, text fields, etc.) and has a form recognition facility to render existing static forms editable. It also handles password and certificate protection and supports DocuSign signatures. Unlike Power PDF, it doesn’t let you draw a signature, but you can load one via an existing image.

As an editor for general PDF tasks, Phantom PDF is excellent; annotating, inserting, deleting and altering formatting with the best of them. However, for creating PDFs from scans with images, curved text, odd fonts, and lots of layout elements, not so much. The search-able PDF I created from 15 complex documents wasn’t bad, though a lot text buried in images wasn’t rendered searchable, and the locations of some items were out of sync.

But the worst was the Word document Phantom PDF created from the same input—column errors made it 84 pages long, rather than the 25 it should be. Phantom PDF is not in Power PDF’s, or especially Acrobat’s, league in this respect. Please note that this is a stress test designed to push the limits of OCR. Phantom PDF’s OCR is accurate with simpler, everyday business documents and forms.

PhantomPDF Business 9 gets high marks for making the often arduous task of document management a breeze. In both capabilities and price, it’s almost neck-in-neck with Nitro Pro. It doesn’t work with as many file formats as the latter, but it does work with the most important ones. If you’re looking for a reliable, easy-to-use PDF editor, you can’t go wrong.