PDFescape vs PDFgear:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, PDFgear had more branded searches than PDFescape among PDF editors worldwide. PDFgear had about 246,000 branded searches, while PDFescape had 165,000. PDFgear made up 0.34% of all PDF editor searches we track, and PDFescape accounted for 0.23%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about PDF editors, PDFgear appeared in all five answers and PDFescape in one. PDFgear was mentioned before PDFescape in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
PDFgear, about 49% more searches than PDFescape
Who does AI mention more?
PDFgear, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
PDFgear, named ahead of PDFescape in every answer
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Top PDF editors in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, PDFgear appeared in all five answers. PDFescape was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. PDFgear was listed before PDFescape in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Adobe Acrobat1st- PDFgear2nd
Foxit3rd
PDF Expert4th
pdfFiller5th
PDF-XChange6th
PDFescape7th
iLovePDF–
Sejda–
Smallpdf–- +3 more
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Adobe Acrobat5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- PDFgear5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Foxit4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- PDF Expert3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- PDF-XChange2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- pdfFiller2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- PDFescape1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- iLovePDF0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Sejda0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Smallpdf0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about PDF editors
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which PDF editor should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best PDF editors?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best PDF editor for editing documents?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“pdf editors”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“edit pdf files”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.
Is PDFescape or PDFgear more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for PDFescape and PDFgear by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 13 PDF editors we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for PDFgear, PDFescape. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | iLovePDF | Adobe Acrobat | Sejda | Smallpdf | PDF24 | Foxit | PDFgear | PDF-XChange | PDFescape | Nitro | pdfFiller | Xodo | PDF Expert |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 82.4% | 7.3% | 3.3% | 2.8% | 1.5% | 0.88% | 0.37% | 0.45% | 0.45% | 0.19% | 0.22% | 0.11% | 0.06% |
| Nov 2025 | 83.7% | 6.2% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 1.5% | 0.78% | 0.3% | 0.41% | 0.37% | 0.2% | 0.17% | 0.11% | 0.06% |
| Dec 2025 | 83.4% | 5.9% | 3.7% | 3.1% | 1.4% | 0.83% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.33% | 0.18% | 0.19% | 0.12% | 0.05% |
| Jan 2026 | 82.1% | 6.8% | 3.6% | 3% | 1.6% | 0.83% | 0.49% | 0.49% | 0.4% | 0.21% | 0.23% | 0.12% | 0.07% |
| Feb 2026 | 81.7% | 7.5% | 3.6% | 3.1% | 1.6% | 0.83% | 0.4% | 0.39% | 0.32% | 0.18% | 0.19% | 0.1% | 0.05% |
| Mar 2026 | 83.4% | 6.4% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 1.5% | 0.78% | 0.45% | 0.45% | 0.3% | 0.17% | 0.22% | 0.09% | 0.06% |
| Apr 2026 | 84% | 5.8% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 1.5% | 0.78% | 0.46% | 0.42% | 0.31% | 0.17% | 0.17% | 0.09% | 0.05% |
| May 2026 | 84% | 6.1% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 1.5% | 0.7% | 0.37% | 0.37% | 0.31% | 0.17% | 0.15% | 0.09% | 0.05% |
| Jun 2026 | 85.4% | 5.3% | 3.1% | 2.9% | 1.4% | 0.61% | 0.34% | 0.34% | 0.23% | 0.16% | 0.16% | 0.07% | 0.04% |
| Jul 2026 | 84.4% | 5.8% | 3.4% | 2.6% | 1.5% | 0.69% | 0.46% | 0.37% | 0.25% | 0.21% | 0.14% | 0.08% | 0.04% |
| Aug 2026 | 85.5% | 5% | 3.5% | 2.4% | 1.5% | 0.68% | 0.38% | 0.35% | 0.25% | 0.18% | 0.14% | 0.08% | 0.04% |
| Sep 2026 | 86.1% | 5% | 3.1% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 0.63% | 0.34% | 0.34% | 0.23% | 0.16% | 0.13% | 0.07% | 0.04% |
How has the PDFescape and PDFgear comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands once in the 12 months ending September 2026: PDFgear took it in December 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, PDFescape’s share of searches among PDF editors worldwide moved from 0.45% to 0.23%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 301K to 165K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, PDFgear’s share of searches among PDF editors worldwide moved from 0.37% to 0.34%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 246K.
How did search popularity change for PDF editors worldwide in September 2026?
1 change
Estimated monthly branded searches for PDFescape worldwide fell 45.2% over 12 measured months, from 301K to 165K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using PDFescape’s and PDFgear’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among PDF editors
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