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How are you cropping your PDF files? You may be used to cropping PDF files on your computer using its desktop tool, but did you know you can crop your PDF online too? There are various online PDF editing tools such as iLovePDF.

Stick around to learn if you can crop pages on a PDF with iLovePDF and the various editing tools you can use to achieve this task.

crop pdf with ilovepdf
In this article
  1. Can I Crop PDF Using iLovePDF?
  2. Step-By-Step Guide to Cropping PDF Online With iLovePDF’s Alternatives
  3. Pros & Cons of Cropping PDFs Online and Offline
  4. Wondershare PDFelement- Crop PDF Pages Easily Offline
  5. Tips for Cropping PDF pages

Part 1. Can I Crop PDF Using iLovePDF?

iLovePDF is a well-known and widely-used online tool for editing PDFs. This powerful tool offers a variety of features that make it easy to merge, split, compress, convert, and edit PDF files. With its user-friendly interface and wide range of functionalities, iLovePDF has become a go-to tool for businesses and individuals alike who need to manage their PDF content efficiently.

ilovepdf interface

Here is a list of key features you can expect while using iLovePDF.

  • Activity dashboard
  • Document management
  • Third-party integrations
  • Storage of documents
  • Alerts/notifications
  • Collaboration tools
  • Search/filter
  • Controls and permissions

It appears that the popular PDF editing tool, iLovePDF, does not currently offer a cropping feature for its users. This means that users may not be able to modify the dimensions of their PDF documents as easily as they would with other tools. But don't worry, you can still find other useful tools to crop PDFs online.

Part 2. Step-By-Step Guide to Cropping PDF Online With iLovePDF’s Alternatives

Since you cannot use iLovePDF to crop pages on your digital document, it would help to find other alternatives to help you with your predicament.

You can use numerous online tools to edit your PDF to your preference. Based on our research, we are confident that HiPDF is an excellent feature-rich alternative to solve all your PDF editing needs.

hipdf crop pdf page

A key feature you might find interesting while using HiPDF is the Crop feature, which lets you adjust the margin size on the pages and crop pages to a selected area without a hassle. Since HiPDF is an online tool, you can use it on any device as long as it is connected to the Internet.

Once the platform has completed the cropping process, you can download your document and enjoy your edited PDF.

Keep reading to learn how to use HiPDF to crop a digital document online.

Step 1. Navigate to the platform’s homepage and select “Choose File.” Alternatively, as shown below, you could drag and drop the digital document to the designated area.

hipdf choose file button

Step 2. Wait for the platform to upload your document to their server.

hipdf uploading file

Step 3. Click on the “Crop” button.

hipdf crop button

Step 4. Click “Download” once the process is complete.

hipdf download button

You could also watch this video for a more detailed guide on using iLovePDF to crop your digital document.

Part 3. Pros & Cons of Cropping PDFs Online and Offline

Online tools are the perfect choice if you are always connected to the Internet. We also urge you to choose online tools if you are making simple changes to your PDF for your personal consumption.

Most online platforms have an upper limit to the digital documents you can edit. It wouldn’t make sense to run numerous company documents through an online tool and exhaust the maximum number of editable documents.

On the other hand, offline tools are ideal if you are editing documents on the go and don’t have a robust Internet connection. Since safety is a big issue when using online tools, it would be wise to stick to offline platforms where you are 100% sure all your documents are safe and away from prying eyes.

Below are some advantages and disadvantages of using offline and online tools to crop your PDF.

pros cons online and offline tools

Pros of offline tools

  • User-friendliness

First and foremost, offline editors are easier to use. The interface isn’t too complicated, and we guarantee you won’t experience a learning curve when navigating the platform.

  • Feature-rich

Another advantage that makes offline editing tools the preferred choice is that they contain more features than online tools. For instance, you can edit text directly, a task you cannot possibly achieve with an online tool.

  • No need for an Internet connection

Last but not least, you don’t need a robust Internet connection to use offline PDF editing tools. Once you have completed the initial installation, you can use the platform anytime.

Cons of offline editors

  • Costly

A significant drawback of using offline editors is that they are expensive. However, we understand the price point since they offer many features you are bound to enjoy.

  • Inflexible

You cannot use the offline tool if you haven’t carried the device containing the desktop app. The only other option would be to repeat the installation process on the device you have with you for you to edit your digital file.

Pros of online tools

  • Affordability

Online tools cost way less than offline tools, making them perfect for minor edits to your digital documents.

  • Saves time

No matter how fast an offline tool claims to be, you still have to wait for it to finish downloading, then install it to your device. Online tools save you the precious time you would have used installing software and allow you to make quick edits to your PDFs within a few simple clicks.

Cons of online editors

  • Few features

Unfortunately, online tools don’t have as many features as offline tools. We can imagine why since most of them are free. If they aren’t free, you would probably pay less than a fraction for the desktop version. The lack of features often forces many users to resort to offline platforms.

  • Requires Internet connection

As the name suggests, you will carry out all your server operations when you choose an online editing tool. Therefore, the platform won’t work if you don’t have a robust Internet connection or some data.

Part 4. Wondershare PDFelement- Crop PDF Pages Easily Offline

By now, you know how to use online tools to crop pages on your PDF. Let’s discuss how offline tools can help you crop PDF pages to your satisfaction, leaving you with a polished digital document. Wondershare PDFelement is one of the best offline tools you could have in your arsenal to help you edit your PDF with ease.

Wondershare PDFelement has numerous features that will make editing your PDF a breeze. However, we will focus on the Organize feature, which helps you arrange pages in your PDF in any order you see fit.

You can also use this feature to crop, add, delete, split, and rotate pages within your PDF till you are happy with the result. Wondershare PDFelement is free to download and available for Mac, Linux, Windows, and iOS devices.

Once you download and install the software, you can upgrade to a premium account to access all the features.

Here is a detailed guide on how to use Wondershare PDFelement to crop pages on your PDF.

Step 1. Launch the platform and select “Open PDF,” as shown below.

pdfelement open pdf

Step 2. Select the “Crop” button.

pdfelement crop-pdf-button

Step 3. Adjust the dimensions in the dialogue box until you are happy with the results shown.

pdfelement set crop box

Step 4. Click “Apply” and save your work.

Part 5. Tips for Cropping PDF pages

Now that you know how to use offline and online tools to crop pages in your PDF, let’s share some tips for cropping PDF pages.

  • It would help to take note of the page margins when you are cropping out the unnecessary bits. Ensure you are paying attention, so you don’t remove the valuable parts of your PDF. If you cannot undo what you have done, you will be forced to restart the process.
  • If you want to print the PDF after you have finished cropping the pages, it would be wise to take note of the aspect ratio.
  • Remember that cropping your PDF doesn’t reduce its size. Even if you remove a sizeable chunk, the information is merely hidden, and the PDF will remain the same. Therefore, cropping the PDF is not feasible if you want to make the digital document smaller.
  • Ensure you select the correct editing tool to crop your PDF. There are numerous tools on the Internet, leaving you spoilt for choice. The best way to choose an appropriate editing tool is to assess your needs and pick the one you feel fulfills most of them.
  • Always double-check the dimensions to ensure you have the correct size before saving your work. You are better off taking your time to cross-check everything than realizing later you made a mistake, and you have to repeat the entire process.

Conclusion

The good news is that you are not confined to one specific editing tool, be it an offline or an online tool. You can choose any platform that tickles your fancy as long as it caters to your needs and completes the job perfectly.

We hope this article provided detailed guides you can follow and replicate using your device. You will become a pro with enough practice and even teach your friends how to use offline and online tools to crop PDF pages!

Audrey Goodwin
Audrey Goodwin Apr 07, 24
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12 years of talent acquired in the software industry working with large publishers. Public speaker and author of several eBooks on technical writing and editing.