Currently (as of 2026) I am using the PDF X-Change Editor. I works well, is free, and does not sap as many resources as Adobe Acrobat reader. https://www.pdf-xchange.com/product/pdf-xchange-editor
Note: You can save as (to .docx, for example), so it converts files. However, the Word version can’t be edited directly (due to using the free version). You can select-copy-paste into a new document. However, this X-Change Editor may be best for starting with and editing to a PDF. If you want it, for example, as a Ggl doc, I would not use X-Change Editor. (There are good ways in Google doc/drive to convert to a Google doc.
There’s a free and a paid (higher) version.
On a related note…Changing defaults
To Choose how Chrome handles PDFs: In Chrome’s address bar, enter: chrome://settings/content/pdfDocuments
For the general Windows 11 setting:
- Open Settings.
- Choose Apps → Default apps.
- In the search box, enter
.pdf. - Click the current application.
- Select your preferred PDF reader and click Set default.