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Good PDF Option for Value, Could Use Some Work on Advanced Options
Updated January 04, 2022

Good PDF Option for Value, Could Use Some Work on Advanced Options

Anonymous | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Software Version

Power PDF Advanced

Overall Satisfaction with Kofax Power PDF (formerly Nuance)

We used Adobe but were looking for an alternative due to price. We now are split, with some computers still using the existing Adobe licenses (one time, not monthly fees) and some with Kofax. We find them comparable, though some still prefer Adobe based at least in some part on familiarity.
  • It's easy to create pdfs directly from other documents.
  • Making small edits is fairly intuitive.
  • The interface is mostly intuitive and looks clean.
  • The forms feature is difficult to use, with many steps and a lack of intuitive options.
  • Finding the various options behind the basic ones in the interface is difficult.
  • Using advanced options tends to take time to work.
  • The overall look is a bit dated.
  • It has saved us money from being less expensive than Adobe.
  • It has saved us time from switching between Adobe pro computers and ones with just reader.
I find the basic functions to be easy to use, but the advanced functions take time to figure out and learn. I can normally figure out the start but need to look up how to information to find the advanced options and how to get them to do what I want or need. The basic functions are out of the box easy to use, though, whether or not someone has used something similar recently.
Kofax is better than Adobe reader, as well as the basic Microsoft pdf program, certainly, with many more options.

Kofax and Adobe pro have many similar functions, with Kofax having a much better price point. Adobe Pro has some additional features (or at least ones I haven't found yet in Kofax) and is easier to find and use the advanced features. That said, for the price difference, it is worth some minor added time and annoyance sometimes!
The support is limited. The help section, information, and similar are useful sometimes but not always specific or in depth sufficiently for our needs. I often end up searching online, which is usually successful in finding solutions and information, whether from Kofax or a third party. It is rare that I ultimately cannot find information on how to do something.

Do you think Kofax Power PDF delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Kofax Power PDF's feature set?

Yes

Did Kofax Power PDF live up to sales and marketing promises?

No

Did implementation of Kofax Power PDF go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy Kofax Power PDF again?

Yes

Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365)
The ease of creating pdfs and adjusting the metadata is good. The password protection is useful though sometimes finicky. The most important advanced item for me is the forms, which need some work. The forms tool is powerful, it just needs some tweaks to have it be convenient as well.
Kofax is great where you're looking for a simple, easy to set up pdf solution, though it can be difficult to switch from Adobe. If you already have Adobe, then it might be best to keep one Adobe while the rest go to Kofax. It takes longer to learn and implement the more advanced solutions, but there also seem to be more of them than with Adobe.

Using Kofax Power PDF (formerly Nuance)

2 - We use Kofax Power PDF for a few functions. First, we use it for common business operations, such as administrative tasks, marketing, and exchanging information in a clear way. Second, we use it for intake information from clients, though the automatic form creation function is something to which I still have not fully adapted. It does seem powerful once you get used to using it. Third, we use Kofax for providing deliverables and information to clients. We handle a lot of documents, and being able to combine, merge, add watermarks, protect, and more is very important. Again, I had to get used to the approach for it, but I quickly was able to template how I merge, add watermarks, and protect common deliverable packages - now it is a few steps (because I have to use different things on different pages) but much quicker and more powerful than Adobe.
1 - We have external IT but have not had to use them with Kofax Power PDF at this point. I have been able to figure out everything that has come up at this point, other than one thing that is annoying but really quite minor - how it shows in Word. I do not have a tech background, though I would say I am more tech literate than the average office user. Using Kofax takes an adjustment from another software (as any software switch does) but becomes fairly intuitive - and powerful - without needing an IT background.
  • Intake Forms
  • Provision of Drafts
  • Saving and Sharing Completed Documents
  • Protecting Documents to Share and Store
  • Internal Record Keeping
  • Marketing
  • Provisions of Drafts with Templated Watermarks and Protections
  • Forms for Information from External Parties
  • Forms - lots to build on here
  • Improving file storage
  • Improved record keeping
I am already planning on purchasing additional licenses within the office. I like that it is not a renewable or subscription service but a one time purchase. Using Kofax Power PDF takes some adjusting from other software but ends up being more powerful in an easier to use way - without needing significant tech knowledge or background. For the price, it is a great value!