12 Best Programs to write on PDF

Creating or downloading a document in PDF format is now very easy thanks to an infinite number of dedicated applications and programs, whether online or local. Maybe you have generated your PDF document and noticed that there is a typo or a sentence is missing? If you do not have the original file to quickly edit it, you could still rely on programs to write on PDF that are equally effective.

Although there are many solutions for writing on PDF, today we will take a look at the best software and platforms that allow you to do it safely and in the fastest way possible.

Index

Programs to write on PDF

As we anticipated, there are many programs for writing on PDF, in fact, you can opt for online software, desktop software, free software and paid software.

If you need programs to write on PDF directly from your web browser, then this could be the best solution. You do not need to install any programs and you can still take advantage of advanced features.

An online platform to write on your PDF is Smallpdf ,  available in both free and paid versions. You can use a versatile and complete online editor to modify PDFs. The compression and conversion features are also interesting .

The Free version offers Access to 21 Smallpdf tools, the ability to work from the mobile app and website with a daily document download limit. Subscription plans start at €7.5/month with unlimited document downloads.

Alternative to Smallpdf

• ILovePDF: This free web application offers a wide range of tools for working with PDFs. In addition to editing text, it also allows you to add comments, signatures, and images.
• DocHub: is a platform that allows you to fill out, sign and annotate PDFs. Ideal for document collaboration.
• PDF2Go– Offers various editing options like adding text, drawing, highlighting and even rearranging PDF pages.

Adobe Acrobat Pro (Desktop)

When you download a program to write in PDF for desktop, you simply install the software on your PC or compatible device. These programs are usually equipped with many advanced features for writing in PDF formats and are especially suitable for frequent and professional use.

The best program for editing PDF is undoubtedly Adobe Acrobat Pro , which thanks to the paid version allows you to write and rewrite on PDF. You can take advantage of a complete tool for editing text and adding comments or digital signature, as well as password protection. One of the most interesting features is file conversion.

For new subscribers, the first 6 months of annual subscription cost €18.29/month, then €24.39/month. You can try it for free for 7 days.

PDFescape (free)

Using a free PDF writer gives you a free tool with limited functionality. Even the best free program with advanced functionality displays ad banners or mini videos between edits.

Available in both online and desktop versions, PDFescape is a program for writing on PDF that is free in the basic tool and paid for advanced features. You can edit PDFs, annotate texts, fill out forms and of course insert or remove images.

The online version is completely free, while the Desktop version, after a trial period, starts at €2.99/month.

Alternatives to PDFescape

• LibreOffice: Draw, part of the LibreOffice suite, lets you open and edit PDF files. You can add text, images, and even draw on PDFs.
• Inkscape: A vector graphics editor that can also be used to edit PDF files, adding or changing text.
• PDFill PDF Tools: Among many other features, it allows you to add text and annotations to PDFs.
• Foxit Reader: Free for personal use, allows you to add notes, highlights and comments to PDFs.

PDFElement (paid)

By relying on a paid software instead, in addition to almost completely eliminating advertising banners , you can count on a complete and feature-rich solution. Usually the paid versions also have an ideal support service for users who do not want to leave anything to chance when there are technical problems.

PDFelement , developed by Wondershare , is a versatile PDF editing software. It offers advanced features such as text editing, annotations, conversion to various formats, OCR to transform scanned PDFs into editable documents, interactive form creation, and password protection. The simple and intuitive interface is very similar to Microsoft Office programs.

PDFelement is also a PDF writer app available for Android and iOS . For more information, you can read our PDFelement review .

You can try it for free or buy a six-month license for €49 or a perpetual license for €119 (25% discount)

Alternatives to PDFelement

• Nitro Pro: Easily create, edit, sign, and share PDFs. Prices start at $13.65/month.
• Foxit PDF Editor: Full-featured PDF editor that includes tools for advanced editing, collaboration, and PDF protection. Prices start at $127/year.

Comparison table

Software	Price	Supported platforms	Key Features
Smallpdf	Free basic version; €7.5/month for Premium	Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android	PDF conversion, compression, digital signature, basic editing, cloud integration
Adobe Acrobat Pro DC	Subscription: €18.29/month for the first 6 months	Windows, macOS, iOS, Android	Advanced editing, conversion, digital signature, PDF protection, collaboration, OCR
PDFescape	Free web version; €2.99/month for Premium	Web, Windows	Basic editing, annotation, form filling, form creation
PDFelement	Perpetual license: from €119 with 7-day free trial	Windows, macOS, iOS, Android	Advanced editing, conversion, OCR, digital signature, PDF protection, collaboration

How to choose the right program

You can write on PDF using an App or a paid tool, just as free PDF writing programs should not be ruled out a priori , which are more than sufficient for basic operations. As you may have noticed, there are many PDF editing software available online and offline, how do you choose the one that best suits your needs?

Budget available

First of all, you need to carefully evaluate your budget . Free software is often sufficient for the most common operations, while if you use these tools every day for work , a paid solution would be the most suitable choice.

Operating system

Another factor to consider is the operating system , in fact, even if most programs are compatible with Linux , Windows and macOS , it is necessary to check before purchasing the program. On the official website of the program you will find the compatibilities and the respective operating systems.

Functionality

If budget , frequency of use and operating system are essential elements before choosing the program to write on PDF, it is also important to evaluate the features available . Identify the tools you need, such as digital signature , document editing or password protection , and download the program that can satisfy you the most.

Student or Professional?

Writing PDFs for a student may require different features than for a professional or a company that needs to manage a database of many digital documents. If you have to write on a PDF file and you are a student, the programs we recommend you try are SmallPDF and PDFescape , since they have basic features that are sufficient for most academic needs. The interfaces are very easy to use and the conversion speed from other formats is fast and effective.

While if you are a professional who works with PDF files every day, the ideal solution is Adobe Acrobat Pro , which offers advanced features for all professional activities. You can count on equally excellent extensions to integrate other graphics or text programs.

Writing on PDF: A Step-by-Step Guide with Acrobat

Since Adobe Acrobat is among the most popular programs for writing PDF, let’s see how to edit a document in this format with Adobe’s own software.

Add text

To add text and write on Adobe PDF, once you have downloaded the program or App from the official website , launch the program and upload a PDF file. From the top menu, select Edit and click on Text in the Add Content section . Drag to define the width of the text block. Acrobat automatically detects the properties of the surrounding text, such as font , size , color and spacing , and applies them to the new text entered. You can change these properties in the Format panel on the left. To resize or move the text box, drag the handles or the selection rectangle line. Hold down Shift to maintain alignment while moving the box.

Edit text

To edit text in a PDF with Acrobat, access Preferences via the hamburger menu (Windows) or the Acrobat menu (macOS), or by using the shortcut Ctrl+K (Windows) or Command+K (macOS). Select Edit Content in the Categories section . Here you can change the default font for adding or editing text, choosing from a variety of available fonts. When you edit a paragraph, the text inside its box reflows to reflect your changes. Use the Format panel for additional formatting options, such as bullets, font size, color, and other advanced options.

Remember that to edit text, the original font must be installed or embedded in the PDF. If it is not, you can only change the color or size of the text.

Filling out forms

To fill out and sign a PDF form with Acrobat, open the document and select Electronic Signature from the global bar or go to All Tools > Fill & Sign . In the left panel, you will find the necessary tools. Select the desired field to add text and enter it. You can reposition and edit the text box , change the size and color of the text , and choose the field style (normal or boxed). Once all the fields are filled out, sign the form using the signature tool . The default signatures are black, but you can change the color if necessary.

Free alternatives to paid software

While Adobe Acroba Pro is the ideal choice for professionals and companies, it is also true that having to download a paid version is not very attractive. If you want to write on PDF for free, you can opt for equally interesting alternatives.

PDF-XChange Editor

PDF-XChange Editor is a free PDF writing program that allows you to access several advanced features, although the most extensive ones require a paid subscription. Among the advantages of using this software, we point out the intuitive interface and several editing tools , while on the other hand you will have to limit yourself to editing files without subscribing to a paid subscription. You can, therefore, try the program and decide only later whether the advanced paid features can be useful to you or not.

To make the most of the basic features of the program, simply open the PDF file, select the editing tool and insert the text you prefer. Once you have completed the changes, all you have to do is click on File or Export and save your new document in PDF format on your PC or smartphone/tablet.

Sejda PDF Editor

Sejda is an online editor with several free features, but we anticipate that it has many limitations related to daily use. If you were wondering: how can I write on a PDF without downloading it? Sejda could be for you, as well as Google Drive , SmallPDF and the online version of Adobe Acrobat . In most cases, users rely on this program to write a PDF document because it has many easy-to-use features.

You will have no difficulty in modifying your digital documents and inserting sentences or images from your PDF. On the other hand, you will have several limitations in daily use, in fact, you will not be able to make more than 3 changes per day . We also point out that the documents you upload to the platform cannot exceed 200 pages and 50 MB . Although it is an excellent free alternative, it brings with it several limitations.

To use the features of this program you will need to upload the PDF and click on the icons on the screen to edit. You can either insert text, delete it or modify it. Once you have finished your work you can then download the new PDF to your device.

Security and privacy

To write PDFs you do not necessarily have to rely on a paid program, but you can opt for online platforms or free solutions. Although this is true, it is important to emphasize that choosing a reliable program is essential to protect your sensitive data .

Protection of sensitive data

For example, when you upload your PDFs to a website, if they contain sensitive information , it is a good idea to check that the platform you are using has a policy that aims to delete the files once the changes have been completed . Each website dedicated to writing on PDF highlights in a specific section whether the uploaded files are deleted or not once uploaded. Make sure they are deleted.

Advanced encryption and password protection

The best programs have excellent management of sensitive data, in fact, they use advanced encryption to protect your documents . Again, make sure that the tool you choose offers password protection and encryption features . We want to give you some practical advice to protect your documents when you want to write on PDF files for free.

File recovery and periodic backups

First of all, make sure you use a strong password , protecting your PDF documents with complex keywords and alphanumeric characters. Equally important is that there is strong encryption , which can allow you to recover the file, but which does not allow third parties to access it. This way, even malware will be ineffective if they were to attack your device.

Don’t forget to periodically back up your important documents , so you can quickly recover them if they are accidentally deleted or corrupted. You can use a free or paid cloud service, or you could switch to an external hard drive to save your most important documents.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the best free PDF editing program?

There are several free options for editing PDFs, including LibreOffice , PDF24 , PDFCandy , and PDFescape . The best choice depends on your specific needs, such as whether you need to make minor changes or have more advanced features.

How can I write on a PDF without downloading it?

You can write on a PDF without downloading it using free online tools such as those offered by Google Drive , Adobe Acrobat online , or Smallpdf . These tools allow you to add text, annotations, and signatures directly from your browser.

How can I handwrite on a PDF?

To handwrite on a PDF, you can use drawing and annotation tools available in free programs like Xournal++ , PDFescape , or the Google Drive app . These options allow you to use your mouse or a touchscreen to create custom signatures or annotations.

Does Windows 10/11 have a built-in free PDF editor?

No, Windows 10 and 11 do not include a free built-in PDF editor . To create and edit PDF files, you will need to download a third-party application. However, Microsoft’s Edge browser , like many other browsers, has a very good free PDF reader . Although it is fairly basic, it is perfect for quickly viewing, commenting on, and highlighting online documents.

Conclusions

To conclude this guide, we recommend that you consult these other guides to facilitate your work with PDFs: Programs to compress PDF and Programs to translate PDF . These resources will allow you to optimize your workflow and take full advantage of the advanced PDF editing features.

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