What is a fillable PDF?

A PDF with interactive form fields (called AcroForm fields) that people can type into, tick and select from in a PDF viewer, then save or print. A regular PDF is a fixed picture of a page; a fillable PDF has live inputs on top of it.

How do I make an existing PDF fillable?

Drop the PDF into the tool above. Each page renders as a canvas. Drag fields from the left onto the places people should fill, name them, then download. The original content is untouched; the fields sit on top as real widgets.

Can I create a fillable PDF without Adobe Acrobat?

Yes. This tool writes standard AcroForm fields directly in your browser. The result opens and fills in Acrobat Reader, macOS Preview, Chrome, Firefox, Edge and on iOS and Android.

Is it really free? What is the catch?

The creator is free with no account, no watermark and no usage caps. Formester makes money from its form builder: if you would rather collect responses online than by emailing PDFs, you can turn your form into a Formester form. That is optional.

Is my PDF uploaded to a server?

No. Reading the PDF, placing fields and writing the new file all happen in your browser. Your document is saved locally in this browser so you can come back to it; nothing is sent to Formester unless you choose to create a fill link.

My PDF already has some fields. Will they be kept?

Yes. Existing text fields, checkboxes, radio groups, dropdowns and signature fields are imported so you can move, rename or delete them alongside new ones.

Can people sign the PDF?

You can add a signature field. Acrobat and Acrobat Reader recognise it and offer to sign; most other viewers show the box for a drawn or typed signature. For legally binding e-signatures with an audit trail, collect the form through Formester instead.

What is a flattened copy?

A version where the fields are converted back into static page content. Useful when you want a printable or archived version that can no longer be edited.

Up to 10 MB and 50 pages per PDF, because everything runs on your own computer. There is no limit on how many PDFs you make.

Can I make a fillable PDF from a Word document?

Export the Word document as a PDF (File → Save As → PDF), then drop that PDF here and add the fields. It takes about a minute.

Free tool · runs in your browser

Create a fillable PDF, free.

Add text fields, checkboxes, dropdowns and signature boxes to any PDF, or build a form from a blank page. No signup, no watermark. Your file never leaves this tab.

Private. Nothing is uploaded.
No signup. Instant download.
No watermark. No hourly caps.
Real fields. Works in any viewer.

How to make a PDF fillable

Three steps, about two minutes.

No Acrobat, no account, nothing to install.

Step 1

Open your PDF

Drop it in. Pages render as your canvas. If it already has fields, they show up ready to edit. Or start from a blank Letter or A4 page.

Step 2

Place fields

Drag text boxes, checkboxes, radio groups, dropdowns, dates and signature boxes onto the page. Name them, mark them required, set defaults.

Step 3

Test, then download

Switch to Test fill and type into the form yourself. Then download a fillable PDF, or a flattened copy for printing.

Every field type a PDF form can have

Real AcroForm fields, not drawings

Each field is written as a genuine interactive widget, so it works in Acrobat, macOS Preview, Chrome, Firefox and on phones.

Text

Single-line answers: names, emails, amounts. Set a max length and alignment.

Paragraph

Multi-line text that wraps inside the box for notes and descriptions.

Checkbox

Yes/no and multi-select. Can be checked by default.

Radio group

Pick one of several. Radios sharing a name become one group.

Dropdown

A list of options. Optionally allow typed custom values.

Date

A combed text field with one character per cell and a format hint.

Signature

A real signature field. Acrobat shows “Sign here”; other viewers show the box.

After the PDF

Made it fillable? Stop collecting PDFs by email.

Send a Formester link instead of a file. People fill it on any device, every answer lands in one place, and you can get your PDF auto-filled for each response.

Unlimited forms and responses on the free plan
Notifications, reminders and a submissions table
Auto-filled copies of your PDF on Business, $49/mo

Try it free See how connected PDFs work

Compared

Fillable PDF creators, side by side

	Formester	Adobe Acrobat	Sejda	PDF24
Price	Free	From $12.99/mo	Free tier	Free
Account needed	No	Yes	No	No
File stays on your device	Yes	Desktop only	Uploaded	Uploaded
Usage caps	None	None	3 tasks / hour	None
Watermark	None	None	None	None
Collect responses online	Yes, free	Adobe Sign, paid	No	No

Competitor details as published on their sites in September 2026. Tell us if something changed.

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