How to Make a PDF Fillable in Easy and Quick Ways

Overview

Nowadays, office workers and students are increasingly fond of using PDF files in their daily work and study. The main reason is that the PDF documents are not editable and maintain formatting no matter on which devices you open them. However, it is more difficult to modify and edit the content in the existing PDF file, for it is not as editable as other formats like Word, PPT, Excel, etc. This guide mainly covers how to make a PDF fillable. Easy and Quick solutions are provided here. You can attain the exact tutorials in the following.

How to Make a PDF Fillable in 3 Ways

To make a PDF fillable, a powerful and professional PDF processor is essential. Plenty of PDF editing software can be found in the market. Their quality also varies. To find a truly effective PDF editor is indeed time-consuming. In this guide, I’d like to recommend you three sophisticated PDF editing software that I picked after testing dozens of desktop software. All of them are comprehensive, effective, and trustworthy.

Option1. Convert a PDF in WorkinTool PDF Converter

One way to make a PDF fillable is to convert it to fillable and editable formats, like Word, Excel, etc. To achieve that, we need a helpful PDF converter. WorkinTool PDF Converter is what I’d love to suggest to you. It is free software without any hidden costs. Compared with other converters in the field, it is relatively comprehensive. Converting PDF from/to Word, Excel, PPT, JPG, and HTML is attainable here. In addition, other helpful tools, like compressing PDF, merging and splitting PDF, protecting PDF, etc. are also equipped in this software. The operations are friendly to new beginners. In just a few steps, you can convert PDF to fillable forms effortlessly. Its online PDF converter is also provided to all users for free. You can get the desktop and online tools from its official website – WorkinTool.

How to make a PDF fillable for free with WorkinTool PDF Converter.

Step1. Launch the software, then pick Convert to/from PDF> PDF to Word and upload your PDF file.

Step2. Batch conversion is available here. Add more files and adjust the save path of the converted files if necessary. Then press Convert.

Step3. Click the Open File to check the result.

Here is an example of converting an unchangeable PDF to a fillable Word document. As you can see here, it remains the formatting and clarity of the original file. And the content like color, text, font, and forms, are turned into editable. Want to maintain a PDF format, you can use WorkinTool PDF Converter to convert the Doc or Docx file back to PDF as well.

Option2. OCR a PDF in Foxit PDF Editor

Foxit PDF Editor is another all-around PDF editing tool that I’d love to recommend. With its built-in OCR (Optical Character Recognition) tool, it can convert images or PDFs into editable files with high recognition accuracy. File Editing operations such as adding, deleting, and changing related graphics and texts to PDF documents are also available here. You can also use it to convert the PDF to fillable formats. It supports PDF conversion to documents in Word, Excel, PPT, OFD, pictures, and other formats. In a word, it can make a PDF fillable effectively. But it is not designed for free. Its one-time subscription fee is about $159. If you are new to it, you can get a 14-day free trial. If you seldom need to edit PDF files, you can just have its free trial without subscribing. To download the software, you must fill out some personal information, like name, phone number, email, etc.

How to make a PDF fillable in Foxit PDF Editor.

Step1. Click File> Open to import a PDF file.

Step2. Select Edit> Edit Text/ Edit Object to make the PDF fillable.

Step3. Make some changes to the PDF file, then choose the save icon to download it to your PC.

Option3. Make a PDF Fillable in Adobe

Adobe Acrobat is the earliest and most experienced PDF processor that is followed by numerous office users. It can cope with nearly all PDF troubles. Adobe Acrobat can turn a navigating PDF into a fillable one directly. And the recognition result is pretty good. Though it is effective and professional to process PDFs, it is not for free. And the subscription fee of it is a little bit high. If you are a new user of it, you can get a seven-day free trial. What’s more, nearly all its PDF editing tools are combined into one interface, so new users need to spend time learning about how to use it. You can have a trial first and then decide whether to subscribe to it or not.

How to make a PDF fillable in Adobe Acrobat.

Step1. Open the software, then click File> Open to upload a PDF.

Step2. Choose Edit> Edit Text & Images to make it editable.

Step3. Edit the content in the PDF, then select File> Save As to download the converted one.

Comparison of Three PDF Editors

Product Features	WorkinTool PDF Converter	Foxit	Adobe Acrobat
Price	100% free	14-day free trial$159 for one time	7-day free trial$19/month to subscribe
Request for download	No registration asked	Need to fill out personal privacy	Payment information is required
System	Windows, Online version	Windows, Mac, Cloud	Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, Web
Operation	Clear interface and toolbox	Integrated tools	Too many icons, unfriendly for beginners
Result	Convert without losing formatting	Accurate recognition	Accurate recognition
Program	106 MB	727 MB	Nearly 1 GB

Wrapping Up

In this post, I mainly talked about how to make a PDF fillable with effective PDF editors. On one hand, you can convert a PDF to fillable format with WorkinTool PDF Converter. On the other hand, you can make a PDF editable with an advanced PDF editor like Adobe Acrobat, or Foxit PDF editor. While the latter is paid. All the solutions I presented here can effectively make a PDF fillable. You can decide which one to pick according to your needs.