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How to Add Text Box to PDF With/Without Adobe
How do I add a fillable text box in PDF without paying for Adobe Pro? I just want to add a few fields to a form I scanned.
Need to add text box to PDF but don’t want to pay for an Adobe subscription? You’re not alone. Whether you’re working on a form, an application, or a contract, inserting text boxes can be tricky—especially when free tools don’t give you enough control.
The good news is that there are multiple ways to do this—both online and offline—without relying on Adobe. In this guide, we’ll explore the best tools, walk you through simple steps, and help you choose the method that works best for your needs.
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Part 1. How to Add Text Box to PDF Without Adobe - Smarter
If you want to avoid Adobe subscriptions but still need full control over your PDF, Tenorshare PDNob is a solid alternative. It’s beginner-friendly and supports a wide range of PDF tasks—including editing, adding text boxes, filling forms, and more.
Besides adding fillable fields, it lets you convert PDFs to formats like Word, Excel, PPT, PNG, EPUB, and PDF/A. With 100+ editing tools, you can edit text, images, links, backgrounds, watermarks, combine pages, protect files, and use industry-leading OCR to recognize text in scanned documents.
Key Features of Tenorshare PDNob
- Edit text and images directly in your PDF.
- Convert PDFs to Word, Excel, PPT, and more.
- Insert and customize fillable text boxes easily.
- Use OCR to make scanned files editable.
- Add or delete watermarks and backgrounds.
- Merge, split, or reorder pages with drag-and-drop.
- Secure files with passwords and permissions.
- Compress large PDFs without losing quality.
- Highlight, annotate, or draw on PDFs.
How to Add Text Box to PDF Without Adobe
- Open PDNob PDF Editor, then click on the "Open PDF" button to import any PDF file you’ve downloaded.
- Click the Edit icon on the above main toolbar. Click the Add Text icon in the top toolbar.
- Click anywhere in the PDF and start typing.
- You can set the font style, size, color, and alignment as needed.
- Click outside the text box to exit typing mode.
- If the Text icon stays blue, you're in continuous mode. Click it again to turn it off.
Part 2. How to Add a Fillable Text Box in Adobe PDF
Another popular way to add text box to PDF files is by using Adobe Acrobat Pro. It’s a powerful tool that offers full editing and form creation options. Whether you want to leave comments, fill out forms, or insert notes, Adobe gives you advanced control over how your PDF looks and functions.
However, you’ll need the paid Pro version to access editing tools. If you're wondering how to add text fields to pdf using Adobe, just follow these easy steps below.
How to Add Text Box in Adobe Acrobat Pro
- Open your PDF file in Adobe Acrobat Pro.
- Click on “Tools” from the top menu.
- Choose “Edit PDF” from the tool options.
- Click “Add Text” from the toolbar.
- A new text box will appear. Drag it to where you want it in the document.
- Type in your text. You can change the font, size, color, and alignment using the formatting bar.
- Once you’re done, save the PDF with your new text box added.
Pros
- Strong form-building and field customization tools
- Supports fillable forms and advanced formatting
- Works well for business and professional use
Cons
- Requires a paid Adobe Acrobat Pro subscription
- The interface can be complicated for first-time users
- Not ideal for quick or one-time edits
Part 3: How to Insert Text Box in PDF Online Free
For a quick and easy way to add text box to PDF online free, PDFescape is a great choice. It runs in your browser, so there’s nothing to install. You can insert text boxes, fill out forms, and make basic edits directly from your computer perfect for one-time or light use.
How to Insert a Text Box on a PDF Free Using PDFescape
- Go to PDFescape.com and click “Free Online”.
- Upload your PDF by selecting “Upload PDF to PDFescape”.
- Once your PDF opens, click the “pencil” icon from the upper panel.
- Select the “Text” tool, then click anywhere in the PDF where you want to add the text box.
- Type your text in the box. You can adjust font size and style from the Text Format dropdown.
- After editing, click “Download” to save your updated PDF.
Pros
- Free to use for adding text to PDFs
- No need to install anything works in your browser
- Simple and easy to understand
- Works on any device with internet
Cons
- You must be connected to the internet
- Only basic tools no advanced editing
- Can’t upload big files or long PDFs
- Doesn’t work with scanned documents
- Some complex PDF files may not open well
Part 4. How to Add a Text Box to a PDF in Preview (Mac)
You’re a Mac user and want a quick way to edit your PDF without installing anything, Preview is your go-to tool. It comes built-in with macOS and lets you do simple edits like adding a text box. Whether you’re filling out a form or adding notes, Preview makes it easy. Here’s how to add text to a PDF in Preview step by step.
How to Insert a Text Box on a PDF Free in Preview
- Double-click your PDF to open it in Preview. If not, right-click > Open With > Preview.
- Go to Tools > Show Markup Toolbar, then click Text or press Command + T.
- Click anywhere on the PDF to place the text box and start typing.
- Change font size or color by selecting text and using the Markup Toolbar.
- Move the text box by dragging it; resize by dragging corners.
- Click File > Save to keep your changes.
Pros
- 100% free and built into macOS
- Great for quick edits like adding comments or text
- No need to download or install anything
Cons
- Limited font styles and design choices
- Not ideal for detailed forms or professional edits
- Can’t add interactive or fillable form fields
- No text alignment or box border options
- Lacks advanced tools like OCR or merging pages
Part 5. FAQs of Add Text to PDF
Will added text to PDF be movable and resizable?
Yes, in editors like Tenorshare PDNob, PDFescape, Acrobat, and Preview you can click, move, resize, even reformat text boxes after placing them.
Is it possible to add text to a scanned PDF?
Yes, but you need OCR (Optical Character Recognition) to convert the scanned image into editable text first. Tools like PDNob PDF Editor offer built-in OCR to make scanned PDFs editable.
Will adding text impact my PDF quality?
No. Professional editors like Tenorshare PDNob preserve image clarity and original formatting. They avoid compression that many free tools apply.
Conclusion
Now you know how to add a fillable text box in PDF—with or without Adobe. Whether you need basic edits or advanced forms, you’ve got options. Online tools like PDFescape are great for quick fixes, while Preview is perfect for Mac users.
But if you’re looking for a professional, one-time solution without paying monthly, Tenorshare PDNob offers powerful features and full control—without subscription pressure. Try it once, and you’re set for life.
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- Instantly read, summarize, and extract insights from PDF
- Convert PDF to 30+ formats like Word, Excel, and images
- Edit text, images, watermarks, links, and backgrounds for PDF
- 99% OCR precision for making scanned PDFs editable and searchable
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By Jenefey Aaron
2025-06-30 / Edit PDF