How to Edit a Fillable PDF with/without Adobe Acrobat - 2025 Guide

Part 1: How to Edit a Fillable PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro

Adobe Acrobat Pro is the official PDF standard used by businesses and professionals. When you need advanced PDF editing, Adobe Acrobat remains the most trusted software for editing fillable PDFs.

Adobe provides comprehensive tools to edit fillable fields in PDF. The “Prepare Form” tool is useful because it allows you to add, remove, or modify text fields, checkboxes, and dropdowns. You can also adjust the font size in PDF fillable forms, but there are some limitations. For instance, some fonts may not support certain styles, and heavy editing may be slower in large forms.

Steps to Edit a Fillable PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro

• Open Adobe Acrobat Pro and load the PDF form you want to edit.
• Click on Tools > Prepare Form. This will highlight all fillable fields in the document.

• Select the field you want to edit. You can modify text, checkboxes, dropdowns, or signature fields as needed.

• To change font size in a PDF fillable form, click on the field, then adjust the properties in the right-hand panel. After editing, save your PDF to apply changes.

Summary: Adobe Acrobat is ideal for businesses or frequent PDF form users who need reliable and professional tools for how to edit fillable fields in PDF.

Related topic:

 How to Make a Fillable PDF Form Without Acrobat

Part 2: How to Edit a Fillable PDF – Smarter Adobe Acrobat Alternative

Not everyone wants the complexity or high subscription cost of Adobe Acrobat. Tenorshare PDNob  is a lightweight, offline, and secure alternative for users who want to edit a fillable PDF efficiently and safely. PDNob allows users to amend a PDF form, add or modify text fields, checkboxes, dropdown menus, and signature fields.

Its interface is clean and simple, similar to Microsoft Word, making it beginner-friendly. Users can also edit fonts, adjust font sizes in PDF fillable forms, process multiple PDFs in batches, and apply certificate signatures all completely offline to ensure privacy.

Key Features of PDNob PDF Editor:

• Edit any PDF form, including text fields, checkboxes, dropdown menus, and signature fields, with ease.
• Change font styles and sizes in PDF fillable forms without compatibility issues or formatting errors.
• Process multiple PDFs simultaneously using batch editing tools, saving significant time for frequent users.
• Apply secure certificate signatures and annotations offline, keeping your data private and protected.
• Intuitive Word-like interface that simplifies PDF editing for beginners, freelancers, and casual users.

Steps to Edit a Fillable PDF with PDNob PDF Editor

• Launch PDNob PDF Editor and Open PDF

Open PDNob PDF Editor on your computer and go to the "Open PDF” section to import the PDF file you want to turn into a fillable form. You can also start with a blank page by clicking “Create PDF > Blank PDF”.


• Switch to the Form Mode

Click the “Form” tab on the top toolbar to enter the form editing mode. This mode allows you to add interactive fields to your PDF.


• Insert Fillable Form Fields

From the Form toolbar, choose the field type you need:

• Text Field – for short answers or input boxes
• Check Box – for Yes/No or multiple selections
• Radio Button – for single-choice questions
• Combo Box / List Box – for dropdown lists
• Push Button – to trigger actions
• Digital Signature Field – for adding electronic signatures

Click anywhere on the PDF page to place the field, and drag to resize it.


• Customize Field Properties

Double-click on the inserted field to open its Properties panel. Here, you can rename the field, set a default value, define font and appearance, and even add calculation or validation rules if needed.


• Save or Export the Fillable PDF Form

Once all fields are added and customized, click “File > Save” to keep your editable version. You can now share it with others — recipients will be able to fill in the form directly in any standard PDF viewer.

Comparison Table: PDNob PDF Editor vs Adobe Acrobat 

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Who Should Use PDNob for Fillable PDFs:

• Beginners or casual users who want something easier than Adobe
• Students filling out academic or government forms
• Freelancers who work with invoices, contracts, or templates
• Anyone who wants an offline, secure PDF editor without long-term subscriptions

Part 3: How to Edit a Fillable PDF Online Free

For occasional how to make changes to a PDF form, online tools can be practical. pdfFiller  allows you to type on a PDF form or edit fillable fields in PDF without installing software. Online editors are useful for simple edits and small forms. They are not suitable for bulk processing or sensitive documents due to privacy concerns.

Steps to Make Changes to a PDF Form via pdfFiller

• Upload your PDF document, select a template from the online library, or create a blank PDF to design from scratch.

• Open the document in the drag-and-drop editor and use the tools in the top panel to add text, checkboxes, dropdowns, or other fields.

• After finishing your edits, download the PDF in your preferred format or save it directly to cloud storage for easy access.

Summary: Use pdfFiller for occasional edits or minor adjustments. If you need to amend a PDF form regularly or handle sensitive files, offline editors like PDNob are safer.

Part 4: FAQs of Editing a Fillable PDF

Q1: How do I edit an existing fillable PDF?

You can edit a fillable PDF with many PDF editors, including Adobe Acrobat, PDNob PDF Editor, or other desktop tools. Simply open the file, select the form fields, and adjust the text, checkboxes, dropdowns, or signature areas as needed.

Q2: Can I change the font size in a PDF fillable form?

Yes. Most desktop PDF editors—such as Adobe Acrobat and PDNob—allow you to adjust font size and formatting. Some online tools support this too, though their text controls may be more limited.

Q3: How do I type on a PDF form?

Open the PDF in a program that supports fillable fields, click inside the text field, and start typing. Many editors also let you adjust font, alignment, or field properties if necessary.

Q4: How can I update a PDF form without Adobe Acrobat?

You can use various alternatives, including PDNob PDF Editor, or online tools like pdfFiller. Desktop software usually offers more complete editing features, while online options work well for quick or occasional updates.

Q5: How do I safely edit a PDF offline?

Using an offline editor helps keep your data on your device. Tools like PDNob PDF Editor or Adobe Acrobat provide offline editing so sensitive documents aren’t uploaded to external servers.

Q6: Are there free tools to edit fillable PDF fields?

Yes. Some online PDF tools allow limited free editing of fillable fields, and a few desktop programs offer basic form editing for free. For frequent or privacy-sensitive work, offline editors generally offer more stable features.

Conclusion

Knowing how to edit a fillable PDF is useful for professionals, students, and freelancers who work with digital forms. Adobe Acrobat Pro is still the most feature-rich option and fits best for enterprise teams or users who need advanced, long-term PDF tools.

For those who want something simpler, Tenorshare PDNob PDF Editor offers a lighter and more practical alternative. In my own testing, OCR, editing, and form edits were quicker than expected, and it avoids the high monthly cost of larger tools.

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PDNob PDF Editor Software- Smarter, Faster, Easier

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• 99% OCR precision for making scanned PDFs editable and searchable

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