How to Make a Fillable PDF Form Without Acrobat - Free/Online/Desktop

Part 1. What Is a Fillable PDF Form

A fillable PDF form is a digital document that people can complete directly on their computer, tablet, or phone. Instead of printing and handwriting responses, users can type into text fields, check boxes, select dropdown options, and even sign electronically.

Key Features and Uses

• Interactive Fields: Fillable PDFs come with editable fields like text boxes, checkboxes, radio buttons, and dropdown lists.
• Electronic Data Collection: These forms are great for online applications, feedback surveys, or registration forms because data can be collected instantly.
• Digital Signatures: Many forms let users sign electronically, so you don’t need to print or scan documents anymore.
• Accessibility: A well-made fillable PDF is also accessible to users who rely on assistive tools like screen readers.

Fillable PDFs make business forms faster to complete and easier to manage. Now, let’s look at how to make a PDF file fillable form without Acrobat free using different tools.

Part 2. How to Make a Fillable PDF Form Without Acrobat Free

Before spending money on expensive tools, you can easily make a fillable PDF form without Acrobat free using simple, reliable, and beginner-friendly options like Jotform or OpenOffice.

1. Jotform

Jotform is a powerful yet easy-to-use online form builder that allows anyone to create fillable PDFs without Acrobat. You can drag and drop fields, customize layouts, and instantly turn your design into a typeable, downloadable PDF. It’s ideal for businesses, teachers, and freelancers needing quick, professional forms.

Steps to Create a Fillable PDF Using Jotform:

• Open Jotform’s drag-and-drop form builder and start creating your custom form. You’ll see preset fields like "Name,” "Email,” and "Address” on the left-hand side to help you save time. You can also add your company logo or image, which will automatically appear in your final PDF form.

• Go to your Workspace Dashboard and find the form you want to convert. Click the "More” dropdown next to it and select "Create PDF Form". Jotform will immediately begin converting your form into a fillable PDF.

• Once the conversion is complete, your fillable PDF form is ready. Open it using Acrobat Reader, Foxit, or any other PDF viewer to check how it looks and functions.

• Give your form a quick test run to ensure everything works properly. Jotform allows you to receive completed form responses directly via email, and all responses are automatically saved and organized in your Jotform account.

• You can manage or export your collected data easily. Jotform lets you export responses as Excel, CSV, or PDF files, and you can also integrate your results into Google Sheets or generate visual reports for analysis.

Test Experience:

Testing Jotform’s fillable PDF builder shows it’s intuitive for users familiar with online forms. The drag-and-drop interface makes adding text boxes and dropdowns straightforward. During export, some field alignments may shift slightly, so reviewing the preview before finalizing is recommended. Integration with cloud services like Google Drive simplifies data collection.

📝 Best For: Best suited for business owners, educators, or HR professionals who need to collect digital responses and automatically generate fillable PDFs online.

2. OpenOffice

OpenOffice  is a completely free and open-source office suite that works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its Draw module allows users to design and create typeable PDFs without installing Acrobat. You can add text boxes, checkboxes, and dropdown menus, making it perfect for creating simple fillable forms offline.

Steps to Make a Fillable PDF Form Using OpenOffice:

• Open OpenOffice Draw and either create a new document or import an existing PDF that you want to make fillable.
• Go to the Form Controls toolbar and add interactive fields such as text boxes, checkboxes, radio buttons, or dropdown menus to your document.

• Adjust the size, position, and properties of each field as needed to ensure the form is easy to fill out.

• Once your form is ready, click File > Export as PDF and make sure to select "Create PDF Form” before saving. Your fillable PDF is now ready to use.

Test Experience:

OpenOffice’s built-in Form Controls feature allows manual creation of fillable fields inside a Writer document before exporting to PDF. It works offline and doesn’t require paid software, but the interface feels outdated and requires some practice. Users should ensure the “Create PDF Form” option is enabled before export; otherwise, fields won’t remain interactive.

📝 Best For: Great for users who prefer open-source tools and need a cost-free, offline way to create simple interactive PDF forms without Acrobat.

Part 3. How to Create Fillable PDF Without Acrobat: Safer Desktop Software

Tenorshare PDNob is a secure desktop program that allows you to create, edit, and fill PDF forms without needing Acrobat. Unlike online tools, it works completely offline, ensuring your documents and personal data remain private.

The software offers an easy, Word-like interface, making it suitable even for beginners. You can add text fields, checkboxes, dropdowns, and digital signatures in just a few clicks. It also includes advanced tools like OCR, batch processing, and image editing, giving you full control over your files. It’s a safe, reliable choice for both professionals and casual users.

Main Features:

• Offline Processing: All PDF creation and editing happens locally, ensuring maximum privacy and data security.
• Interactive Form Fields: Easily add text boxes, checkboxes, radio buttons, dropdowns, and signature fields in your PDF.
• User-Friendly Interface: A Word-like layout makes it simple for beginners to navigate and use all features efficiently.
• Advanced Tools: Includes OCR, batch processing, and image editing, giving you more control over your PDFs.
• Digital Signatures: Add secure electronic or certificate-based signatures directly to your fillable PDF forms.

Steps to Make a Fillable PDF Form via 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.

Test Experience:

PDNob PDF Editor delivers a desktop experience close to Word’s editing environment. It supports creating text boxes, checkboxes, and signature fields effortlessly. In testing, the software ran smoothly even with multi-page PDFs. Form elements were responsive and preserved perfectly after export. Its 100% offline mode ensures privacy for sensitive business documents.

📝 Best For: Ideal for professionals, corporate teams, and freelancers who value offline security and need a reliable, user-friendly form editor with advanced tools like OCR and digital signatures.

Part 4. How to Make a Fillable PDF Form Without Acrobat Online

If you don’t want to install software, you can easily make a fillable PDF form without Acrobat online. Several web-based tools like PDFgear and Smallpdf let you create and edit fillable PDFs directly in your browser.

1. PDFgear

PDFgear  is a free, web-based PDF editor that allows you to create fillable PDFs online without downloading or signing up. It supports adding text boxes, checkboxes, and dropdown menus directly in your browser. You can upload any document, edit it easily, and download a fully interactive fillable PDF within minutes completely free.

Steps to Turn PDF Into Fillable via PDFgear:

• Open your web browser and go to PDFgear’s online fillable PDF maker. Click the "Select PDF File” button to upload the PDF you want to make fillable.

• From the top-left menu, choose the type of fillable field you want to add, such as textbox, password, checkbox, radio button, dropdown menu, list box, or signature field.

• Click anywhere on your PDF to place the selected field. Drag the handles to resize or reposition it as needed.

• (Optional): Double-click the field to adjust properties like field name, default value, formatting, or validation to customize it for your needs.

• After adding all necessary fields, click the Download file button in the upper-right corner to save your fillable PDF. Avoid using the Print option so others can fill out the form digitally.

Test Experience:

PDFgear’s online form creator runs entirely in the browser with fast upload and editing speeds. Field placement is accurate, but response time may slow slightly for PDFs larger than 30 MB. The auto-save function helps prevent progress loss when working online. Users should check for proper field labeling before export.

📝 Best For: Recommended for remote workers, students, and small businesses looking for a quick, installation-free way to make or edit fillable PDFs.

2. Smallpdf

Smallpdf  is a popular online PDF platform that allows users to turn PDF into fillable forms quickly and easily. With its simple drag-and-drop interface, you can add text fields, checkboxes, and signature areas directly in your browser. It works on all devices and saves time for users who need fast, no-install PDF editing.

Steps to Make a Fillable PDF Form via Smallpdf:

• Go to Smallpdf Edit PDF. You can upload your document from your device, Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive.
• Drag and drop your file into the editor. You can start with a blank PDF, a scanned form, or an existing PDF template.

• Click the Text Box icon under the Annotate tab. Click on the document where you want users to enter text, such as Name, Email, or Address fields. Adjust the size, font, and alignment of each field. To create line-style fillable spaces, hold Shift + hyphen (-) and stretch the underscore as needed.

• Add checkboxes or shapes using the Shape tool. Insert small squares for checkboxes or circles, arrows, and rectangles to guide users. Keep consistent spacing for a clean layout.
• When your form is ready, click Export. Download your fillable PDF or generate a shareable link for others to access it.

Test Experience:

Smallpdf’s online editor makes form creation simple with drag-and-drop functionality. It’s easy to insert text boxes or signature fields, but the free version limits daily uploads. Export quality is good, though heavy images may increase processing time. The interface is clean and mobile-friendly

📝 Best For: Best for occasional users or individuals who only need to make small edits or simple fillable PDFs quickly online without installing software.

Part 5. How to Make a Fillable PDF Form Without Acrobat in Word

You can easily create a fillable PDF form in Word using the built-in Developer tools. If you already have Microsoft Office, there’s no need to install extra software. Word lets you insert text boxes, checkboxes, and dropdown lists, then save the file as a PDF. It’s a simple and reliable way to design professional, typeable PDF forms offline.

Steps to Create Fillable PDF in Word:

• Open Microsoft Word and enable the Developer tab by going to File > Options > Customize Ribbon.

• From the Developer tab, insert the form fields you need, such as text boxes, checkboxes, or dropdown menus.
• Customize each field according to your requirements. You can adjust the field name, default text, and formatting to suit your form.

• When your form is ready, go to File > Save As and select PDF as the file format. Your Word document is now a fillable PDF form.
• Test the PDF to ensure all fields work correctly. This method is simple and ideal for anyone who already uses Word regularly.

Test Experience:

Creating fillable PDFs in Microsoft Word works well when using the Developer tab. Adding text fields and checkboxes is straightforward once enabled. However, users must remember to save as PDF while preserving “form fields”; otherwise, interactivity will be lost. Compatibility is generally strong, but formatting can shift slightly when reopened in other PDF viewers.

📝 Best For: Perfect for office users, educators, and administrators who already work with Word documents and want a familiar way to create interactive forms without extra tools.

Part 6. What Is the Best Program to Make PDF Fillable?

After testing multiple tools, it’s clear that each option serves a different type of user. The best program to make a fillable PDF depends on your needs — whether you value offline privacy, advanced customization, or quick web-based access.

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• If you need professional and secure PDF form creation, Tenorshare PDNob PDF Editor stands out for its offline protection, OCR, and signature integration, making it ideal for HR departments, schools, and businesses handling sensitive data.


• If you prefer quick online tools, PDFgear or Smallpdf are lightweight, no-install options, though they come with cloud-based privacy trade-offs.
• For budget or open-source users, OpenOffice remains reliable but lacks modern UI and advanced validation tools.
• For simple, occasional tasks, Word or Jotform work fine, but they don’t offer the same depth of field control or formatting accuracy as PDNob.

Conclusion

Creating a fillable PDF doesn’t have to be complicated or limited to Adobe Acrobat. Depending on your needs, online tools like PDFgear and Smallpdf offer convenience for quick edits, while open-source options like OpenOffice provide a free offline solution.

However, for professional, secure, and fully customizable PDF forms, Tenorshare PDNob PDF Editor remains the most reliable choice. Its intuitive interface, advanced form features, OCR support, and digital signature capabilities make it ideal for businesses, educational institutions, and anyone handling sensitive documents.

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