7 Ways to Add Text Box to PDF with/Without Adobe Acrobat

Are you looking forward to adding text box to PDF for free? This article will provide you with several methods that are 100% free.

Text box is an object enabling users to enter text. Users can insert text box anywhere in a PDF to supplement information, make comments and accept input from others. In contrast to fixed text content, text boxes can help move the added text around in a document. Additionally, an eye-catching text box can draw immediate attention to specific text, making it easier to get key points every time you view the document.

Now, read on to learn how to add text box to PDF.

 

How to Add Text Box to PDF Without Adobe Acrobat?

Though Adobe Acrobat is powerful enough, its high cost, complicated user interface and large memory capacity always drive away some new users.

Well, a top alternative to Adobe Acrobat Pro, Cisdem PDFMaster should be your good option, which has robust features, simple-to-use interface and needs small storage space. It has a dedicated form feature that allows you to add various form fields, including text box, check box, radio button, list box, combo box, OK button and signature field. All of these form fields can be filled easily in a normal PDF viewer by recipients.

The text box supports single-line and multi-line text input and can be modified with various options.

How to add a text field to a PDF without Adobe Acrobat?

1. Download Cisdem PDFMaster software on your computer.
   Free Download macOS 11 or later Free Download Windows 11/10/8/7
    Earlier than macOS 11, click here
2. Run it, click Open Files to upload your PDF file.
3. Go to Form tab, choose Text Field from 6 form fields.
4. Place the text box on your desired position, you can change its appearance in the right pane.
5. If you want to type multiple lines in the inserted text box, tick Multi-line option from Options tab.
6. Finally, hit the Save icon at the top left corner.

How to add text to PDF in this software?

If your PDF is not a form and don’t need interactive fields, Cisdem PDFMaster is capable of adding new text to PDF directly.

1. Import your PDF file into the program and navigate to the page where you’d like to add text.
2. Go to Edit PDF > Add Text.
3. Click and drag a rectangle on the page to create a text box, type the text.
4. Expand the side menu, there are many options to tailor the font color, size, style and more.
5. When you save the edited PDF, the added text remains non editable on PDF viewers.

Cisdem PDFMaster also provides you with the following key features:

• Replace, add, delete and modify text and images in PDF freely.
• Offer various markup tools to annotate a PDF.
• Turn native and scanned PDF into 10+ editable formats.
• Protect file security using a digital signature, redaction mark, password and watermark.
• Enrich a PDF with customized background, header & footer, stamps, bates numbers and measurement records.
• View PDF in diverse display modes and manipulate pages as you like.

Also, you can watch the tutorial video to add text box to PDF now.

 

Add Text Box to PDF Free Online

Some users have been on the sidelines with PDF online tools due to security concerns and a series of restrictions on PDF tasks. However, some users may prefer free online editors to offline software if they don’t want to pay for the subscription fee or don’t have enough storage to download various desktop software on a computer. Here we’ve collected 3 online PDF editors to insert a text box for those who are interested.

#1. DocHub

DocHub is a browser-based PDF platform, and also available as an app on mobile devices. It connects to popular web applications so you can edit, sign, organize, create and share PDF documents from your favorite apps. You are allowed to add text box to PDF with its aid effortlessly.

Cons: It requires a sign-up and is limited to a few operations per month for free.

Steps to Add Text Box to PDF Online Free

1. Go to the website: https://www.dochub.com/.
2. Click Get started for free and log into DocHub with an account.
3. Drag your PDF file into the drop zone, click Create Document after the file is uploaded successfully.
4. Hit the Manage Fields icon to show all fillable fields on the left.
5. You can choose Text field for single-line input and Paragraph field for multi-line input.
6. Download the edited PDF on your computer.

#2.DocFly

If all you need is a quick and time-saving tool without downloading and paying, you will be satisfied with DocFly. DocFly is a multi-platform PDF editor, also available on the web. It provides three main features: editor, form creator, and page organizer. By utilizing the form creator feature, you’re able to add text field and other fillable form fields easily.

Cons:The free version only supports 3 downloads per month.

How to Add Text Box to PDF Online for Free?

1. Upload a PDF from your computer, Dropbox or Google Drive.
2. Expand the 3-dot menu and select Edit.
3. Go to Form Creator > Text field to add a text box to this PDF easily.
4. You can change the text box’s border as you like.
5. Click Save to free download your PDF file.

#3 Sejda

The third recommendation is Sejda, which is a full-fledged online PDF editor. It allows to edit, covert, compress, merge, split and protect PDF. When working as a fillable form creator, it offers 5 kinds of form fields, among which both text field and text area can be used to enter data.

Cons: The free service for documents is up to 200 pages or 50 MB and 3 tasks per hour.

A Tutorial on How to Add a Fillable Text Box to a PDF

1. Drag your PDF file into the tool page.
2. You can choose either Text Field or Textarea to add text box to a PDF successfully.
3. Click on the inserted text box, a floating menu will pop up where you can modify its appearance.
4. When finished, click Apply changes to save the edits.

 

For Mac Users: Add Text Box to PDF Free in Preview

Thanks to Preview, it is cost-saving and useful for Mac users to add text field to PDF for free. Although Preview is not a professional PDF editor, it covers many basic markup tools that let users to complete simple tasks on PDF files. There are versatile editing tools you can find in Tools > Annotate. Let’s look at how to add text box to PDF free in Mac Preview.

Cons:The added text box will appear in the middle of the page, you need to adjust its position manually. Furthermore, you can’t create a vertical text to PDF or change the orientation of the text box in Preview.

Method 1:

1. Open a PDF with Preview.

   
2. Go to Tools > Annotate >Text, then type your text on the box and move the text box to your desired location.
3. Adjust the color, font, size and alignment of the text, or add background color by selecting the tools in the toolbar.
4. Go to File > Save if you’re done.

Method 2:

1. Click the Show Markup Toolbar on the top, (an icon like a pen tip).
2. Click the Text Tool button, a text box will display on the interface.

Method 3:

Press the shortcut “Control + Command +T” on the keyboard to add a text field.

 

How to Insert Text Box to PDF in Adobe Acrobat?

Adobe Acrobat is an almighty and dedicated brand in PDF field. Whether you want to view, edit, print, sign or share PDF with others, you can find practical tools you need in it. It includes two versions, free Adobe Acrobat Reader and paid Adobe Acrobat Pro. You can use the comment tool to add a text comment with a border in Adobe reader. But to perform the advanced features such as adding fillable text box to PDF, editing the existing text, you have to pay for Adobe’s Pro plan.

#1. Add a Fillable Text Box to a PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro

1. Start Adobe Acrobat Pro DC and open a PDF.
2. Head to Tools > Prepare Form, then a new page will be displayed on the program.
3. Click “Add a Text filed” icon in the toolbar and drag the mouse where you want to place the text box.
4. When a text box appears on the interface, you can enter any text in it.

#2. Add Text Box to PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC

1. Run Adobe Acrobat Reader DC on your PC and open a PDF with it.
2. Then choose the Comment tool on the right pane.
3. Choose “Add text box” in the toolbar and drag a text box in your PDF. Then a floating panel with text and text box settings will appear on the interface.
4. When you finish settings, click Close and save your adjusted PDF.

 

Summary

How to add text box to PDF is not a problem, especially with the right text processors. Among the online editors presented in this article, we prefer DocHub. If you regularly tackle PDF issues, professional PDF software is essential and beneficial. It is worth trying Cisdem PDFMaster if you haven’t downloaded an all-round desktop PDF program. It is cost-effective and time-saving, allowing you to solve any PDF problems handily.