For writing or editing documents, you may think that MS Office is the primary application you need. However, as PDF format becomes more and more widely used, a free PDF writer also become increasingly popular. There are some of the top PDF writers available both online and offline.
So how do you find the best PDF writer tool on the market for your needs? This article will help! We've covered the top 7 free PDF writer tools currently on the market, including - Wondershare PDFelement - PDF Editor Wondershare PDFelement Wondershare PDFelement, Adobe Acrobat, and so on. With these tools, you can easily write in a PDF.
A PDF writer is an easy-to-use PDF tool to create, view, edit, convert, annotate, and sign PDF documents. Compared to a PDF editor, a PDF writer is more lightweight and fundamental. Some PDF writers, such as CutePDF Writer, and bioPDF PDF Writer are primarily used for creating documents by printing; while others such as PDF Writer by PDF Pro enable you to not only convert and create PDFs but also write on PDFs (add text, annotate, markup).
Moreover, you can get a PDF writer and editor, such as Adobe Acrobat, and Wondershare PDFelement, which are full-featured PDF tools with advanced features such as editing scanned PDFs, converting PDFs to other file formats, editing images, compressing, AI features, and more.
Here is a list of the best PDF writer software to free download on Windows and Mac. These PDF writers allow you to edit, create, convert, compress, and sign PDF files easily and quickly.
PDFelement is a PDF writer program compatible with Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android systems. It is currently one of the best free PDF writers for Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, and Mac on the market. With its professional features, you can easily:
So, this makes it a fantastic option for your needs, and you can download this PDF writer for Windows and Mac for a free trial.
Pros:
"I like to write and read PDF documents to make information products. PDFelements is a good software to do all the tasks on my mac" (Source：G2)
One common challenge many people have with PDF files is that they are unable to make edits to the text within the PDF document. Now, follow the steps outlined below to learn how to use PDFelement as a PDF writer on Windows.
First, install and run PDFelement on your computer. After that, click the "+" button found on the Home window to locate and upload your file. Next, click the "Open" button to view the imported document.
After you have opened your PDF file, click on the "Edit" tab. Click the "Add Text" button to add new content to your file. You can also add a text box, where you want your notes to appear on the PDF document, and you can make the desired changes like changing color, size, and text box positioning. By double-clicking on the text you want, you can make all the desired changes.
What's more, you can also draw on the PDF or add notes to a PDF under the "Comment" tab within PDFelement. It's quite easy to use, and it can help you improve your work efficiency with many useful tools.
After writing a new text on your PDF document, save the edited file to your computer. Click the "File" tab found in the top left corner. Then, click the "Save" button to store your file or click "Save As" to choose a new location to save your documents.
Acrobat is an offline PDF writer that you need to install on your PC or Mac. As a PDF writer free download to Windows and Mac, the functionality is limited to annotations and signing PDFs, and these features are available after the free trial period is over. Nevertheless, the advantage is that you can upgrade at any time to the full version, which allows PDF editing. The free version acts as a useful tool for making annotations and commenting on PDF files.
Pros:
Cons:
"It allows me to write on a pdf and fill out documents that I'm required to do for work. It makes my life easier and more productive. Less time wasted concerting the forms." (Source：G2)
CutePDF Writer is one of the best free PDF writers for Windows 10, 8, and 7 available that allows you to export any files generated from a Windows application to a PDF file. You can export documents from their original file formats to PDF by choosing CutePDF Writer and by accessing the print menu on your computer. Supported models include Windows Vista/7/8/8.1/10.
Pros:
Cons:
"Overall we've had a hassle-free experience using CutePDF writer and best of all, it is free." (Source：Capterra)
PDFescape Online PDF Editor is also a free PDF writer online. With this PDF writer freeware, you can use the features of this free PDF writer to edit PDFs, create PDF forms, protect PDFs, and annotate PDFs. Supported models include Chrome, Firefox, Edge, IE, Opera, and Safari.
Pros:
Cons:
"If I have to fill out forms or edit a PDF, this does the trick. Very easy to upload and write in PDF. Attaching images such as my signature to my files also makes it easy for me to sign the PDF's." (Source：G2)
Another great online tool from Wondershare is HiPDF, a free online PDF service that gives you all the tools you need to handle PDF workflows. You can also register and take advantage of extra features, but even the basic service includes advanced tools such as OCR.
Pros:
Cons:
"Hipdf is super easy to convert and edit all the PDF files. Solving all PDF problems in one place :)" (Source：Trustpilot)
Formerly operating under the name Xodo.com, this online PDF editor has now migrated to PDF.online but it essentially contains all the same tools previously available. The service has some unique tools such as a viewer for Office files and a DICOM to PDF converter.
Pros:
Cons:
"I like the way it provides smooth writing experience on my tabled. I can write on top of my ebooks." (Source：G2)
Here are the best PDF writers at a glance.
Wondershare PDFelement: Best affordable PDF writer and editor with AI features.
Adobe Acrobat: Best professional PDF writer and editor for Windows and Mac.
CutePDF: Best free PDF writer for Windows 7, 8, 10.
PDFescape: The best free PDF writer online for editing PDFs.
HiPDF: Best free PDF writer online for writing on PDFs.
Xodo: Best free PDF writer online for converting PDFs.
Choosing free PDF writers is not an easy one because it depends on your specific requirements. For instance, if you only need a platform to send documents for signing or add notes to a document, then Wondershare PDFelement Cloud is an obvious choice. However, you should also consider several other factors, as outlined below:
Yes, there are numerous free online PDF writers available, such as PDFescape, and HiPDF, tailored to accommodate various needs. Moreover, many of these free PDF writers also offer paid upgrades for users seeking additional premium features such as OCR, and unlimited file processing. Online tools are certainly more convenient because you don't have to install anything and you can access the service from any computer with an Internet connection and a modern browser like Chrome or Edge. However, there are also several disadvantages:
No. Adobe offers a free PDF reader to view, share, print, and annotate PDFs without any cost. However, if you need to write on PDF, you will need Adobe Acrobat, which starts at 12.99/mo.
To write on a PDF, you need a PDF writer. Here are different kinds of PDF writers you can choose from.
Write on PDF with a PDF editor
Write on PDF on Mac with Preview
Write on PDF online
Microsoft Office does not offer a PDF writer. If you don't want to purchase or install any additional extensions to write on PDF. Microsoft Word, which is included in Office 365, can be utilized as a PDF writer to make changes to existing PDF files. To do that, you have to open a PDF file in Microsoft Word, and the file will be converted to a Word document automatically. However, Microsoft Word can't write on PDF images.
While there are several scenarios where PDF writing becomes essential, the problem for the user is picking the right PDF writer. You don't want one that gives you a free service with a lot of restrictions; neither do you want a tool with very little additional functionality. For that reason, we've curated a list of the best PDF writer applications that you can try - both offline and online options have been provided.
