The Top 7 Free PDF Writer in 2023
2023-05-06 17:59:35 • Filed to: Top List of PDF Software • Proven solutions
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, free PDF writers 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, adobe acrobat, and so on. With these tools, you can easily write in a PDF.
- Part 1: TOP PDF Writers for Windows and Mac
- #PDFelement - PDF Editor and Writer
- # Adobe Acrobat PDF Writer
- #Free CutePDF Writer
- Part 2: TOP PDF Writers Online
- #Document Cloud - Free PDF Writer
- #HiPDF - Free Online PDF Writer
- #PDFescape - Online PDF Writer
- #Xodo - PDF Editor and Writer Online
- Part 3: Which is the Best Free PDF Writer for You?
- Part 4: Online Free PDF Writer VS Offline PDF Writer
- Part 5: When Would You Need to Write on PDF Files?
TOP PDF Writers for Windows and Mac
PDFelement - PDF Editor and Writer
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 write on PDF documents, such as adding text, drawing shapes, and adding handwritten signatures in PDF. Moreover, with this software, you can also convert PDFs, create, edit, combine, and organize documents with ease.
For annotation, it allows you to add notes, underline or strike out any text, and draw on PDF using the Pencil and Erase features. What's more, if you need to protect your document from copying and editing, you can also add the passwords for it within PDFelement. So, this makes it a fantastic option for your needs, and you can download it for a free trial.
Edit text on PDF: This PDF writer makes the text in PDF files (even the scanned ones) editable so that you can fix typos or make changes.
Add text to PDF: You can add new text to any location you want.
Write on PDF: You can write on PDF with different tools on PDFelement - Highlight, underline, pencil, text box, arrow, note, callout.
Pros:
- Flexibility
- Security
- Ease of use
- OCR feature to write on scanned PDFs
- Convert PDF to high-quality Word, Excel, PPT, and more
- Support of PDF translation in over 100 languages
- The ability to easily organize and reorder PDF pages
How to Write on a PDF
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.
Step 1: Import and Open PDF Document
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.
Step 2: Write on PDF for Free
After you have opened your PDF file, click on the "Edit" tab. Click on 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 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.
Step 3: Save the PDF Document
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.
Adobe Acrobat PDF Writer
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:
- Polished UI with clear feature segregation
- Easy upgrade to Acrobat DC or Pro DC
- Get access to a mature PDF tool with lots of additional features when you upgrade
Cons:
- The free PDF writer is actually a downgrade from the full version
- Upgrading to a paid subscription or perpetual license is expensive
Free CutePDF Writer
CutePDF Writer is one of the best free PDF writers for Windows 10, 8, 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:
- Available in multiple different languages
- It's free to use
- No watermarks
Cons:
- Installs other unsolicited software on your device
TOP PDF Writers Online
Document Cloud - PDF Writer Online
Wondershare Document Cloud is an online PDF writer that allows you to add notes, and draw and insert texts in PDF. To collaborate with other authorized users, the secure cloud storage platform is dedicated to PDF documents, allowing users to upload, share, print, download, and comment on PDF files in the cloud, making it the ideal tool for online PDF collaboration. It is also OS-agnostic since it runs off any modern browser on a connected device. Moreover, you can access it securely from any system using your Wondershare ID that also works with all other Wondershare products such as PDFelement, HiPDF, and so on.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Clean labeling and layout for simple navigation
- Powerful tools for collaborative annotations and commenting
- Public and private annotations
- Secure sharing with permissions and access expiry deadlines
Cons:
- Only hosts PDF files
- No direct PDF editing
PDFescape PDF Writer Online
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:
- The comprehensive set of features
- Produces high-quality documents
- Offers security
Cons:
- Can't work offline
HiPDF Free PDF Writer Online
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:
- Free online service - easy to access
- No registration is required for using one-off tools
- Extensive options for PDF editing, file conversion, annotations, security, forms, etc.
Cons:
- Requires a stable and fast Internet connection for intensive tasks or to process large files
- Registration is required for batch processing
Xodo PDF Writer Online
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:
- Robust conversion tools
- Unique modules - PDF/A validator, Office files viewer, etc.
- Simple interface, easy navigation
- Also available for desktop and mobile
Cons:
- Limited tools - no PDF editing, OCR, security, etc.
- Office Viewer only works with Word files
Part 3: Which is the Best PDF Writer for You?
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 Document Cloud is an obvious choice. However, you should also consider several other factors, as outlined below:
- Ease of use - One of the major factors in your decision to use a free PDF writer for Windows 10, Windows 11, macOS Monterey, and other platforms should be how easy it is to use. Are the tools clearly labeled with neat and relevant iconography? Is it easy to find a tool or is it buried in the menu? Such questions will help you gauge the usability factor, which is very important.
- Security features - When sharing PDF files, it is imperative that you're able to generate secure sharing links. With Wondershare Document Cloud, for example, the links are absolutely secure and you can even set permissions and a deadline for access to expire, making it much safer than other, similar platforms.
- Additional tools - The right free PDF writer should also give you access to other PDF tools for conversion, security, forms management, etc.
- Integration with desktop - Not many cloud-based tools is integrated with desktop PDF utilities. The most well-known one is Adobe Document Cloud, the other one being Wondershare Document Cloud, which is integrated with PDFelement, the desktop PDF editor from Wondershare, which we have highlighted in the next section.
Part 4: Online PDF Writer VS PDF Writer for Windows/Mac
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:
- Security risk when uploading/downloading PDF files that are sensitive or confidential
- Large files require a fast and stable connection
- You'll need to log yourself in and out each time you use the service if you're using a public computer or someone else's machine
On the other hand, using a desktop PDF editor and writer such as PDFelement offers several key advantages:
- Robust set of PDF tools for editing, conversion, security, annotations, OCR, forms, etc.
- Faster processing and conversion since local resources can be used
- 100% secure when you work completely offline, which is not an option for online tools
- Advanced tools such as automatic form field recognition, conversion to interactive PDF, etc.
In summary, choosing the best free PDF writer is a matter of knowing what you want and then reviewing each product in that category and checking off the boxes where the product either meets your requirements or does not. In the end, you'll see that Wondershare Document Cloud used in collaboration with PDFelement for Windows or Mac gives you the most comprehensive combination of online and offline PDF tools that can handle heavy PDF workflows, file conversions, batch processing, OCR, and other resource-intensive tasks.
In short, with the PDFelement Pro DC bundle, you get the best of both worlds - a desktop utility that handles all the hard work and a cloud storage platform with excellent collaboration tools for sharing, annotations, eSignature collection, and much more.
Part 5: FAQs about PDF Writer
1. Is there a free PDF writer?
There are no completely free PDF writers for Windows or Mac. There are numerous free online PDF writers available, tailored to accommodate various needs. Moreover, many of these PDF writers also offer paid upgrades for users seeking additional premium features, such as iLovePDF, and PDF24 Creator.
2. Does Microsoft Office have a PDF writer?
Microsoft Office does not offer its own 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 Word document automatically. However, Microsoft Word can't write on PDF images.
3. When Would You Need to Write on a PDF?
Let's say you receive an invoice from a supplier that has overquoted the price of an item. You want to send the invoice back but you'd like to add a note to it so the supplier knows what you're referring to. The easiest way to do this is to include the note within the PDF invoice itself rather than as a separate message. And how do you do this? With a PDF writer, of course! Here are some more scenarios where writing on a PDF becomes necessary:
Commenting on a design file where you need to communicate with the designer to provide feedback or commentary
Marking text for editing in a document that will be published online
Writing a note for other viewers of the file to see and respond to
Making private notes on a PDF for future reference
Writing study notes on a digital textbook
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.
Free Download or Buy PDFelement right now!
Free Download or Buy PDFelement right now!
Buy PDFelement right now!
Buy PDFelement right now!
Elise Williams
chief Editor