Quick answer
For a downloadable fillable PDF, compare Acrobat Pro’s field-authoring tools, Sejda’s existing-file or blank-page workflow, and PlatoForms’ AI-assisted PDF Document Creator. For online completion, PlatoForms can create a fillable PDF online from your existing file, in its original layout, or offer responsive PDF forms; DocHub and pdfFiller provide document-sharing and signing routes, while Jotform Smart PDF Forms maps browser responses into an existing PDF. Choose by the starting document, filling experience, and output you need—not simply how often you use the tool.
Which Tool Should You Use to Create a Fillable PDF?
To make a PDF fillable, first decide whether people should complete a downloaded file or a browser form. For a file, compare field-authoring controls and the saved result. For an online PDF form builder, compare the question layout and the completed PDF it produces. The shortlist covers both, and each entry identifies its stronger use case.
If you have already chosen the PlatoForms route, the step-by-step guide to creating a fillable PDF form covers setup. Use this article to choose a tool; use the guide to build the form.
Fillable PDF Tools at a Glance
Compare the form you want to create and how recipients will complete it. Several tools support both downloadable PDFs and online forms; the options below highlight the relevant creation and collection routes.
| Tool | Form creation strengths | Completion and output options |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe Acrobat Pro | Edit source PDFs and configure fillable form fields | Complete and save a PDF in a compatible viewer, or fill and sign through Acrobat Pro Web Forms |
| Sejda | Add and configure fields on an existing PDF or a blank document | Download a fillable PDF, or publish a fill-and-sign link and receive completed copies by email; publishing uses a publicly shared Google Drive source PDF |
| DocHub | Prepare fillable documents, assign recipient fields, and reuse templates | Send documents for completion and signing, or use public Fill a Copy links on Pro or Site License |
| pdfFiller | Edit PDF content, add fillable fields, and create reusable templates | Complete documents online; Premium adds web-form collection and signing workflows |
| PlatoForms | Convert existing PDFs into online forms, build web forms, or design new fillable PDFs with AI assistance | Fill the original PDF layout or responsive questions online and receive a completed PDF; Document Creator also exports downloadable fillable PDFs |
| Jotform Smart PDF Forms | Build online questions and map their fields to an existing PDF | Respond in a browser, then preview, download, or receive the completed PDF by email as configured |
PlatoForms’ signature fields support drawing, typing, or uploading a signature on paid plans. Signature certificates are available on paid plans and during the free trial. Certificates are generated only through tracked invitations with Signature Certificate enabled or Workflow steps with Create signature certificate enabled. Public-link submissions have neither a certificate nor the signing consent notice.
Compare Free and Paid Plans
Compare the plan that includes the output you need. PDF editing, fillable-field creation, and hosted response collection can sit on different tiers. The prices below are in USD, checked September 16, 2026.
| Tool and plan | Month-to-month | Annual billing | Relevant scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acrobat Pro — individual | $29.99/user/month | $239.88/user/year ($19.99/month equivalent); also available as $19.99/month with an annual commitment | PDF editing, fillable form authoring, and Pro Web Forms; 1 licensed user |
| Sejda Web | $7.50/user/month | Desktop + Web: $63/user/year ($5.25/month equivalent) | Free PDF Forms within tool limits; $5/user Web Week Pass also available |
| DocHub Basic | $11/user/month | $96/user/year ($8/month equivalent) | Advanced fillable fields and reusable templates; selected tools retain a shared 3-use monthly limit |
| DocHub Pro | $16/user/month | $144/user/year ($12/month equivalent) | Unlimited sign requests and PDF editing; public documents and bulk sending |
| pdfFiller Plus | $30/user/month | $144/user/year ($12/month equivalent) | Reusable templates and basic fillable fields, plus PDF editing |
| pdfFiller Premium | $40/user/month | $180/user/year ($15/month equivalent) | Adds web-form collection and bundled signing tools |
| PlatoForms Free | $0 | $0 | 1 published online form, 100 submissions/month, 2 members; e-signatures need a paid plan |
| PlatoForms Bronze | $12/month | $120/year ($10/month equivalent) | 2 published forms, 1,000 submissions/month, 5 members; Workflow, certificates, and cloud integration |
| PlatoForms Silver | $36/month | $360/year ($30/month equivalent) | Bronze features; 20 published forms, 10,000 submissions/month, 20 members |
| Jotform Starter | $0 | $0 | Free online form collection within Starter limits |
| Jotform Bronze | $39/month | $408/year ($34/month equivalent) | Higher collection allowances than Starter; Enterprise is the multiuser offering |
DocHub also offers a limited Free plan. pdfFiller Basic starts at $20/user/month or $96/user/year ($8/month equivalent), but Plus and Premium are the relevant tiers for the form-creation and collection features compared here. Annual prices require an annual purchase or commitment; taxes and regional offers may differ.
PlatoForms includes team members in its plan price, with shared form and submission limits. Its hosted-form allowances are separate from the Document Creator export route. Choose a paid hosted plan when your process needs Workflow, certificates, cloud integration, or more online usage; a downloadable PDF and a published online form are different outputs.
1. Adobe Acrobat Pro: PDF Editing and Fillable Form Creation
Acrobat Pro combines PDF editing with tools for creating and configuring fillable fields. Use it to prepare a PDF that recipients can complete and save in a compatible viewer, while retaining control over the source document. Adobe’s form preparation and distribution guide covers file-based collection; Acrobat Pro Web Forms provides a separate route for browser completion and signing.
2. Sejda: Create Fillable PDFs and Share Fill-and-Sign Forms
Sejda PDF Forms creates fillable PDFs from an uploaded file or a blank document. Add text fields, checkboxes, radio buttons, dropdowns, and signature boxes, then configure properties such as required fields and tab order. You can download the form or publish a link for recipients to fill, sign, and return it by email. Its separate PDF Editor handles changes to existing PDF text.
3. DocHub: Fillable PDF Fields, Templates, and Signature Requests
DocHub lets you add fillable fields to a document, assign them to recipients or roles, and mark information as required. Save the setup as a reusable template for new recipients, or send a document for completion and signing. PDF editing and annotation tools support document preparation, while public form links offer another collection route on eligible plans.
4. pdfFiller: PDF Editing, Fillable Fields, and Online Collection
pdfFiller combines editing of existing PDF content with fillable-field creation, reusable templates, and signing tools. For online collection, LinkToFill lets multiple recipients complete their own copies through a shared link. Compare the field-creation, export, and collection features included in the plan you need; editing a PDF and collecting responses are distinct parts of the process.
Plan fit: Include Premium when comparing online collection and signing. For a downloadable blank form, check the field-creation and export options you need. The pdfFiller comparison covers these routes in more detail.
5. PlatoForms: AI-Assisted PDF Creation and Online PDF Forms
PlatoForms combines AI-assisted document design with PDF-to-online-form conversion. Use PDF Document Creator to create and edit a new design, then export a downloadable fillable PDF or turn it into an online form. For existing paperwork, publish a form that preserves the PDF’s appearance or presents responsive questions whose answers populate the original document. It also builds standalone web forms; signatures, staff review, and automatic PDF delivery can extend the online collection process when needed.
Choose how people fill it out. A PDF Fillable Form keeps your PDF as the background and adds interactive fields. A Web PDF Form presents the questions in a responsive layout for phones and maps the answers back to the original PDF. You can make the filling experience easier without redesigning the document your team needs to receive.
Spend less time setting up fields. AI field detection identifies fields in an uploaded PDF for you to review and adjust. Web forms can use conditional logic to show relevant questions and validation to check answers before submission. This helps with forms that need more guidance than an editable box on a page.
Reuse answers and automate the next step. For several documents, Master Forms let one set of answers populate multiple linked PDFs. For example, a new client can enter their contact details once for an application and consent form. Workflows let another participant complete their step. You can configure PDF email attachments and cloud-drive delivery so staff receive the finished documents without manually transferring each answer.
Create a new fillable PDF when you do not have one. PDF Document Creator starts from a blank canvas, a preset, or an AI prompt. Add and arrange input components, then export a downloadable fillable PDF or convert the document into an online form. The downloadable file is useful when recipients need to complete a PDF outside the online form; test complex layouts in the intended PDF viewer.
For a new online form, PlatoForms also offers application templates and registration templates. Customize these web-form layouts when people will respond in a browser; use the Document Creator route above for a downloadable fillable PDF.
Best fit: You want to convert an existing PDF into an online form or create a new downloadable fillable document with AI-assisted design. A single form can use either route. For online collection, add signatures, Workflow, or cloud delivery when needed. These online features are separate from the fields exported into a downloadable PDF.
6. Jotform Smart PDF Forms: Online Form Building with Mapped PDF Output
Jotform Smart PDF Forms connects an online form to an existing PDF. Add or adjust fields in a split view, map the questions to the document, and collect answers through the online form. Respondents can preview their completed PDF, and you can configure downloads and emailed copies. It is useful when you want browser-based questions with output in an existing PDF layout, whether you are new to Jotform or already use its form builder.
How to Choose a Free Fillable PDF Creator
Check what you can actually do for free: create and download a fillable PDF, publish an online form, or collect completed responses. Some tools offer an ongoing free plan with usage limits; others provide paid features only during a trial.
| What to compare | What to check in the free offering |
|---|---|
| Starting document and editing | Can you use an existing PDF or start from a blank page? Can you change the document’s text, add form fields, or both? |
| Field types and controls | Are the text fields, checkboxes, dropdowns, and other inputs you need available? Can you set required fields and a sensible filling order? |
| Downloadable PDF output | Can you export a PDF with working fields without paying or adding a watermark? Can recipients save and reopen their answers? |
| Online completion and returned responses | Can you share a form link and receive completed responses? Check whether PDF downloads are included and how submissions are stored or delivered. |
| Free limits and trial expiry | Check file size, page count, task frequency, published forms, and response limits where applicable. Which features remain available after a trial ends? |
PlatoForms supports both outputs: design a downloadable fillable PDF with PDF Document Creator, or turn existing paperwork into an online form that fills your PDF. Its Free plan lets you try online collection with one published form and 100 submissions per month. If you later need signature fields, signature certificates, staff review, or automatic PDF delivery to cloud storage, you can add those capabilities on a paid plan.
Try a Sample Form Before Choosing a Tool
Before paying for a plan or sharing a form with clients, test one of your own forms. To explore online completion, you can also start with a PlatoForms template that matches your needs. Check both the experience of filling it out and the result your team receives.
For a downloadable form, fill it in the PDF viewer your recipients use, then save and reopen it. Check that answers remain saved and longer entries are readable. For an online form, complete it on a phone and inspect the resulting PDF for missing answers, incorrect field mappings, or cut-off text. If you need signing, staff review, or automatic storage, include those steps in the same test.
Use the results to choose: does the tool produce the document you need within the plan you can afford, and how much manual correction or follow-up remains?
Frequently asked questions
Can PlatoForms make a PDF fillable with AI?
Yes. AI field detection helps turn an existing PDF into an online form by identifying fields for review. If you need to create a new document, PDF Document Creator can generate a design from a prompt and export a downloadable fillable PDF. Choose the route based on whether you want people to fill a browser form or a PDF file.
Can I convert a PDF into an online form with PlatoForms for free?
Yes. The Free plan lets you publish one online form and receive up to 100 submissions per month. Upload your PDF, set up its fields, and share the published form so people can fill it in their browser. Signature fields, signature certificates, Workflow, and cloud-drive integration require a paid plan. Certificates are also available during the free trial.
When should I choose PlatoForms for a fillable PDF?
Choose PlatoForms to design a new downloadable fillable PDF or turn an existing PDF into an online form with original-layout or responsive completion. For online forms, paid plans add signature fields, signature certificates, participant Workflow, and automatic cloud delivery. Master Forms is useful when several PDFs need shared answers; it is not required for a single document.
Create Your Next Form with PlatoForms
Start with an existing PDF or create a new document, then choose how people will complete it.
