11 Best Create Fillable PDF Tools (2024) [FREE]

1. Introduction

1.1 Importance of Create Fillable PDF Tool

The invention and usage of PDF files have revolutionized the digital world, particularly in the aspect of data and information sharing. Among many PDF tools, a ‘Create Fillable PDF Tool’ stands uniquely ahead with its practical importance. This tool allows users to generate interactive documents wherein necessary fields can be filled out by others. This feature is indeed significant, particularly in the realms of businesses, academics, and any organization that intends to collect information in a secure and streamlined manner. It eliminates the hassle of printing and manual data entries, thus boosting productivity and efficiency.

1.2 PDF Doc Recovery Tool

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1.3 Objectives of This Comparison

With numerous create fillable PDF tools available in the market, it’s often a challenge to choose the one suiting your requirements. Each tool comes with its unique features, benefits, and setbacks. This comparison aims to provide an unbiased overview of the popular ‘create fillable PDF tools’. It will focus on the features, pros, and cons of each tool to aid readers in making an informed decision based on their preferences and needs. After all, choosing the right tool is crucial to optimize results and maximize ROI.

2. Sejda Free PDF Forms Creator

Sejda Free PDF Forms Creator is an easy-to-use online tool that allows users to create fillable PDF forms without any installations required. It flaunts a clean user interface and provides basic functionalities for creating interactive PDFs. This platform is ideal for light use, with a limited number of free tasks available per day.

2.1 Pros

• Online accessibility: Sejda Free PDF Forms Creator can be accessed from any browser, eliminating the need for software installation.
• User-friendly interface: It features an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, requiring minimal technical understanding or expertise.
• Security: Each uploaded file is automatically deleted after 5 hours, ensuring user data privacy.

2.2 Cons

• Limited tasks per day: The free version allows only a limited number of tasks per day.
• Basic features only: Sejda is optimal for basic edits, but might not cater to advanced editing needs.
• File size restriction: The maximum size limitation for an upload file in Sejda is 50MB or 200 pages, a potential hurdle for larger projects.

3. DocFly PDF Form Creator

DocFly PDF Form Creator is a robust web-based tool that allows users to create, edit, and convert PDF files effortlessly. With comprehensive editing tools like text insertion, image upload, and signature addition, its capabilities extend beyond mere form creation. DocFly ensures the confidentiality and security of user data with its automated deletion policy post-completion of user tasks.

3.1 Pros

• Versatile functions: Apart from creating fillable forms, DocFly enables editing and converting of PDF files.
• Security: Files uploaded to DocFly are automatically deleted after 24 hours, promoting data privacy.
• Scanned PDF Editing: DocFly offers OCR capabilities that enable editing of scanned PDFs, which is a notable plus point.

3.2 Cons

• Limited free usage: Free users are allowed only 3 free conversions daily, which may not be sufficient for some users.
• File size limitation: The maximum permissible file size upload is 50MB, which could be a hindrance for users dealing with larger files.
• Premium features restrictions: Many advanced editing features are reserved for premium subscribers.

4. Jotform’s Fillable PDF Form Creator

Jotform’s Fillable PDF Form Creator offers a platform for creating and customizing fillable PDF forms with ease. It provides both online and offline solutions for form creation, submission, and data collection, thus catering to a wide array of user needs. The tool boasts of a drag-and-drop builder, enhancing the user experience with its simplicity.

4.1 Pros

• Drag-and-drop feature: The ability to simply drag and drop components into your form boosts ease of use.
• Offline functionality: Fillable PDF forms created with Jotform can be downloaded, filled out offline, and uploaded back for data submission.
• Advanced fields: The form creator includes advanced fields such as digital signatures, payment fields, and surveys.

4.2 Cons

• Limited free usage: The free version of Jotform has a cap on the number of submissions and available features, restricting its usability for heavy users.
• Learning curve: Although user-friendly, understanding and utilizing the tool’s full capabilities may require a learning curve for some people.
• No auto-save: Jotform doesn’t provide an auto-save feature for offline form completion which could potentially lead to data loss.

5. Foxit PDF Editor

Foxit PDF Editor, previously known as Foxit PhantomPDF, is a comprehensive PDF editing tool with powerful functionalities. Besides creating fillable PDF forms, it supports editing, annotation, sharing, and protecting of PDF files. The varied range of features like built-in spell check, advanced object editing and form recognition makes it an excellent choice for enterprise-level users.

5.1 Pros

• Full-featured editor: Foxit PDF Editor provides a complete suite of tools for advanced PDF editing and formatting.
• Form Recognition: The software automatically recognizes form fields, simplifying the process of creating fillable PDF forms.
• Collaboration tools: Annotation, commenting, and sharing capabilities make Foxit ideal for team collaborations.

5.2 Cons

• No free version: Although Foxit offers a free trial, it does not have a free version for the long run. This can be a limiting factor for users on a tight budget.
• Complex for beginners: With its wide range of features, Foxit might seem overwhelming and complicated for beginners.
• Occasional glitches: Users have reported occasional glitches and software crashes while using heavier functionalities, although this isn’t a regular concern.

6. Soda PDF

Soda PDF is a versatile tool that caters to various PDF-related tasks such as creating, editing, converting and securing PDF files. Its capacity to generate interactive fillable forms makes it an excellent choice for many users. It is equipped with cloud compatibility, thus allowing users to access their files and work on them from anywhere, at any time.

6.1 Pros

• Cloud compatibility: Soda PDF’s integration with cloud services like Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, and Box ensures users can access their forms and files from any device at any time.
• OCR feature: Soda PDF includes a powerful OCR function which enables users to search and edit scanned documents.
• Varied functionalities: Along with form creation, options for annotation, password protection, and e-signatures are also available.

6.2 Cons

• Pricing structure: The pricing may not be budget-friendly for individual users or small-scale businesses since several features require additional payment.
• Requires registration: Users must register and create an account, even for the trial version.
• Large files: As reported by some users, Soda PDF might take longer to load larger form files.

7. PDFescape Online PDF Editor

PDFescape Online PDF Editor is a cost-effective solution that enables users to create and edit fillable forms with finesse. Offered as both a free web-based service and a paid desktop application, it features a user-friendly interface. You can create text boxes, dropdown menus, radio buttons among other components for your forms.

7.1 Pros

• Availability: Users can utilize PDFescape’s capabilities via the web-based tool or by downloading the application.
• Cost-effective: The service is affordable, with a robust free version for basic needs, which makes it an attractive option for personal usage and small businesses.
• User-friendly: The interface is straightforward and easy to navigate, making it an excellent choice for beginners.

7.2 Cons

• Limited free functionalities: While the free version serves basic needs, users would need to upgrade to a paid plan to unlock more advanced features.
• Web-version limitations: The web-based service only allows files that are 10MB or 100 pages long, which might not be sufficient for larger projects.
• No OCR: The lack of an OCR feature means that scanned documents cannot be edited or searched through.

8. Lumin PDF Create Fillable PDF

Lumin PDF is a versatile software that allows users to create responsive fillable forms. It is uniquely integrated with Google Drive, making it an optimal choice for those used to working within the Google ecosystem. Whether it is creating PDF forms from scratch or editing existing ones, Lumin PDF provides a smooth, seamless interface for accomplishing tasks.

8.1 Pros

• Google Drive integration: Robust integration with Google Drive empowers users to easily open, edit, and share PDFs stored in Drive.
• Bulk actions: Lumin PDF allows batch actions like deleting, rotating, and reordering multiple pages at once, enhancing productivity and saving time.
• Collaboration tools: The software enables multiple users to collaborate on a single document effectively.

8.2 Cons

• Slower load time: Users have reported slower load times for larger PDFs.
• Limited free version: The free version presents limited capabilities, while more advanced features require a purchase.
• Google dependence: Lumin is heavily reliant on Google for its functionalities. Users seeking a standalone solution might prefer other tools.

9. CraftMyPDF Create Fillable PDF

CraftMyPDF is a dedicated platform that focuses on the creation of fillable PDF forms. Its straightforward interface and specialized functionalities make the process of form creation simple. CraftMyPDF is designed to cater to users’ needs, from basic to advanced, with flexible features.

9.1 Pros

• Focus on form creation: CraftMyPDF dedicates its entire suite of tools towards creating high-quality fillable forms, making it a suitable choice for users who need to create forms frequently.
• Customizability: The tool offers various options to design and personalize your forms adding a professional touch to them.
• Interface: The platform’s user-friendly interface enhances the ease of use and overall user experience.

9.2 Cons

• Limited functionalities: Unlike other tools, CraftMyPDF purely focuses on form creation and does not offer features for general PDF editing.
• Lack of OCR: The platform does not possess OCR capabilities, making it difficult to work with scanned documents.
• Pricing: CraftMyPDF doesn’t have a free version, which can be a setback for individuals or organizations with limited budgets.

10. Able2Extract Professional

Able2Extract Professional is a comprehensive PDF tool that offers a range of features from creating, editing, to converting PDF files. It specializes in a distinctive feature of being able to extract data from PDF files into more editable and usable formats. It also has a precise PDF to Excel conversion ability, making it a valuable tool for data analysts.

10.1 Pros

• Data extraction: The ability to accurately pull data from PDFs into editable formats can be a major advantage for research and business operations.
• Batch conversion: Able2Extract offers the convenience of batch processing for conversion tasks, boosting productivity.
• OCR technology: Its advanced OCR technology allows you to convert even scanned documents into editable formats.

10.2 Cons

• No free version: Although Able2Extract offers a free trial, there’s no free version available for extended usage.
• Higher price point: The cost of the full version of Able2Extract is on the high side, which could be a disadvantage to users on a limited budget.
• Complex for beginners: Given its wide range of high-tech capabilities, beginners might find the platform slightly complex.

11. Form Builder Create Fillable PDF

Form Builder Create Fillable PDF is an ideal solution for creating responsive fillable PDF forms. This product by MightyForms presents a platform for users to create forms using the drag-and-drop feature, or by selecting from an assortment of templates. It also allows the inclusion of logic rules and automatic responses to streamline the process and enhance form interaction.

11.1 Pros

• Drag-and-drop feature: The builder offers a drag-and-drop interface which simplifies the form creation process.
• Logic rules: Users can add condition-based logic rules to their forms, giving a dynamic interaction experience to users filling the form.
• Template options: The platform offers numerous form templates to choose from which can fast-track the form creation process.

11.2 Cons

• Limited free functionalities: Many of the advanced features, including some templates, are available only for premium users.
• No offline support: Form Builder does not support offline usage. Users need a stable internet connection to work on the forms.
• Customer support: Some users have reported a slower customer support response time, which can pose an inconvenience during critical times.

12. PDFelement

PDFelement is a comprehensive PDF tool that streamlines the process of creating, editing, converting, and signing PDF documents. Its prime focus lies in its simplicity and affordability, making it an attractive tool choice for businesses and individuals alike. With a user-friendly interface and powerful editing features, PDFelement provides an end-to-end solution for all PDF-related tasks.

12.1 Pros

• Simplified user interface: The clean and straightforward interface makes it easy to navigate through the tool and perform tasks.
• Advanced editing features: PDFelement includes a variety of features for creating high-quality PDF documents that include the ability to add watermarks, background images, headers, and footers.
• OCR capabilities: The tool includes OCR technology, allowing users to convert and edit scanned documents and images.

12.2 Cons

• Limited free version: While PDFelement offers a free version, the functionalities are limited, and it leaves a watermark on the edited documents.
• Difficulties with large files: Some users have reported issues when dealing with large files, such as slow processing speeds.
• Upgrades aren’t free: Existing users are required to pay for the upgrades, which is an additional cost to the purchase price.

13. Summary

13.1 Overall Comparison Table

Tool	Features	Ease of Use	Price	Customer Support
Sejda Free PDF Forms Creator	Online accessibility, basic form creation functionalities, data security	High	Free – Limited capabilities	Average
DocFly PDF Form Creator	Comprehensive editing tools, form creation, OCR capability	Average	Free – Limited capabilities. Paid version available.	Average
Jotform’s Fillable PDF Form Creator	Drag-and-drop functionality, offline support, advanced fields	High	Free – Limited capabilities. Paid version available.	High
Foxit PDF Editor	Complete PDF editing suite, form recognition, collaboration tools	Low	Paid	High
Soda PDF	Cloud compatibility, OCR feature, various functionalities	High	Paid	High
PDFescape Online PDF Editor	Online and offline versions, basic form creation functionalities, ease of use	High	Free – Limited capabilities. Paid version available.	Average
Lumin PDF Create Fillable PDF	Google Drive integration, batch actions, collaboration tools	High	Paid	High
CraftMyPDF Create Fillable PDF	Form creation focus, customizability, user-friendly interface	High	Paid	Average
Able2Extract Professional	Data extraction, batch conversion, OCR technology	Average	Paid	High
Form Builder Create Fillable PDF	Drag-and-drop feature, logic rules, templates options	High	Free – Limited capabilities. Paid version available.	Average
PDFelement	Advanced editing features, user-friendly interface, OCR capabilities	High	Paid	High

13.2 Recommended Tool Based on Various Needs

The ideal tool may vary depending on distinct user requirements. For users seeking basic PDF form creation while maintaining data privacy, Sejda is a fitting choice. Businesses or researchers focused on extracting data may favor Able2Extract Professional, while JotForm’s offline capabilities make it suitable for environments with unstable internet connections. Small businesses and individuals may find value in Form Builder’s affordable and easy-to-use platform. Ultimately, the selection hinges on the unique needs and budget of the user.

14. Conclusion

14.1 Final Thoughts and Takeaways for Choosing an Create Fillable PDF Tool

In the digital age, the need for reliable and efficient PDF form creators cannot be overstated. Ultimately, the selection of a tool should be aligned with your specific needs, workflow, and budget. While premium tools offer a wider range of functionalities and customer support, free or more affordable options can still cater effectively to less demanding tasks. Remember, a higher price doesn’t always equate to a more suitable tool. Carefull analysis of the actual needs, frequent tasks, on-going maintenance and long-term cost implications should guide your decision-making process when choosing a create fillable PDF tool.

Author Introduction:

Vera Chen is a data recovery expert in DataNumen, which provides a wide range of products, including a perfect tool to fix PSD image files.