As a business professional, you may feel the need to update a contract for a client after a new deal. With the help of document editors, you can fill in the latest information by inserting text in PDFs. Moreover, this ability allows seamless changes without recreating the entire document, which highlights the need for a reliable method to insert text into PDFs.
Using such tools, you can customize forms, annotate documents, and include necessary information without compromising the original layout. The ability to add text to a PDF can help users to streamline their workflow and reuse the documents in various situations. Throughout this discussion, we will be learning how to add text to a PDF using various tools available on different platforms.
Part 1. Simplified Guide to Add Text to a PDF Using Afirstsoft PDF
Now that we are aware of the importance of following this practice, let's have a look at the best-fitting tool you can opt for. Afirstsoft PDF is a comprehensive PDF editor tool that allows users to insert text in PDF documents and much more.
This tool enables users to interact with their PDF documents by adding a text box through their extensive editing features. Moreover, they can also alter the text font according to the PDF to make the document look more polished.
Other than editing, users can annotate the file by highlighting the crucial content they want to focus on. With the help of this tool, you will be able to improve your readability by adjusting the page size based on your device screen. Following the steps explained below, you will be able to add text boxes to the original PDF file effortlessly.
Step 1. Download Afirstsoft PDF and Access Edit PDF Tool
First, install Afirstsoft PDF via its official website to get access to its main interface. Pick out the "PDF Edit" tool from the “Tools” tab to import the PDF document.
Step 2. Add the Text Box and Adjust the Font Properties
Once you are in the editing panel after selecting the “PDF Edit” tool, click "Add Text" from the top toolbar and click anywhere on the document to start entering your text. Moreover, the text properties can be adjusted simultaneously so that the PDF has a more organized look.
Step 3. Export the PDF File After Adding the Text
Finally, when you are pleased with the text you have added to the document, save the file to your device. To do this, hit the “File” button on the top-left corner of the window and choose “Save As” to save the document as a new file. If you want to swap the original PDF with the edited file, select “Save” to automatically do so.
Key Features of Afirstsoft PDF
- The AI assistant allows users to have a better understanding of their PDFs to summarize, translate, define, and much more.
- The organize PDF feature allowsus to arrange, add, or extract pages from the PDF to smooth out the workflow.
- With the help of Afirstsoft PDF’s OCR capabilities, you can convert your scanned documents to editable files.
- You get the ability to create PDFs by converting various file formats, like Word, Excel, PPT, etc., into a PDF format.
Benefits of Afirstsoft PDF
- Users caninsert text in PDF documents by either editing the documents or by annotating and adding comments.
- Afirstsoft PDF supports multiple image file formats that convert your PDF documents more effectively.
- This PDF editor is available for use on every device, Web, iOS, Android, MacOS, and Windows.
- With the help of this tool, users can work on multiple documents, as Afirstsoft PDF supports batch processing.
Part 2. Top Alternative Methods Explaining How to Add Text to a PDF
Apart from Afirstsoft PDF, there are many other methods that you can choose from that are available offline, online, or on your mobile apps. In this section, we will look into the multiple tools available and how to add text to a PDF using them.
Using Offline PDF Editor Software
To start the discussion, we will dive into the top two offline PDF editors you can download to your desktop devices. These editors offer powerful features for managing and editing PDFs without an internet connection to provide reliable solutions for your editing needs:
1. Soda PDF
This PDF editor allows us to add new information to your existing content by adding text boxes and writing new text. If you want to add links to your PDF, you can do that through Soda PDF. Moreover, users can adjust the properties of the added text to change the text alignment. Below are the steps to understand how to add text to a PDF using Soda PDF desktop software.
Step 1. Start by installing Soda PDF on your desktop device and clicking on "Open PDF" to upload your PDF file from its main interface.
Step 2. Moving forward, click on the “Edit” tab on the top navigation bar to be redirected to the editing panel. Hit the “Add Text” option and select the section where you need to insert text. Adjust the properties of the text you have added to match the font, size, style, and alignment of the original PDF.
Pros
- Users have the ability to work on fillable PDF forms by using the Soda PDF Fill and Sign feature.
- The integrated OCR technology allows users to recognize and edit text from scanned documents.
Cons
- Free users of Soda PDF cannot work with multiple documents at the same time, as batch processing is available in the paid version only.
2. Nitro PDF
Nitro PDF is an editor tool that allows users to add text to their PDFs by adding text boxes or sticky notes. Users can also edit the existing text with the help of the edit text feature. While adding text, you can check the character and word limit of the content.
Furthermore, you can select the smart alignment option to auto-align the text. Track the steps below to understand how to add text to a PDF across Nitro PDF:
Step 1. Start the editing text procedure with Nitro PDF by downloading the tool to your device. After you launch the software, import your PDF by clicking the “Edit” icon at the interface.
Step 2. Upon clicking the “Edit” icon, a new editing interface opens up from where you can alter the PDF and enhance its content. Select the “Type Text” tool to add your text and navigate to the “Format” tab to further customize the new text to your preferences.
Pros
- Nitro PDF allows users to combine multiple file formats into one PDF document for easier access to important information.
- Users can extract pages from the original PDF to focus on the crucial content rather than skimming through the entire document.
Cons
- The interface of this tool is cluttered with features, which requires a learning curve for beginners.
Using Online PDF Editors
After discussing the best desktop software, we can now look into the most used online tools to learn how to add text to a PDF. These tools are user-friendly and offer a range of customization options for text formatting:
1. DocHub
Users can edit or add text to the existing content in the PDF or add a text box to write across DocHub. They can also annotate the document by adding comments to streamline the collaboration. Additionally, you can strikethrough content from the document you might not want while using DocHub. Read the guide below to insert text in a PDF using this efficient online tool:
Step 1. On DocHub’s official website, register with your email address and choose “New Document” to upload your PDF file. After the upload is complete, click “Create Document” to begin editing the PDF and add text.
Step 2. Once you start editing the PDF, hit the “A” button to add a text box to any desired place within the document. Finally, you have to adjust the text font, size, color, and more before saving the file.
Pros
- DocHub allows users to collaborate and share PDF documents online so that it is easier to work with teams.
- If your file contains confidential information, you can use the redact tool to hide any text and protect your privacy.
Cons
- Free users of DocHub are limited to editing 3 completed PDF documents per month.
2. Smallpdf
Smallpdf makes sure that users can edit their PDF content without any limitations to enhance the quality. Users can use the edit feature to proofread the existing content by adding or deleting text. Moreover, they can also annotate the PDF document by adding text boxes to add text to the PDF. Follow the steps below to further understand how to add text to a PDF using Smallpdf:
Step 1. Go to the “PDF Editor” web page from the tool’s main interface and hit the “Choose Files” button to upload the PDF file onto the server.
Step 2. Once the document is uploaded, you can click on the “Add Text Box” option in the “Annotate” tab to insert text and modify its properties.
Pros
- The integrated AI technology allows users to chat, summarize, or translate PDF documents to understand the context better.
- Users can flatten the PDF file to reduce the file size and save space.
Cons
- It can be unsafe to use, as users have to upload their PDF documents onto the server, giving third parties access to their confidential content.
Using Mobile Apps PDF Editors
Lastly, let us have a look at the mobile apps available for you to insert text into PDF documents. With the help of these top two tools, you will be able to add text to the PDFs on the go:
1. Lumin
This mobile application adds text to PDF documents in a few steps using the annotation features. Users can add a textbox and content to the PDF according to their requirements and edit the font style to match the PDF. You can underline any of the text that you might think is important. The following guide is provided to assist you in learning how to add text to a PDF with Lumin:
Step 1. Start by downloading the app to your mobile device and tap on the “Upload” icon to import the PDF file you want to edit.
Step 2. Moving forward, choose the “Annotate” option from the top drop-down menu and press the “Text” icon to add a text box to the PDF and write the content.
Pros
- Users can integrate their Google accounts with Lumin to keep their Google Drive documents in sync with the application.
- You get the ability to merge multiple documents into one file to speed up the editing process.
Cons
- Users can’t update the existing content as Lumin has yet to update its mobile application with an editing feature.
2. pdfFiller
pdfFiller is a mobile application used to edit PDFs on the go to help users improve productivity with its user-friendly interface. Moreover, pdfFiller enables users to adjust the font style so that it matches the PDF. With the help of this tool, users can adjust the added text alignment. Look into the guide of steps given to get a better knowledge on how to add text to a PDF using pdfFiller:
Step 1. To start adding text to a PDF, download the application through the Play Store or App Store according to your device. Once you access the tool, tap on the “Plus” icon and choose the “Upload Document” option to import your PDF.
Step 2. Within the editing panel, choose the “Text” tool from the bottom toolbar and add the text you want onto the PDF document.
Pros
- Users can add watermarks to their PDF documents so that they can protect their content from being copied.
- With the help of the OCR technology in pdfFiller, users get the ability to convert scanned documents to editable files.
Cons
- pdfFiller has a slow processing speed on their mobile applications, which can slow down productivity levels for users.
Part 3. Comparative Analysis of PDF Text Adding Tools
To summarize all the PDF editor tools discussed above, here is a comparative analysis to help you choose which tool best fits your needs. With the help of this table, you will be able to analyze which tool will fulfill your editing features when compared to various metrics. Follow this table and choose the best-fit tool that allows you to insert text in PDF documents while providing various other features:
Metrics |
Afirstsoft PDF |
Soda PDF |
Nitro PDF |
DocHub |
Smallpdf |
Lumin |
pdfFiller |
Pricing |
Half-Year Plan: $39.99 Yearly Plan: $44.99 3-Year Plan: $55.99 |
Soda PDF Standard: $12.00 per month Soda PDF PRO: $15.00 per month Soda PDF Business: $20.00 per month
|
Nitro Pro: $11.99 per month Nitro PDF Pro: $179.99 billed once |
Pro: $14.00 per month |
Team: $10 per month Pro: $12 per month |
Starter: $9 per month Pro: $19 per month |
Basic: $8 per month Plus: $12 per month Premium: $15 per month |
Device Compatibility |
Web, iOS, Android, Windows, MacOS, Linux |
Web, iOS, Android, Windows, MacOS, |
iOS, Windows, MacOS |
iOS, Android, Windows, MacOS |
Web, iOS, Android, Windows |
Web, iOS, Android, Windows, MacOS |
Web, iOS, Android, Windows, MacOS |
Key Features |
AI Assistant, Annotate PDFs, Convert PDFs |
E-Signature, Rotate PDFs |
Create and edit bookmarks & create PDF Portfolios |
Import documents from Google Drive, Reusable and fillable PDF forms |
Unlock PDFs protected with PDFs, Split PDF pages |
Sign documents online, enhance readability |
Highlight important content, rotate PDF pages |
Safe to Use |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✘ |
✘ |
✓ |
✓ |
Easy to Use |
✓ |
✓ |
✘ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
OCR Capabilities |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Performance Rating |
4.9 |
4.6 |
4.6 |
4.7 |
4.5 |
4.6 |
4.7 |
This table compares the multiple PDF editors with different metrics to help you choose the best-fit tool to enhance your editing experience. From this table, we can conclude that Afirstsoft PDF is the right tool for users to opt for an overall editing process.
Part 4. FAQs about Adding Text to PDFs
- Is it possible to add text to a PDF without changing its original format?
Yes, most PDF editors allow you to insert text to PDF without altering the original format, as the new text will be overlaid with the existing content. This ensures that the original layout, fonts, and formatting are preserved. Additionally, many editors offer options to adjust the text placement and formatting to seamlessly integrate with the existing document.
- Can I add text to a scanned PDF?
Absolutely, you can add text to a scanned PDF by using the integrated OCR technology available in some PDF editors. This feature converts scanned images into editable text, allowing you to add and modify content with ease.
- Is it possible to add text to a password-protected PDF with the Afirstsoft PDF Tool?
You get the ability to add text to a password-protected PDF using Afirstsoft PDF, provided you have the correct password to unlock the document. Once unlocked, users can edit and add text and save the document with the same or a new password to maintain security. Ensure that any sensitive information remains protected by managing the document’s security settings appropriately after editing.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this article has discussed the various top tools you can utilize when you want to learn how to add text to a PDF document. By choosing the right tool and understanding its features, you can efficiently customize and enhance your PDFs to meet your needs. However, if you are looking for the best-fit tool that works on all platforms and devices, Afirstsoft PDF is the tool you need.