How to Add Text to a PDF Without Adobe Acrobat
Acrobat is $20/month. You just want to type "Sept 14, 2025" into a date field on a contract. PDFShed lets you add text to any PDF for free.
The problem
A flat (non-fillable) PDF needs your name and date typed in. Acrobat's "Edit PDF" can do it for $239/year. PDFShed does it free, in your browser.
Use the tool now
Open the edit pdf tool and follow the steps below.
Step-by-step
- 1
Open the Edit PDF tool
Drop your PDF in.
- 2
Click where you want to add text
A text box appears at the click location. Type.
- 3
Adjust font, size, color
Pick a font that matches the existing PDF text — typically Helvetica or Times. Match size to surrounding text (usually 11pt or 12pt).
- 4
Drag the box to fine-tune position
Use arrow keys for pixel-precise positioning.
- 5
Save and download
Apply changes → Download. Text is embedded as new PDF text — selectable, searchable, copyable.
Pro tips
- •For form fields that should stay editable later, use [Form Filler](/en/tools/form-filler) instead — it preserves field metadata.
- •For typing on a scanned PDF, the text overlays the image. The "PDF" still has the scan as its background; your text sits on top.
- •Match font + size + color to surrounding text, otherwise added text looks obviously inserted.
- •After adding text, [flatten](/en/guides/flatten-pdf-form-after-filling) the PDF so recipients can't edit your additions.
Frequently asked questions
Will the recipient know I added text?
In a normal PDF reader, no — the text looks identical to original PDF text. Forensic tools can detect added text by comparing creation timestamps, but that's rare.
Can I edit existing text in a PDF?
Yes — the same tool supports replacing existing text. Click on a word, change it, save.
What about font matching?
PDFShed offers common fonts. If the original PDF used a custom font, perfect match isn't possible — pick the closest standard font.
Does this work for scanned PDFs?
You can add text *over* the scan, but you can't edit text *within* the scan (since it's an image). Run [OCR PDF](/en/tools/ocr-pdf) first to convert scanned text to editable.