What's the best PDF form filler?

The “best” PDF form filler depends on what you need, but here are the top choices:

Best overall

Adobe Acrobat Pro

• Most reliable for filling, signing, and editing PDFs
• Best compatibility with complex forms
• Great for business use
• Downsides: expensive

Best free option

PDF-XChange Editor (Windows)

• Very capable form filling and annotation
• Free version is strong
• Light and fast
• Downsides: some advanced features are paid

Best for Mac

Preview (built into macOS)

• Simple, free, and works well for basic form filling/signing
• Great for quick tasks
• Downsides: limited for advanced forms

Best browser-based option

DocHub or Smallpdf

• Easy to use online
• Good for occasional form filling and signatures
• Downsides: upload/privacy concerns, limits on free plans

Best open-source

LibreOffice Draw

• Can open and edit some PDF forms
• Free and cross-platform
• Downsides: not ideal for complex interactive forms

My recommendation

• Need the most dependable tool? Adobe Acrobat Pro
• Want free on Windows? PDF-XChange Editor
• Want simple on Mac? Preview
• Just need occasional online filling? DocHub or Smallpdf

If you want, I can also recommend the best PDF form filler for Windows, Mac, Linux, mobile, or free use specifically.