The forms that government administrations make available to us allow us to fill in a series of fields and save the changes to return the document or print it, without having to fill out a sheet of paper. Creating this type of document is much easier than some users think and we can do it with a large number of applications like the ones we show you below.
Depending on how we want to circulate the form, we must choose if we want to print it on paper, send it by email so that it can be filled out and returned to us, or if we want to carry out the process through a link that will be in charge of analyzing and collecting all the data automatically.
Programs to create PDF forms
Creating a PDF form to share or print is an ideal method for a small number of people and allows us to collect data from those people who are not familiar with technology, something quite common in older people. This type of form is the best option when the data we want to collect is not based on pre-established responses.
Adobe acrobat
If we talk about the PDF format, we have to talk about the company that created and developed this format, which has been a standard on the Internet for more than 15 years when it comes to sharing all kinds of documents. The application that Adobe makes available to anyone who wants to edit or create this type of file is Acrobat, an application that, like the rest of this company’s products, is only available under a subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud , being This is the only method available to enjoy the best software for editing and managing files in PDF format.
To add fields and create a form with Adobe’s Acrobat DC, once we have opened the application, in the main menu, click on Prepare form . If the document has preset fields or space for them, the application will detect them and automatically allows us to add the type of field we want. If not, we can select the type of field we need from the top bar of the application.
Adobe Acrobat is available for Windows and macOS. From its website, we can download the application and try it for 7 days before deciding if it is really worth paying the subscription for this application.
PDFelement
One of the best alternatives to Adobe Acrobat, both in terms of price and functions, is found in PDFelement, a complete application with which we can, in addition to editing any type of file in PDF format, we can create forms on already created documents, adding the checkboxes that we need, be it checkmarks, text boxes, dropdown lists, or any other type of field. To access the options that PDFelement makes available to us to create forms , the first thing we must do is open the document with the application, and, in the top menu, click on Forms.
Right after, all the options that the application makes available to us will be displayed through icons. Placing the mouse over them, a brief description of what their function is will be displayed. To implement it in the document, click on the one we want to use and draw the size we want the field to have. As we can see, the process is very easy and simple. Once we have finished adding the fields, we just have to save the document with the application and share it.
PDFelement is available under a 6 or 12 month subscription for 49 and 89 euros respectively. However, it also offers us the possibility of buying the application and forgetting about recurring payments for 119 euros. We can download the trial version through its website by clicking on the following link .
PDF X-Change
PDF X-Change is another interesting application that we have at our disposal to create forms in PDF format. This application offers us practically the same functions that we can find in both Adobe Acrobat and PDFelement, but at a cheaper price. Like the two previous applications, the method of adding fillable text fields to documents in this format is very quick and easy. Once we have opened the application, we go to the Forms ribbon and select the type of field we want to add, be it a text box, check box, drop-down list or any other.
PDF-Change is available in two versions. The Plus version, the most complete, is the one that allows us to add fields to create forms in documents in PDF format. This version is priced at 79 euros and does not require any additional subscription, although we can contract additional support per year that it offers us by purchasing the application. We can download and test the application through this link . It is only available for Windows.
Master PDF Editor
Of all the applications that we have compiled in this article, the one that offers us a more basic interface is Master PDF Editor, an application with which we can also create forms from scratch or add fields to a PDF document that we have already created. To add the fields, we must access the Form menu and select the type of field we want to use. Once we have added the field, we just have to save the form in our team and share it.
Master PDF Editor is available for Windows, Linux, and macOS . The application is priced at $69.99 and we can download a trial version before buying it directly from its website by clicking here .
Foxit PDF Editor Pro
PDF Editor Pro is one of the most complete applications on the market that we have at our disposal to edit any file in PDF format, as well as the possibility of creating forms in PDF format. Unlike most of the options that we have mentioned in this compilation. PDF Editor Pro from Foxit, in addition to offering us a desktop version, we also have an editor available via browser , which allows us to use it on any computer without having to install any application. Adding fields in a PDF document is as simple as clicking on the Form menu and selecting the type of field we want to use.
PDF Editor Pro is available by subscription, a subscription is priced at 160 euros per year and is one of the most complete solutions together with Adobe Acrobat DC for regularly working with this type of file. If we don’t want to pay for a subscription, we can buy a lifetime license of the Foxit PDF Editor version, a version with fewer functions but that does include the possibility of creating forms. We can test the application for free from its page by clicking on the following link .
PDF Studio
PDF Studio is one of the least popular applications on the market for PDF file editors, however, it offers us a large number of functions with which we can create PDF forms quickly and easily. The application is translated into Spanish and the function that allows us to create forms to add the fields we need is located at the top of the application, through the Forms tab.
PDF Studio is available for Windows, Linux (32-bit and 64-bit independently), and macOS. From its website we can download a trial version that will allow us to check, first hand, if it meets our needs when creating forms in PDF format. The application is available in Standard versions, with a price of 99.99 dollars and the Pro version whose price goes up to 139 dollars. Once we buy the application, we will obtain a lifetime license, so it is ideal if we do not want to pay monthly or annual subscriptions.
Other applications to create forms
If our needs do not go through creating forms in PDF format, but we are satisfied with documents and spreadsheets to share, we can use one of the following applications.
Word
We started this collection of applications with which we can create forms with one of the applications that many users have on their computers. We are talking about Word. The function that allows us to create forms is available not only in the current version that Microsoft distributes through Microsoft 365, but we can also find it in previous versions. The function available in Word with which we can create forms is found in the Developer menu, a menu that is hidden and that we must activate previously.
To activate the Developer menu, we must access the Options menu available within the File menu and access the Customize Ribbon menu. In the dropdown box, we select Main Tabs , and in the right-hand column, Customize the Ribbon, we scroll down and check the Developer box.
Once we have activated it, we open the document where we want to add the fields. Next, we go into the space we’ve reserved to add the field we want to use, be it a text field, a dropdown box, a checkbox, or whatever.
Finally, before sharing the document, we protect the document so that no one but us can modify the file structure, but if you can fill in the boxes, save the changes and we return the document.
Excel
The process to create forms in Excel is the same as in Word, and, previously, we must add the Developer menu to the ribbon. The method to add this menu is exactly the same as with Word, from the File menu Options, inside the Customize ribbon and in the right column, by checking the Developer box. Next, we go to the cell where we want to add a field to fill in and, from the ribbon, we select the type of field we want to use.
As in Word, if we do not want changes to be made to the base of the document, we must protect the document so that only the form boxes that we have added can be filled in and the changes can be saved so that the completed document is returned to us.