PDF forms are a great approach to collect data because they’re easy to share and work with across all devices. Apple users can simply fill out PDF forms on their iPhones, but what if you use a Mac? Don’t worry; in this article, I’ll show you how to quickly fill out a PDF form on a Mac. Moreover, you can also Combine Multiple Photos Into PDF on Windows and Mac both. Let’s get started.
You can also do this on an iPhone, check out How to Fill Out a PDF Form on iPhone.
Fill Out PDF Form on Mac
Use Markup (Native Method)
On macOS, Markup is an annotation tool that comes preloaded. It’s the quickest and most straightforward way to fill out PDF forms on a MacBook. The markup for the Mac, unlike its iOS cousin, allows you to redact data, create shapes, add text, upload a signature, alter colors, and format text.
1: Save the PDF file to your PC. Simply right-click the file in the Mail app and save it to the Download’s folder if you received it as an attachment in an email.
2: In Markup, open the PDF form. Right-click the PDF file in the Downloads folder and select Open with Preview to open the Markup window and begin filling out the form. As indicated in the figure below, click the Markup button at the top.
3: A toolbar for marking up text will appear at the top. We may now begin filling out the PDF form, and I’ll go over each tool and its use.
4: You can use the Text box tool to fill in your name, address, and other information. A text box will appear over the PDF if you use the Markup tool’s text box button.
You may update the text by clicking the box, resize the text field by clicking and dragging the side of the box, and use the text format tool to alter the text size, alignment, colour, and so on.
5: The Marker tool in Markup may be used to easily mark checkboxes. Select the Draw tool from the toolbar and draw an X or a tick with the Trackpad.
6: This is one of my favorite Markup toolbar functions. You can use the Trackpad, Mac’s camera, or even the iPhone to create a signature. All three ways are effective and each has its own advantages.
The Trackpad is simple and quick, Mac’s Camera provides an accurate digital duplicate of your signature in seconds, and the iPhone allows you to produce a signature using the screen.
Simply click one of the signatures you’ve created to see it show on the Window. You’re done once you’ve adjusted the size and position.
You may simply redact information on a PDF using Markup, despite the fact that it is not often utilized when filling out forms. Simply select the Redact button and draw a rectangle around the data you want to conceal.
The information that will not be retrieved would be permanently removed using the redact tool.
Pros:
- The macOS has a built-in feature.
- Features that are intuitive
- Ability to create signature on iPhone
Cons:
- If the PDF is a scanned image, it is impossible to discern objects.
- There aren’t any checkbox shapes available.
The markup tool is simple to use, has a lot of features, and gets the job done. It isn’t, however, a dedicated PDF form filler. If you routinely fill out PDF forms on your Mac and want a smooth experience, there are third-party programs that can help.
Third-Party Apps to Fill Out PDF Forms on Mac
1. PDFescape
PDFescape is a free PDF editor that allows you to annotate PDF documents and fill out PDF forms. It works with any web browser. Above all, it retains the ability to add text, checkmarks with a single click, and create shapes, among other things. However, there are certain disadvantages to using an online PDF form filler. You can’t make signatures, for example, but you can utilize an existing image of your signature to get around this limitation. Furthermore, because PDFs are stored on an online server, some users may not feel completely safe.
The tools work in the same way that the Markup tool does. All you have to do now is choose a tool, place it over the PDF, and modify its position.
Pros:
- Free of charge
- button with a checkmark
- Tools that are simple to use
Cons:
- There isn’t a way to make signatures.
- Text formatting in its most basic form
- Concerns about privacy
Check Out PDFescape (free, web)
2. PDF Expert
If you don’t like web apps and are willing to spend money on a competent PDF editor, PDF Expert has a lot of intuitive capabilities as well as simple form-filling tools. Second, the interface is quite clear, with the tools located on the top, similar to how Markup is displayed in Preview. Highlighter, pen, eraser, text box, shapes, sticky notes, stamps, and signature are among the tools included.
PDF Expert, like any other piece of software, has its share of benefits and drawbacks. You can use approval stamps, denial stamps, void stamps, confidential stamps, and even tick marks to fill in checkboxes. With the PDF filler for Mac, you can easily insert links into PDF documents. These features aren’t even available in Markup.
On the other hand, the iPhone lacks the ability to establish a signature. You can only use the Trackpad to take a picture of the signature and then scan it. PDF Expert, on the other hand, is a premium program with a 7-day free trial. After the trial period has expired, you must pay $79 for a lifetime license.
Pros:
- Several stamps
- Add hyperlinks to the PDF
- Checkboxes are filled with ticks and crosses.
- Free trial for 7 days
Cons:
- There is no way to upload a signature from an iPhone.
Check out PDF Expert (free trial, $79)
3. Wondershare PDFelement
PDFelement is similar to PDF Expert in terms of features, however, there are a few noticeable distinctions. For example, the tool for creating a digital signature is based on MS-Paint, and it allows you to draw the signature. Furthermore, there is no possibility to scan a sign and overlay it over a PDF.
Aside from that, Wondershare’s PDF filler for Mac includes conventional annotating features like text boxes with formatting, shapes, stamps, sticky notes, highlighter, and so on. If you wish to modify PDFs extensively, develop interactive forms, and so on, PDFelement is the best way to go.
A lifetime license for PDFelement costs $129, but you can obtain a subscription for $9.99 per month.
Pros:
- Callouts in text
- Shapes of polygons
- Recognition of text with OCR
Cons:
- Awful signature capture software
- In the free trial, there is a watermark.
Check out PDFelement (free-trial, $9.99/mo)
Also take a look at 15 Best Utility Apps for Mac You Didn’t Know You Needed.
Final Words: How You Fill Out PDF Form on Mac
Some of the best programs for filling out PDF forms on a Mac. Most users will find the Markup tool sufficient because it is both free and has a plethora of intuitive capabilities. Finally, other third-party programs employ the same tools and attempt to reproduce the same formula with a few additional features such as stamps and links, but charge a premium for the software. What are your thoughts? On your Mac, what app do you use to fill out PDF forms? Let me know on Twitter.
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