Skip to content
PDFlora

Edit, sign and annotate PDFs

PDF is designed to keep pages fixed, so editing means adding things on top of a page rather than rewriting the page. These tools cover the common jobs, from typing on a form to signing a contract or blacking out a name, and they all run in your browser so the document stays on your device.

9 tools

Edit PDFAdd text, images, shapes, highlights and drawings to PDF pages, then save a new copy.In your browserSign PDFAdd a drawn, typed or uploaded signature image to a PDF page and save a signed copy.In your browserAnnotate PDFHighlight, underline, strike through, draw and add notes to a PDF, then save a marked-up copy.In your browserFill PDF FormComplete the real form fields of a fillable PDF and save the filled copy, flattened if you wish.In your browserAdd Page NumbersAdd page numbers to a PDF, with control over position, format and start page.In your browserAdd Header & FooterAdd running headers and footers with page, date and file-name tokens to a PDF.In your browserWatermark PDFStamp text or a logo across PDF pages, with opacity, rotation and tiling.In your browserRedact PDFTruly remove text and images from PDF pages by redacting them, not just covering them.In your browserRemove PDF AnnotationsDelete comments, highlights, links and form widgets from a PDF by type.In your browser

Which editing tool fits the job

Edit PDF is the general editor: add text, images, shapes, drawings and white-out boxes, then save a new copy. It cannot change existing text in place. To alter a sentence you cover it with a white box and type the new text on top, which hides the old words but leaves them in the file. Annotate PDF is narrower and better for review work such as highlights, underlines, strike-through and notes.

Fill PDF Form is different from both. It detects real interactive form fields and shows them as a form you can complete, with an option to flatten the values afterwards. If the PDF has no fields, use Edit PDF to type onto the page instead. Sign PDF places your drawn, typed or uploaded signature on a page. Add Page Numbers, Add Header & Footer and Watermark PDF apply the same text to many pages at once.

  • Typing on a flat form or adding a note: Edit PDF.
  • Real fillable fields (checkboxes, drop-downs): Fill PDF Form.
  • Sign a contract: Sign PDF.
  • Mark up a draft for review: Annotate PDF, and Remove PDF Annotations to clear the marks later.
  • Number pages, add running titles or a DRAFT stamp: Add Page Numbers, Add Header & Footer, Watermark PDF.

Hiding is not removing

The most costly mistake in PDF editing is believing that covering something removes it. A white box in Edit PDF, a black rectangle drawn with Annotate PDF and the hidden area left by Crop PDF all leave the original text or image in the file, where it can be selected or extracted. If information must be gone, use Redact PDF, which re-renders the affected pages as images at 150 DPI with the boxes burned in, so the covered content no longer exists on those pages.

The trade-off is that redacted pages become images and their text can no longer be selected. Redaction also does not clear document properties, so follow it with Remove PDF Metadata or Sanitize PDF when authorship matters.

What a signature and a watermark really are

Sign PDF adds a visual signature: an image of your handwriting or typed name on the page. It is not a cryptographic digital signature and does not prove your identity to third parties. Whether it is accepted depends on the country and the type of document, so check the requirements of whoever receives it.

A watermark is a visible marker, not protection. Anyone who edits the PDF can remove it, so it is suited to labeling drafts or copies, not to preventing reuse. Because these tools draw on top of existing content and use standard PDF fonts, text objects support Latin characters only. For files that need real protection, see the PDF security tools.

Frequently asked questions

Can I edit the existing text in a PDF?

Not in place. Edit PDF adds new text, images and shapes on top of the page, and can cover old text with a white box, but the original words remain in the file. For a fully editable document, convert the PDF to Word and edit there.

Is a signature made here legally binding?

It is a visual signature, not a certified digital signature, and it does not identify the signer to third parties. Legal acceptance depends on the country and document type, so confirm with the recipient or an adviser when it matters.

Why can I still select text that I covered with a white box?

Because a white box only hides the text; the words are still in the file. To remove content permanently, use Redact PDF, which flattens the affected pages into images with the boxes burned in.

What is the difference between annotating and editing a PDF?

Annotating marks up existing content with highlights, underlines, drawings and notes. Editing adds new content such as text and images. Both save a new copy and draw onto the page rather than changing the original text.