4 Essential PDF Tasks You Can Do without Adobe

Working with PDFs shouldn’t be complicated or costly. Whether you're creating accessible documents, building interactive forms, or protecting sensitive information, there’s a smarter way to get it done without relying on Adobe. Nitro PDF makes it simple to handle every stage of your document workflow with powerful tools that are easy to use, affordable, and secure.

We’ll walk through four practical ways you can streamline your PDF tasks using Nitro, covering accessibility, interactivity, fillable forms, and document security. Each section includes a quick overview and a link to dive deeper.

1. How to enhance accessibility in your PDFs

PDF accessibility ensures everyone can access your content, including people using screen readers or other assistive technologies. With Nitro PDF, you can make your documents more inclusive without adding extra complexity to your workflow.

The process starts with auto-tagging. This step assigns structure to your content, allowing assistive technologies to understand the reading order and hierarchy of the document. In Nitro, you can apply auto-tags in just a few clicks from the Accessibility tab.

You can also set the document’s language to improve accuracy in pronunciation and interpretation. This ensures content is read correctly by screen readers and is easy to locate through search or indexing.

To maintain consistent formatting across devices, Nitro lets you embed fonts directly into the file. This prevents layout issues for users who may not have the same fonts installed. And by managing artifacts—like decorative images or background elements—you help assistive tools focus only on meaningful content, improving clarity for all users.

For a step-by-step walkthrough, read the full blog on making your PDFs accessible.

2. How to create engaging interactive PDF forms

Forms don’t have to be static or time-consuming. With Nitro PDF, you can create interactive forms that allow users to type responses, make selections, and complete tasks directly within the document. It's an efficient way to collect information and create a more dynamic user experience.

Start by opening your document and selecting the Forms tab. You can add a variety of form fields, including text boxes, combo boxes, buttons, and even digital signature fields. Each field is easy to place with a simple drag-and-drop interface.

Once your form is built, you can customize its look and behavior. Nitro’s properties menu allows you to adjust font styles, field alignment, formatting rules, and more. You can also add validation rules and automated calculations, helping users complete forms accurately and reducing the need for manual data entry.

Interactive forms are especially useful for teams that handle patient intake, surveys, purchase orders, or HR paperwork—streamlining data collection and saving valuable time. Read the full guide on building interactive PDF forms.

3. How to build fillable forms in PDF

Fillable forms are essential for capturing structured data in a clean, consistent format. With Nitro PDF, you can create these forms from scratch without needing Adobe saving both time and money.

Start by opening your PDF and selecting the Text Field option from the Forms tab. Place the field where needed, then use the Properties panel to customize how it appears and functions. You can also add dropdown menus using the Combo Box tool, which lets users choose from pre-set options.

Fillable forms created in Nitro are easy to complete, easy to share, and optimized for use across devices. This is especially helpful for organizations that need to standardize intake forms, invoices, or approvals without printing or scanning.

Nitro also helps you stay consistent by allowing you to save form templates for repeat use—reducing manual setup and speeding up your workflows. To learn more, explore the full guide on creating fillable PDF forms without Adobe.

4. How to protect and secure your PDFs

When you're working with sensitive information, document security isn't optional. Nitro PDF gives you a full set of tools to control access, redact content, and protect your files with no extra software required.

You can apply password protection to restrict who can open, edit, or print a document. Nitro lets you set both open and permissions passwords, giving you complete control over how your files are shared.

Redaction is just as simple. You can mark specific areas for redaction, preview the results, and apply permanent changes to block out private or confidential content. This is especially useful for legal, HR, or financial documents that require compliance.

To add an extra layer of protection or branding, you can insert custom watermarks or backgrounds. And if you need to remove outdated or incorrect information, Nitro’s whiteout tool makes it easy to delete text, images, or annotations in just a few clicks. Read the full blog on how to secure your PDFs.

How to optimize your workflow with Nitro PDF

Nitro PDF is designed to help you work smarter with your documents. Whether you’re improving accessibility, creating dynamic forms, building fillable templates, or securing sensitive content, Nitro gives you the tools to do it all without the high cost or complexity of Adobe.

Try Nitro free for 14 days and experience the benefits of a more efficient and secure document management solution.