What we’ll cover:
PDF forms in 2025: things has changed!
Why choose online fillable forms?
Make your website better with online forms
How to start using online forms
PlatoForms AI Feature: Enhancing Your Online Form Experience
PDF forms in 2025: things has changed!
Hey! Remember those old PDFs from 1992? You know, those files everyone used because… well, what else were we gonna use? They were basically just digital paper - super exciting, I know. 😴
BUT WAIT! It’s 2025 now and PDFs got a serious upgrade. Instead of just staring at them like digital paintings, we can actually do stuff with them! Wild, right?
Speaking of upgrades… have you seen what online fillable forms can do these days? It’s like PDFs went to tech college and came back with superpowers:
- Auto-fill your personal info (goodbye, typing your name and email 100 times!)
- Smart validation that catches mistakes before you submit
- Calculations that do the math for you (no more calculator needed!)
- Auto-save that actually works (I see you, recovering from that browser crash like a champ)
- Plays nice with literally every app you use with the integration functionality
For businesses, this is basically Christmas morning:
- Data flows in automatically (no more squinting at handwriting!)
- Everything’s organized without you lifting a finger
- Your workflow? Smooth as butter
- Customers actually enjoy filling out forms (I know, shocking!)
Look, if your website’s still using old-school PDFs, it’s like showing up to a smartphone party with a rotary phone. Time for an upgrade, friend!
Want to see what else these forms can do? Let me tell you about the time I converted an entire HR department’s paperwork… actually, maybe we should save that thrilling tale for another day. 😉
Why choose online fillable forms? (They’re actually fun now!)
Okay, let me spill the tea about online fillable forms vs old PDFs in 2025. You know how choosing between them used to be like picking between a smartphone and a brick? Well… let’s see how online fillable forms stack up against old-school PDFs:
| Criteria | Online fillable forms | Traditional PDF forms |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility | ✔ Works on any device—no downloads, no file conversions, just open and go. | Needs specific software and might not work on all devices. |
| Responsiveness | ✔ Adjusts to any screen size—mobile, tablet, or desktop, it just fits. | Fixed layout—great if you like pinching and zooming on your phone. |
| User friendliness | ✔ Easy to use with an intuitive interface—click, type, submit, done. | Requires extra tools to fill out, and let’s hope they don’t crash halfway through. |
| Versatility | ✔ Supports interactive fields like dropdowns, checkboxes, and conditional logic—because forms should work smarter, not harder. | Static content that won’t lift a finger to help you. |
| Embeddability | ✔ Embeds seamlessly into any website—no coding wizardry needed. | Doesn’t integrate—might as well hang a “Do Not Disturb” sign on it. |
| Data management | ✔ Automatically collects and organizes data—goodbye manual entry, hello efficiency. | Get ready to type it all in yourself—hope you have snacks. |
| Interactivity | ✔ Includes advanced features like calculations and smart validation. | Limited to being a glorified piece of digital paper. |
| Collaboration | ✔ Multiple users can fill and submit at the same time—teamwork makes the dream work. | Sharing is fine, but collaborating? Not gonna happen. |
| Integration capability | ✔ Syncs with your favorite tools like Zapier, Make, and cloud storage for a seamless workflow. | Requires manual processing—because why make life easier, right? |
In 2025, online fillable forms are the real deal—leaving static PDFs in the dust. 🚀
Want to join the cool kids with online forms? Or should I share more embarrassing stories about the time I lost three hours of work to a crashed PDF? 😅
Make your website better with online forms
PlatoForms gives you four powerful ways to integrate online forms into your workflow. Whether you’re upgrading old PDFs or creating forms from scratch, we’ve got you covered!
Option 1: PDF to Web Form
Make your static PDFs interactive and easy to use.
Have existing PDFs? Don’t throw them away! With PlatoForms, you can convert your PDFs into web forms that people can fill out directly on your website. The process is seamless:
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Keep the structure of your original PDF for consistency.
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Allow users to fill out fields and submit data online.
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Simplify workflows for forms like registration, invoices, or surveys.
Why choose this?
Perfect if you already have PDFs and want to give them a new life as fillable forms, all while speeding up data collection and improving user experience.
Option 2: PDF Online Form
Maintain your original PDF design, but make it fillable online.
Need to preserve your professional branding or design while moving to an online format? This option allows you to keep your PDF’s original layout while enabling users to fill it out digitally:
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Great for legal forms, contracts, or branded documents.
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Users fill in fields directly in the online version of your PDF.
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Retain your polished look while offering modern convenience.
Why choose this?
Best for companies or teams that prioritize keeping their PDFs’ aesthetic or design intact but want the ease of online submissions.
Option 3: Master Form
Fill out one form and generate multiple PDFs instantly.
Have a workflow where you need to complete multiple documents based on one form? With Master Forms, users can fill out a single online form, and PlatoForms will automatically populate multiple PDFs at once. Examples include:
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HR forms: Employee onboarding documents, contracts, and policy acknowledgments.
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Applications: Loan applications, scholarship forms, or membership sign-ups.
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Agreements: NDAs, agreements, and other multi-part forms.
Why choose this?
Ideal for anyone juggling multi-document processes. Streamline workflows by reducing repetitive form-filling and improving accuracy.
Option 4: Custom Web Form
Create fully customizable, standalone web forms from scratch.
Sometimes, you just need a form that’s uniquely tailored to your needs without the restrictions of a PDF layout. This option lets you design beautiful and dynamic forms that match your website’s branding perfectly:
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Fully responsive forms that look great on desktops, tablets, and mobile devices.
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Add advanced features like dropdown menus, checkboxes, conditional logic, and file uploads.
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No coding required—just drag, drop, and go.
Use cases include:
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Contact forms for customer inquiries.
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Sign-up forms for newsletters or events.
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Surveys to gather insights and feedback.
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Application forms for jobs, memberships, or programs.
Why choose this?
Perfect for creating forms that feel modern and fit seamlessly into your website. No PDFs needed—just full flexibility.
With these options, PlatoForms makes it easier than ever to upgrade your forms for 2025. Whether you want to give your old PDFs a makeover or start fresh, we’ve got the tools to simplify your workflow and enhance user experiences. 🚀
How to start using online forms
Adding forms to your website is easy with these steps:
Step 1: Get a free account
Sign up for PlatoForms and explore all features free for 15 days—no credit card required.
Step 2: Choose your form type
Select the type of form that best suits your needs:
1️⃣ PDF to Web Form
- Convert PDFs into interactive online forms.
- Perfect for reusing existing PDFs and enabling users to fill them out online.
2️⃣ PDF Online Form (original design)
- Keep your PDF’s original layout while making it fillable online.
- Great for documents like agreements or forms where branding consistency matters.
3️⃣ Master Form
- Fill once and generate multiple PDFs automatically.
- Ideal for workflows like approval processes or multi-document applications.
4️⃣ Custom Web Form
- Create completely customizable, dynamic forms without PDF constraints.
- Best for modern web forms like surveys, sign-up forms, or event registrations.
💡 Tip: Not sure which one to choose? Start with PDF to Web Form for simple conversions or Custom Web Form for more flexibility.
Step 3: Make your forms work online
Transform your forms into user-friendly online versions:
- Mobile-optimized: Ensures forms work perfectly on phones, tablets, and desktops.
- Auto-saving responses: No more lost submissions—data is instantly stored.
Step 4: Publish and share your forms
Step 4.1: Publish your form
Click Publish to make your form live and ready to use.
Step 4.2: Share your form your way
You can share your forms in three flexible ways:
1️⃣ Simple link
- Share a direct link to your form via email, social media, or messaging platforms.
- Perfect for quick sharing and broad reach.
2️⃣ Add to website
Embed your forms directly into your website with one of these options:
| Embed Type | What it Does | Best For | Customizable | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Embed | Places the form directly on your webpage. | Contact forms, registration forms, or any form that needs to be fully visible on the page. | - | A “Contact Us” section on a homepage. |
| Modal Embed | Opens the form in a popup window when users click a button. | Actions like “Get a Quote” or “Sign Up” that require minimal space on the main page. | Adjust the popup’s width and the button text. | A “Subscribe Now” button that triggers a signup form. |
| Popup Embed | Displays the form as a floating button on the page. Clicking the button opens a small form window. | Feedback forms, subscription forms, or forms that should be accessible but not intrusive. | Adjust the button’s size, style, and the form’s corner radius. | A floating “Feedback” button on the side of a webpage. |
| Full-Page Embed | Makes the form take up an entire section of the webpage. | Surveys, detailed questionnaires, or standalone forms that require the user’s full attention. | - | A “Customer Satisfaction Survey” that spans the full browser window. |
Take a look at the display below:
Modal Embed ⬇
Popup Embed ⬇
3️⃣ QR Code
- Generate a QR code that links directly to your form.
- Ideal for print materials like business cards, flyers, or event displays.
With PlatoForms, you can easily add professional, user-friendly forms to your website. Start now and experience the difference! 🚀
Read more:
PlatoForms AI Feature: Enhancing Your Online Form Experience
As we’ve explored, the shift from traditional static PDFs to dynamic, online fillable forms has revolutionized the way businesses collect data. But what if you could take your form-building experience even further? That’s where PlatoForms’ AI-powered features come in, designed to enhance both form creation and data management.
With PlatoForms’ AI form builder, transforming an existing PDF into a fillable online form is quicker and more effortless than ever. Simply upload your PDF, and within seconds, the AI automatically converts it into an interactive form, ready to collect data. Less manually adding fields or adjusting formatting—PlatoForms’ AI technology handles the process, allowing you to focus on gathering valuable data.
Unlock the potential of AI-Powered form recognition, start using PlatoForms’ AI form builder today!
