How to Add Watermark to PDF for Free in 2025
Watermarking your PDF documents is an effective way to protect your content and maintain its integrity. Whether for business or personal use, adding a watermark can help ensure that your work is properly attributed. In this guide, we will explore the 8 best tools to add watermark to PDF free, highlighting each tool's features, benefits, and drawbacks.
Part 1. Why Do You Need to Add Watermark to PDF?
Adding a watermark to your PDF documents serves several important purposes. Here are some of the key reasons why you should consider watermarking your files:
- Branding and Ownership: Watermarks help establish ownership by clearly showing that the document belongs to you or your organization.
- Confidentiality: Watermarks can be used to mark documents as confidential, ensuring sensitive information is protected.
- Authenticity: A watermark can authenticate the document as legitimate and show that it is not a fake.
- Protection: Watermarks serve as a deterrent to prevent unauthorized editing or redistribution of your files.
- Professionalism: Adding a watermark enhances the professionalism of your documents, making them appear more official.
Part 2. Best Ways to Add Watermark to PDF Easily
Now that you understand the importance of watermarking, it's time to learn how to add a watermark to a PDF. Here's a list of the 8 best tools to add watermark to PDF. These tools will help you secure your PDFs with minimal effort.
1. Watermarkly
Watermarkly is an easy-to-use online tool that helps users add watermark to PDF documents quickly. It offers both text and image watermark options, making it versatile for different needs. The tool allows you to batch watermark multiple files at once, saving valuable time, especially for businesses with large documents.
Plus, you can preview the watermark before applying it, ensuring the final result is exactly what you want. Watermarkly is perfect for users who need an efficient and straightforward solution to watermark multiple documents at once.
How to Add a Watermark to a PDF
- Upload your PDF file to Watermarkly.
- Choose whether you want a text or image watermark.
- Adjust the watermark's size, position, and opacity.
- Preview the file to ensure the watermark looks good.
- Click "Apply" and download the watermarked PDF.

Pros
- Simple user interface
- Supports batch processing
- Offers a preview function
Cons
- Limited features in the free version
- Requires internet access to use
2. iLovePDF
iLovePDF is a user-friendly tool for various PDF tasks, including watermarking. With iLovePDF, you can easily add a watermark to a PDF using either text or images. It supports multiple languages, making it a great choice for global users. The intuitive interface ensures that even beginners can watermark their PDFs without hassle. Additionally, iLovePDF offers seamless integration with cloud storage services like Google Drive and Dropbox.
How to Add a Watermark to a PDF
- Go to the iLovePDF website and upload your PDF file.
- Choose your watermark type (text or image).
- Set the watermark's position and transparency.
- Preview your PDF before applying the watermark.
- Download the watermarked PDF.

Pros
- Easy-to-use interface
- Supports multiple languages
- Provides other PDF tools like merging and splitting
Cons
- Free version has task limitations
- Requires account registration to use some features
3. Soda PDF

Soda PDF is a powerful PDF tool that offers a wide range of features, including watermarking. It allows users to add a watermark to a PDF in both text and image formats. The tool provides various customization options, including transparency and positioning of the watermark. It's suitable for both individual users and businesses looking for an all-in-one PDF solution. Soda PDF also offers cloud storage integration, making it easier to manage and access files across devices.
How to Add a Watermark to a PDF
- Open the Soda PDF tool and upload your PDF file.
- Select the "Watermark" option from the tools menu.
- Customize the watermark's text or image, size, and position.
- Preview the file to ensure accuracy.
- Save the document with the watermark applied.

Pros
- Comprehensive PDF features
- Customizable watermark settings
- Supports batch processing
Cons
- Can be expensive for users only needing watermarking
- The interface may feel overwhelming for new users
4. PDF24 Tools
PDF24 Tools is a free, online platform that offers various PDF utilities, including a feature to add watermark to PDF. It is designed to be simple, fast, and accessible, allowing users to easily upload their files and apply watermarks. It also doesn't require registration, making it a quick solution for users who need to watermark PDFs in a hurry. PDF24 Tools supports multiple file formats, allowing you to work with PDFs and other document types.
How to Add a Watermark to a PDF
- Visit the PDF24 Tools website and upload your PDF.
- Select the "Add Watermark" option.
- Choose the watermark text or image and adjust settings like size and opacity.
- Preview the result to check the watermark's appearance.
- Download the watermarked PDF.

Pros
- No registration required
- Completely free to use
- Fast and easy-to-navigate interface
Cons
- Ads on the website can be distracting
- Limited to online use
5. Sejda
Sejda is an online and desktop PDF tool that provides a feature to add watermark to a PDF. It allows you to easily add both text and image watermarks, and offers customizable settings like position, opacity, and rotation. Sejda's batch processing feature is especially useful for those who need to watermark multiple files at once. It also allows users to upload files from Google Drive or Dropbox, making it easier to work with cloud documents.
How to Add a Watermark to a PDF
- Upload your PDF to Sejda.
- Choose whether you want a text or image watermark.
- Customize the watermark's position, size, and transparency.
- Preview the file to check how the watermark looks.
- Apply the watermark and download the PDF.

Pros
- Supports both text and image watermarks
- Batch processing available
- Offers desktop and online versions
Cons
- Limited free usage
- Requires a stable internet connection
6. CleverPDF
CleverPDF is a versatile PDF tool that offers over 20 PDF-related features, including watermarking. It allows users to add a watermark to a PDF and customize its appearance with ease. The tool supports both text and image watermarks, and it works well across different platforms, including Windows and Mac. CleverPDF also supports PDF conversions, which is helpful for users looking to modify their documents in various ways.
How to Add a Watermark to a PDF
- Upload your PDF to CleverPDF.
- Select the watermark option from the toolset.
- Customize your watermark's font, size, and position.
- Preview your file and adjust as necessary.
- Download the watermarked document.

Pros
- Multi-platform support
- Intuitive user interface
- Offers a variety of PDF tools
Cons
- Free version has limitations
- Internet connection required for the web version
7. PDF Candy
PDF Candy is an online PDF tool that includes a dedicated add watermark to PDF feature. It is known for its simple interface and powerful functionality. Users can insert text-based watermarks and customize them to match their style. The platform also supports batch processing for multiple PDFs. PDF Candy also provides various PDF editing tools, such as merging, splitting, and converting, making it a versatile tool for PDF tasks.
How to Add a Watermark to a PDF
- Upload your PDF file to PDF Candy.
- Select the "Add Watermark" option.
- Customize the watermark's appearance, such as font, size, and position.
- Preview the document and adjust as needed.
- Download your watermarked PDF.

Pros
- Easy-to-use platform
- Multiple customization options for text watermarks
- Free to use
Cons
- No image watermarking support
- Requires internet access
8. PDF Watermark for Win
PDF Watermark for Win is a Windows-based application designed to help users add watermark to PDF files. It is an offline tool, which means you can use it without an internet connection. The tool supports both text and image watermarks and provides advanced customization options for professional use. PDF Watermark for Win also allows batch watermarking, making it easier for users with large numbers of files to process.

How to Add a Watermark to a PDF
- Install PDF Watermark for Win on your PC.
- Upload your PDF file and choose the watermark option.
- Customize the watermark's size, opacity, and position.
- Preview the result and make necessary adjustments.
- Apply the watermark and save your PDF.
Pros
- Offline functionality
- High level of customization
- Batch processing support
Cons
- Windows-only tool
- Requires installation
Part 3. Pro Tip: Easily Add Watermarks to Photos and Videos
HitPaw Univd is a versatile media tool that supports watermarking videos and photos, making it an excellent choice for enhancing your creative projects. With HitPaw Univd, you can effortlessly add watermarks, edit media files, and convert formats, offering a complete solution for your media needs. Whether you're a content creator, business owner, or designer, this tool helps you add professional touches to your videos and images while simplifying your workflow.

HitPaw Univd - All-in-one Video Solutions for Win & Mac
Secure Verified. 254,145 people have downloaded it.
- Supports watermarking for videos and photos: Easily add watermarks to your videos and photos, perfect for branding or protecting your work.
- High-quality file conversions: Convert your media files to different formats without losing quality, making it easy to work across platforms.
- Easy-to-use editing tools: With its intuitive interface, you can edit your media, crop, cut, and adjust as needed for optimal results.
- Batch processing for large projects: Save time by watermarking or converting multiple files at once, ideal for large-scale media projects.
- AI-powered tools for enhanced creativity: Use AI features to improve your media, from automatic adjustments to intelligent enhancements for better visuals.
Secure Verified. 254,145 people have downloaded it.
How to Add Watermarks to Videos in HitPaw Univd
Step 1.Launch HitPaw Univd and go to the Editor tab. Here you will find all the editing features including Add Watermark. Open the watermark window and import the video(s) you want to add watermark to.
Step 2.Now, you can add both text and image watermarks to the video. Follow the onscreen tips to customize the watermark. For text watermarks, you can adjust the text fonts, colors, size, transparency, and styles. For image watermarks, you can adjust its size and transparency.
Step 3.If you want to apply the watermark to multiple videos, simply click the Apply all to list option. Click the Confirm button to save your changes. On the Editor interface, you can select an output format for the video.
Step 4.Finally click the Export All button to start saving the videos with watermark.
Conclusion
In this post, we've explored 10 best tools to add watermark to PDF, each offering unique features and benefits. Whether you prefer an online tool or an offline application, there's a solution for everyone. To get started, simply choose the tool that best suits your needs, and follow the easy steps to add a watermark to a PDF. Additionally, for those looking to add watermarks to videos and photos, HitPaw Univd offers a versatile solution that enhances your creative projects with ease. By watermarking your documents, you can protect your intellectual property and ensure your content remains secure.
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Daniel Walker
Editor-in-Chief
My passion lies in bridging the gap between cutting-edge technology and everyday creativity. With years of hands-on experience, I create content that not only informs but inspires our audience to embrace digital tools confidently.
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