Can I add a watermark in Adobe Acrobat for free?

Adobe's list of free online tools does not include a watermark tool. Watermarking is a feature of paid Acrobat.

What is the best free alternative to Adobe for watermarking an ID?

Cachety is a free option that works in your browser without uploading your file. It adds a text watermark repeated across the page, and can also black out details and add a password.

Can Cachety add a logo like Acrobat?

No, Cachety only adds text watermarks. If you need a logo, Acrobat or another tool that accepts images is the better choice.

Cachety vs Adobe Acrobat: watermarking a PDF without a subscription

Updated 12 October 2026

Adobe Acrobat is the industry standard for PDF editing, and it can add watermarks. But watermarking is not among Adobe's free online tools: you need a paid Acrobat subscription. Cachety is a free way to watermark an ID document without leaving your browser.

In short

If you already pay for Acrobat, or you need professional PDF editing, Acrobat is the stronger tool, with text and image watermarks and many other features. If you just want to watermark a passport or payslip before sending it, Cachety does that for free, with no account, and your file stays on your device.

Side by side

Criterion	Cachety	Adobe Acrobat
Free watermarking	CachetyYes, free with no paid tier.Advantage Cachety	Adobe AcrobatNo free online watermark tool is listed. Watermarking comes with paid Acrobat.
Account	CachetyNone.Advantage Cachety	Adobe AcrobatAn Adobe account and subscription.
Where your file is processed	CachetyIn your browser, on your device. Nothing is uploaded.	Adobe AcrobatOn your computer with the desktop app; through Adobe's online service with Acrobat on the web.
Type of watermark	CachetyText only, repeated diagonally across the page.	Adobe AcrobatText or image, with font, size, colour, opacity and placement.Advantage Adobe Acrobat
Blacking out details	CachetyBuilt in, free.Advantage Cachety	Adobe AcrobatRedaction is an Acrobat Pro feature.
Password protection	CachetyOptional AES-256 password on the PDF.	Adobe AcrobatAvailable, including as a free online Protect PDF tool.
Tracking	CachetyNo tracking cookies or visitor analytics.Advantage Cachety	Adobe AcrobatAdobe's privacy policy says it uses cookies and other technologies to track use of its services.
Other PDF features	CachetyWatermark, masking, combining, password and file size only.	Adobe AcrobatFull PDF editing, conversion, OCR, forms, e-signatures and much more.Advantage Adobe Acrobat
Open source	CachetyYes, AGPL-3.0, code published on GitHub.	Adobe AcrobatNo, proprietary software.

Can you watermark a PDF free with Adobe?

Adobe offers more than 25 free online tools, including Edit PDF, Merge, Compress and Protect PDF. A watermark tool is not among them. Watermarking is part of paid Acrobat, on the desktop or on the web with a subscription. So if you search for a free Adobe watermark tool, you will be pointed towards a paid plan.

For a one-off job, such as sending a copy of your passport to a letting agent, a subscription is a lot to take on. Cachety is free and needs no account.

Where Acrobat is better

Acrobat is a professional tool. It can place an image or logo as a watermark, edit the text of a PDF, fill and sign forms, run OCR and much more. For a business that handles PDFs all day, it is in a different league from Cachety, which only protects documents before you share them.

Where Cachety is better for ID documents

Free, with no account, subscription or trial to cancel.
Your file is processed in your browser and never sent to a server.
Masking is included, so you can hide an account number or photo without paying for Pro.
You can make one named copy per recipient, up to 20 at a time.
It works on a phone, including iPhone photos, with nothing to install.

How to watermark a PDF free with Cachety

1Open cachety.com in your browser.
2Add your PDF or photo.
3Type the watermark text, such as the purpose, the recipient and the date.
4Download the result. You can add a password if you want.

Cachety works offline once the page has loaded. Switch on aeroplane mode before adding your file if you want to be sure nothing is sent.

When Adobe Acrobat is the better choice

You already pay for Acrobat and are used to it.
You need an image or logo watermark, or full PDF editing, forms and OCR.
Your workplace requires a supported, commercial product.

When Cachety is the better choice

You just want to watermark an ID document, payslip or statement, free, without a subscription.
You want your file to stay on your device.
You need to black out details without paying for a Pro plan.

Frequently asked questions

Can I add a watermark in Adobe Acrobat for free?: Adobe's list of free online tools does not include a watermark tool. Watermarking is a feature of paid Acrobat.
What is the best free alternative to Adobe for watermarking an ID?: Cachety is a free option that works in your browser without uploading your file. It adds a text watermark repeated across the page, and can also black out details and add a password.
Can Cachety add a logo like Acrobat?: No, Cachety only adds text watermarks. If you need a logo, Acrobat or another tool that accepts images is the better choice.

Sources

Facts checked on 11 October 2026 on each publisher's public pages. Services change: if something here is out of date, tell us on GitHub and we will fix it.

Written by the author of Cachety. We aim to be factual and fair: every claim about another tool links to its source.