How to Add a Hyperlink to a PDF (Free Methods)

Adding a clickable link to a PDF lets readers jump to websites, email addresses, or other pages within the document. Here are free ways to do it.

Method 1: LibreOffice Draw (Free, Desktop)

LibreOffice Draw can open and edit PDFs:

1. Open your PDF in LibreOffice Draw
2. Select the text you want to turn into a link
3. Go to Insert > Hyperlink
4. Enter the URL and click Apply
5. Export as PDF: File > Export as PDF

Method 2: PDFescape (Free, Online)

1. Go to pdfescape.com and upload your PDF
2. Select the Link tool from the toolbar
3. Draw a rectangle over the text you want to link
4. Enter the destination URL
5. Save and download your edited PDF

Method 3: Sejda PDF Editor (Free, Online)

1. Visit sejda.com and open the PDF editor
2. Upload your PDF
3. Click Links in the toolbar
4. Select the area to link and enter your URL
5. Download the edited file (free for up to 3 tasks per day)

Method 4: Add Links Before Exporting

The easiest approach is adding hyperlinks before you create the PDF:

• Google Docs — Highlight text, press Ctrl+K (Cmd+K on Mac), and enter the URL. Then export as PDF.
• Microsoft Word — Insert hyperlinks, then Save As PDF.
• Canva — Select text or elements and add links before downloading as PDF.

Links added this way are preserved when you export to PDF.

Sharing Your Linked PDF

After adding hyperlinks, share your PDF with a link that preserves clickable elements. Upload to Linkyhost for a shareable URL with a built-in viewer that keeps links active and clickable.

Tips

• Always test links after export by opening the PDF and clicking them
• Use descriptive link text instead of raw URLs
• Internal links (jumping between pages) work best in Adobe Acrobat or LibreOffice
• Some free editors limit the number of edits per day