The free PDFlyer alternative
Tick marks, workpaper stamps, a calculator tape, sign-offs and cross-reference links inside Adobe Acrobat — free, with no account and no license to renew.
Windows 10 or 11 · Adobe Acrobat Standard or Pro (Adobe Reader can't run plug-ins) · No sign-up
What PDFlyer is
CCH ProSystem fx PDFlyer is an Adobe Acrobat plug-in from Wolters Kluwer for preparing engagements across multiple PDF files. It lists tickmarks, connectors, annotation and user stamps, a calculator tape, notes and file merging. Pricing is available on request from Wolters Kluwer.
Everything you tick and tie with — at no cost.
No account, no license key and no time limit. Every mark is saved as a standard PDF annotation, so anyone who opens the file sees it.
Tick marks, stamps & sign-offs
40 tick marks — standard symbols, tax and audit codes (F, XF, TB, PY, GL…) and review flags — plus 10 workpaper stamps like Footed, Agreed, Traced to balance and Prepared by client. Add up to 24 of your own. Sign off as preparer, reviewer, manager or partner with your initials and the date.
A calculator tape on the page
A 10-key adding machine inside Acrobat. Select figures on the PDF to add them, label each line, subtotal, cross-foot against a figure on the page, export to CSV — then stamp the tape onto the workpaper as the audit trail of your arithmetic.
Markup
Highlight, underline, strike through, text boxes, sticky notes, arrows, rectangles, circles and freehand ink — in the colours you choose.
Bookmarks & cross-references
Bookmark a page, or build a workpaper index that bookmarks every page in one click. Link a figure on the return to its supporting schedule so a reviewer jumps straight to it.
Acrobat review tools for accountants, compared.
What each tool lists on its own product page. Where a vendor doesn't mention a feature, we say "not listed" rather than guess.
| Feature | Debits plug-inDebits | TicTie CalculateSafeSend (Thomson Reuters) | CCH ProSystem fx PDFlyerWolters Kluwer | Scriptorpdfplugins.com | Acrobat on its ownAdobe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Paid license — priced on request | Paid — priced on request | $59 / year | Included with Acrobat |
| Account needed to start | No account | Trial via SafeSend | Through Wolters Kluwer | Account for the 7-day trial | No |
| Tick marks | 40 built in + your own | Built in, customizable | Tickmarks | Built in + custom | Build your own stamps |
| Workpaper stamps (Footed, Agreed, PBC…) | 10 named stamps | Not listed | Annotation & user stamps | Alphanumeric stamping | Build your own stamps |
| Calculator tape on the PDF | 10-key tape, stamped on the page | Digital calculator tapes | Calculator tape | Editable tape | No |
| Pull figures from the PDF and cross-foot | From selected text | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | No |
| Sign-offs | Preparer, reviewer, manager & partner | Preparer + up to two reviewers | Not listed | Up to 4 roles | No |
| Cross-reference links between pages | Yes | Hyperlinked cross references | Connectors | Not listed | Manual links |
| Bookmarks & workpaper index | Bookmark every page in one click | Automated bookmarking | Not listed | Document organizer | Manual bookmarks |
| Automatic repagination | Not yet | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | No |
| Highlight, shapes, notes & freehand | Yes | Not listed | Notes & annotation | Not listed | Built in |
| Send the return for e-signature from Acrobat | With a Debits plan | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Acrobat Sign, priced separately |
Competitor features and prices as listed on each vendor's own product page, checked October 2026; they may change. TicTie Calculate, SafeSend, PDFlyer, CCH ProSystem fx, Scriptor, Adobe, Acrobat and Acrobat Sign are trademarks of their respective owners. Debits is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.
Switching from PDFlyer
- Debits works in your existing PDFs — nothing to convert, and your current files stay as they are.
- Marks are standard PDF annotations, so they show in any PDF viewer.
- Debits adds preparer, reviewer, manager and partner sign-offs and a one-click workpaper index.
- Debits doesn't merge files yet — use Acrobat's own Combine Files for that.
We hope you'll like it enough to run your firm on Debits.
The review tools are free for good. When you're ready, the same panel connects to Debits — the platform that runs your tax season, bookkeeping and back office for one flat price with unlimited seats.
Workpapers
Keep every return's source documents in a workpaper binder, with your tick marks, lead schedules and reviewer sign-off — open it in the same Acrobat panel.
Deliver for e-signature
Upload the return to the client's delivery, drag signature fields onto the page and send it — unlimited e-signatures, with optional KBA identity checks at $1 per signer.
Install it in a minute
- Download the installer for Windows — DebitsSetup.exe.
- Close Acrobat and run it. It finds your copy of Acrobat Standard or Pro and adds the plug-in.
- Open a PDF in Acrobat. The Debits panel opens on Review — pick a tick mark and click where it goes.
Questions
Is the Debits plug-in really free?
Yes. The review tools — tick marks, stamps, sign-offs, markup, the calculator tape, bookmarks and cross-references — are free with no account and no time limit. Workpapers and sending a return for e-signature are part of a Debits plan, which you can start on a 7-day free trial.
Do I need a Debits account?
No. Install the plug-in and the review tools work straight away, even offline. You only sign in if you want Workpapers or to send a document for e-signature.
Does it work with Adobe Reader?
No. Adobe Reader can't run plug-ins, so you need Adobe Acrobat Standard or Pro. The installer checks for it.
Does it work on a Mac?
Not yet. The plug-in runs on Windows 10 and 11 with Acrobat Standard or Pro.
Will people without the plug-in see my tick marks?
Yes. Every mark, stamp, sign-off and tape is saved as a standard PDF annotation, so it shows in any PDF viewer, including Acrobat Reader.
Do my PDFs get uploaded anywhere?
No. The review tools work on your computer and never upload your documents. The plug-in counts how often each tool is used — counts only, never document content — and only sends those counts if you sign in to Debits.
Can I make my own tick marks?
Yes. Alongside the 40 built-in tick marks and 10 workpaper stamps, you can add up to 24 custom marks of your own.
Tick and tie for free, starting today.
Download the plug-in — no account, no license key, no trial clock.