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Mac
PDF
What is the best software to annotate a PDF?
15
Options
Considered
77
User
Recs.
Dec 23, 2023
Last
Updated
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12
Options
Considered
Best software to annotate a PDF
Price
Languages
Platforms
--
Xournal++
FREE
English, French, German, Dutch, Russian, Italian, Spanish
-
--
MuPDF
Free
-
Windows, Linux, Android, iOS
--
KDE Okular
Free
-
Windows, MacOS, Linux (KDE), BSD
--
Jarnal (Java, cross-platform)
-
-
-
--
pdf-xchange Editor
0
-
-
See Full List
--
Xournal++
My Rec
ommendation
for
Xournal++
My Recommendation for
Xournal++
All
10
Experiences
1
Pros
8
Specs
Top
Pro
•••
Advanced PDF annotation tools
Fill shape functionality, shape drawing (line, arrow, circle, rect, spline), shape resizing and rotation.
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Pweł Pakowski's Experience
Easy to use, good graphics tablet support
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Specs
Languages:
English, French, German, Dutch, Russian, Italian, Spanish
Top
Pro
•••
Supports pen input from devices such as Wacom tablets
See More
Top
Pro
•••
LaTeX support (requires a working LaTeX install)
See More
Top
Pro
•••
PDF, PNG export
PDF Export (with and without paper style); PNG Export (with and without transparent background)
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Grid and rotation snapping
See More
Top
Pro
•••
SUPPORT
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Plugins using LUA scripting
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Audio recording and playback alongside with handwritten notes
See More
Hide
See All
FREE
Recommend
28
4
--
MuPDF
My Rec
ommendation
for
MuPDF
My Recommendation for
MuPDF
All
5
Pros
2
Cons
2
Specs
Top
Pro
•••
Annotation capability
With mupdf-gl, you can do most of the annotations and comments.
See More
Top
Con
•••
Cannot customize shortcut keys
See More
Specs
Platforms:
Windows, Linux, Android, iOS
Top
Pro
•••
Super fast
Written in C and opengl.
See More
Top
Con
•••
The annotation does not have good shortcut key support
See More
Hide
See All
Free
Recommend
2
--
KDE Okular
My Rec
ommendation
for
KDE Okular
My Recommendation for
KDE Okular
All
8
Experiences
1
Pros
6
Specs
Top
Pro
•••
Variety of formats
Okular can open lots of file formats like PDF, Epub, images, comic books and more.
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HumbleEnlil's Experience
It's easy to use and has advanced functionality too.
See More
Specs
Platforms:
Windows, MacOS, Linux (KDE), BSD
License:
GPL-2.0-or-later
Top
Pro
•••
Stamps
You can add logos to your pdf.
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Supports touch interaction
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Table selection
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Free and open source
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Trim margins
Easily trim margins either automatically or manually for easier reading.
See More
Hide
See All
Free
Recommend
2
--
Jarnal (Java, cross-platform)
My Rec
ommendation
for
Jarnal (Java, cross-platform)
My Recommendation for
Jarnal (Java, cross-platform)
All
4
Pros
2
Cons
2
Top
Pro
•••
Collaboration over network (although limited)
It is possible to connect multiple Jarnal clients to a single Jarnal server for collaboration on the same document. However, only one person can make changes at a time.
See More
Top
Con
•••
Some actions are not intuitive
Opening a PDF into Jarnal is not intuitive. The only way I found is by using the supplied shell script. I could not find how to do it from within the UI.
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Free and open-source (GPL license)
See More
Top
Con
•••
Written in Java using Swing toolkit
As with most Java apps, the UI looks alien to all operating systems.
See More
Hide
See All
Get it
here
Recommend
3
1
--
pdf-xchange Editor
My Rec
ommendation
for
pdf-xchange Editor
My Recommendation for
pdf-xchange Editor
All
6
Experiences
2
Pros
2
Cons
2
Top
Pro
•••
A complete set of shapes with properties control as well as a calibrated measuring/dimensioning tool
You can use Playonlinux to install the Windows exe file with 32-bit wine.
See More
Top
Con
•••
Closed source
Execution under Linux only via wine. Sandboxing recommended.
See More
laptop-tweaker's Experience
The best software for annotating pdf files is Pdf-Xchange Editor
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Provides proper annotation support
Unlike xournal which only adds a graphical layer on top.
See More
Top
Con
•••
Need to install the Windows version as no native Linux version is available
See More
DecentGelos's Experience
Best tool to annotate pdfs under Linux. Unfortunately closed source. Sandboxed execution recommended.
See More
Hide
See All
0
Recommend
4
--
Kami PDF
My Rec
ommendation
for
Kami PDF
My Recommendation for
Kami PDF
All
5
Experiences
1
Pros
2
Cons
1
Specs
Top
Pro
•••
Includes OCR
See More
Top
Con
•••
Saving is either cumbersome or requires total Google Drive access
Saving a file is not as straightforward as it could be. If using Google drive it requires too much access rights.) If using Local file, you cannot just save it, you have to export it, not a big deal, but a bit annoying.
See More
RickZeeland's Experience
Kami for Chrome allows you to annotate, markup, and collaborate on your PDF, Office document, or image files. Supports Google Drive, Google Classroom and Schoology.
See More
Specs
Platforms:
Chrome
Top
Pro
•••
Collaborative PDF editing
See More
Hide
See All
Free / paid
Recommend
3
--
Xournal (Linux)
My Rec
ommendation
for
Xournal (Linux)
My Recommendation for
Xournal (Linux)
All
3
Pros
2
Cons
1
Top
Con
•••
Importing a PDF can be a lossy process
Upon importing some PDF files, each page becomes a raster picture. Features of the original PDF, such as vector graphics or selectible text, are completely lost. For other PDFs, this problem does not happen.
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Open-source and free software (GPL license)
See More
Top
Pro
•••
Supports Wacom tablets and similar input devices
Detects the pressure applied to the pen and adjusts the line thickness, creating more natural-looking drawings.
See More
Hide
See All
Get it
here
Recommend
2
1
--
Good Annotations
My Rec
ommendation
for
Good Annotations
My Recommendation for
Good Annotations
All
2
Cons
1
Specs
Top
Con
•••
Not very user friendly
Trying to open a PDF is already difficult.
See More
Specs
Platforms:
Web
Hide
Free
Recommend
3
1
--
PDF Expert
My Rec
ommendation
for
PDF Expert
My Recommendation for
PDF Expert
All
2
Pros
1
Cons
1
Top
Pro
•••
Fast and smooth
It is a software focused on consumption and not in editing PDF (yes, you can accentuate highlight, draw shapes and sign). They managed to build a nice looking efficient product in which they propose to do.
See More
Top
Con
•••
Expensive
See More
Hide
19.99
Recommend
1
--
PDF Bob
My Rec
ommendation
for
PDF Bob
My Recommendation for
PDF Bob
All
1
Specs
Specs
Platforms:
Web
Languages:
English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian
Hide
FREE
Recommend
1
--
hoodle
My Rec
ommendation
for
hoodle
My Recommendation for
hoodle
Hide
Get it
here
Recommend
1
--
Gournal
My Rec
ommendation
for
Gournal
My Recommendation for
Gournal
Hide
Get it
here
Recommend
Don't see your favorite option? Add it.
--
PDF Reader
My Rec
ommendation
for
PDF Reader
My Recommendation for
PDF Reader
0
Recommend
16
--
Able2Extract
My Rec
ommendation
for
Able2Extract
My Recommendation for
Able2Extract
$35M/$150
Recommend
4
--
w
My Rec
ommendation
for
w
My Recommendation for
w
Recommend
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