8 Best Apps To Annotate PDF on Windows in 2024

Part 1. Best PDF Annotation App for Windows: 8 Choices 

Any best PDF annotator for Windows has all the basic and advanced features to let you provide feedback, add reviews, highlight, cross out, or underline text. Here are our top choices that can do all these tasks and more:

1. Afirstsoft PDF  

Afirstsoft PDF is probably the best PDF annotation software Windows users can rely on to handle all the feedback in one place. The UI is clean, the use is simple, and the reviewing options are super sweet. The app is free to download on Windows, but to avail of its full features, buy it at only $7.99/month.

Features:

• Attractive annotation stickers from different categories.
• Tilde to point out grammatical mistakes.
• Variety of font and color choices for feedback under every annotation tool.

2. Adobe Acrobat Reader

Adobe Acrobat Reader is the gold standard for PDF annotation on Windows, and it has a full set of features for both beginners and advanced professionals. However, to add comments or markups, you need to buy the Acrobat Pro and Acrobat Standard plans, which cost US$19.99/month and US$12.99/month, respectively.

Features:

• Highlights, sticky notes, and drawing tools.
• Seamless syncing over different devices with a single account.
• Collaborate with others in real time.

3. PDF Annotator

Many users agree that the best free PDF annotation app for Windows is PDF Annotator because it provides an easy-to-learn interface to make the job easy for you. However, you get all the annotations during your free trial, after which you have to buy a PDF Annotator License for $79.95.

Features:

• Create your own stamps and use them for annotation.
• Quickly extract and reuse text from annotations.
• Tons of customizable annotation options like changing highlighted text color and placement.

4. Nitro PDF

Known as the best PDF annotation app for Windows 11, Nitro PDF bridges the gap between basic PDF viewers and high-end editors. It is a powerful software solution favored by those who need advanced features without compromising on ease of use.

Nitro Pro costs $14.99/month, and Nitro PDF Pro is $179.99 per license, both with a 14-day free trial.

Features:

• Annotate multiple PDFs at the same time.
• Convert scanned documents into editable PDFs for markups.
• Sign documents digitally without third-party tools.

5. PDF-XChange

Another best PDF Reader and annotator for Windows is PDF-XChange Editor. It’s a lightweight app and is becoming a popular choice for many users looking for a complete set of markup tools that is affordable as well. PDF-XChange pricing is based on a license system that ranges from $56 to $200.

Features:

• Many markup tools, including stamps and callouts.
• Compare two PDFs side-by-side.
• Add comments through voice.

6. WPS PDF Editor

WPS PDF Editor, a part of the WPS Office suite, is the best free PDF annotator for Windows 10 and 11 operating systems because of its simplicity and integration with other office tools.

You can use this PDF editor to do basic markups but to utilize all the tools, you need to buy the Pro version, which costs $23.99 for three months.

Features:

• Add text comments in different font styles and colors.
• Freehand tool to draw or write directly on the PDF.
• Add comments and reply to existing ones for collaborative reviews.

7. SwifDoo PDF

SwifDoo PDF is a relatively new player, but many users praise its review features. This best PDF annotation app for Windows is holding its reputation as a game changer for handling large PDF files. Its price is affordable, too, with a premium Quarterly plan at $14/month, a 2-year subscription at $2.5/month, and a Perpetual subscription costing only $79.99.

Features:

• Caret, Squiggly, and Type Writer tools for text-based annotation.
• Highlight a whole section in one go with the Area Highlight feature.
• Cross out text with different colors and styles.

8. Foxit PDF Editor

Whenever there is a discussion about the best free PDF annotator for Windows, you’ll find Foxit PDF editor as a popular alternative to premium editors like Adobe Acrobat Reader. You can start using it free of cost for a week or so and then pay $129.99 for PDF Editor or $159.99 for PDF Editor+ each year.

Features:

• AI smart redact.
• CMS, Cloud storage, Sharepoint, and other integrations.
• Send annotations in FDF format with your email.

Part 2. Best Way to Annotate PDF on Windows - 3 Easy Steps

Afirstsoft PDF is one of the simplest software programs, rich with features, that can be used to annotate PDFs. Here’s how:

Step 1. Download and Sign Into Afirstsoft PDF

Install the Afirstfsoft PDF Windows version on your computer. Then, open it and sign up for an account to access its interface. Click File > Open and browser to your PDF file from where you’ve saved it on your computer to import it to the dashboard.

You can also drag & drop your PDF or click the + icon in the top bar to upload it to annotate.

On the top, click Comment to view different PDF annotation options. You can use any of them to review your PDFs.

Step 2. Highlight Text with Colors

Click Highlight and select any part of the text or select the text on the PDF file and then click the Highlight option from the top menu.

Now, simply right-click the highlighted text and click Pop-up Note to add your comment in the text box. Press Enter to save.

You can also choose any color to highlight the text by clicking the small arrow next to the Highlight option.

Step 3. Underline Text

If there is a part of the PDF text that needs revision, click the Underline tool on the top bar under Comment. It's easy to do this: Use the mouse to select the text and click Underline.

In case you want to underline different sections on a single page, you can distinguish each one by underlining them using different colors. To do this, click the small arrow next to the Underline tool, choose from various colors, and you’ll see that text underlined in that shade.

To add a sticky note to your underlined text, right-click on it, click Pop-up Note, and add your review.

Step 4. Cross Out Text

The Strikethrough tool in Afirstsoft PDF quickly crosses out the content in your PDF that needs changes.

To do this, click Strikethrough under the Comment tab and highlight the content on your PDF file.

Now, the text will cross out; click the crossed-out text and select the color you want to apply to it. You can also use the eye dropper here to get a color pixel from your Windows desktop.

If you want to add a comment, click the crossed-out text again, click the text box, and attach a sticky note.

Step 5. Use Tilde

For marking types, errors, or misspellings, select the text you want to annotate and click Tilde in the top menu.

Next, click the text with the tilde and pick the color you want to use. Then, click the selected text once more, click Open Pop-up Note, and provide your reviews or questions in the comment box.

Step 6. Stickers

Sticker is a unique tool poin out text, approve/disapprove it, or add fun sticky notes to make them stand out in your PDF file.

To do this, click Sticker in the top bar and scroll through different categories to use the shapes, labels, notes, and other illustrations.

After selecting your sticker, place it where you like on your PDF file and utilize the transform handles to resize it. If you want to change the shape’s opacity, right-click it and click Properties to open the Appearance tab. Here, use the slider or add a value next to Opacity and simply click Apply.

That’s not it! You can further add a sticky note to the sticker. For this, right-click the sticker, select Pop-up Note, type in your feedback and press Enter on the keyboard.

Step 7: More Annotation with Text Boxes

There is a possibility you want provide more feedback in the PDF file. Here, the text box can come handy. Click Edit right beside the Comment tab, choose Add Text, click anywhere on the PDF pages to add a text box and type your message.

Select the font from the drop-down menu under Font in the Properties panel to change the text style. You can also play around with the size of the fonts, their color, and other properties such as Bold, Italic, etc.

Step 8. Save PDF

After annotating the PDF, click Save in the top left corner of the dashboard, select the location where you want to save the PDF and click Save again.

Alternatively, click File, choose Export, and select PDF/A from the drop-down menu. Next, choose Custom Directory Under Output Folder, select a location and click Convert.

Note: You can also export PDFs from Save As under the File menu.

Part 3. FAQs Related to Best App to Annotate PDF on Windows 

What is the best PDF annotation app on Windows?

Afirstsoft PDF is an excellent choice for Windows OS due to the range of features it provides, including a clean UI. You can highlight text, add stickers, underline and cross out your selection, and save the file in different formats for easy collaboration.

How do I annotate a PDF in Windows?

Download and install the Afirstdoft PDF software on your Windows computer, launch it, and sign into your account. Open the PDF file, click Comment, and start providing feedback with Highlight, Underline, Stikethrough, Tilde, and Sticker options.

Does Microsoft have a PDF annotator?

Microsoft has embedded a default PDF annotator on the Edge browser, but it only offers basic comment tools like adding simple texts to highlights. To get the best annotation features, use Afirstsoft PDF, Acrobat Reader, or Foxit PDF Editor on Windows.

Part 4. Conclusion

This article discussed the 8 best PDF annotation apps for Windows, along with their features, prices, pros, and cons.

You also learned how to annotate PDF on Windows using Afirstsoft PDF with easy step-by-step instructions review you documents and share them with others.