How to Annotate PDFs for Free: The Best PDF Annotator Tools [Afirstsoft PDF]

Part 1. Annotate PDFs Online for Free

1.1 Overview of Online PDF Annotation Tools

1. Kami

Particularly with teachers and kids, Kami is a popular tool. It is perfect for collaborative educational work because it interacts easily with Google Classroom and Drive.

With its intuitive UI, Kami makes it simple to annotate PDFs with a wide range of tools, making it a great PDF annotator free for educational use.

2. Xodo

Xodo is a robust and adaptable PDF annotator with a first-rate user interface. It allows several people to annotate a document at once in real-time collaboration.

Your documents will always be available because Xodo works with cloud storage providers like Dropbox and Google Drive.

3. Candy PDF

An extensive online tool for PDFs, PDF Candy provides more than just annotation features. It has strong annotation capabilities and can compress, split, merge, and convert PDFs. Because of this, it's a fantastic all-in-one PDF document management solution.

1.2 Key Features of Online PDF Annotation Tools

• Highlighting

One essential function of any PDF annotator is the ability to highlight text. You may quickly highlight significant text passages with programs like Kami, Xodo, and PDF Candy, which makes it easy to go over and highlight the most relevant material.

• Drawing

In order to annotate your PDFs in a freehand manner, you will need drawing tools. These tools offer versatile alternatives for visual marking, whether you're sketching diagrams, underlining text, or circling significant areas.

• Sticky Notes

Sticky notes are ideal for tagging information or remarks without overpowering the primary content. These notes are easily movable across the manuscript, which facilitates the addition of context or comments.

• Text Boxes

Text boxes allow you to add more content to the PDF. This is helpful for adding more in-depth remarks, clarifications, or guidelines inside the document.

• Shapes

You can use shapes like arrows, circles, and rectangles to annotate PDF online and draw attention to or highlight particular areas of your PDF. These tools aid in graphically arranging and highlighting the most significant sections of your work.

• Collaboration

One particular feature that sets programs like Xodo and Kami apart is real-time collaboration. This feature enables numerous users to collaborate on a document at once, making it perfect for group projects and instructional uses.

• Integration with Cloud Services

Integration with cloud storage providers like Dropbox and Google Drive guarantees that your documents are readily shared and always available. This functionality is especially helpful for cooperation and remote work.

1.3 Collaborative PDF Annotation

Collaborative PDF annotation solutions have become essential for improving productivity and communication in today's linked society.

These tools are ideal for professional collaboration, student groups, and distant work since they allow real-time co-annotation and sharing and include:

1.3.1 1. Hypothesis

Hypothesis is an effective tool for group annotation. Users can instantly annotate PDFs and online pages with comments, highlights, and other data.

This technology is especially helpful in academic and research environments, where numerous users can discuss and evaluate materials together.

Because Hypothesis is can be integrated with well-known learning management systems (LMS) such as Canvas, it is an invaluable tool for both teachers and students.

1.3.2. Drawboard PDF

Drawboard PDF is a flexible tool for annotating PDFs that facilitates real-time collaboration. Because of its strong annotation capabilities and smooth cloud integration, it is frequently utilized in professional contexts.

Drawboard PDF is perfect for team projects and remote work because it lets several users annotate a document simultaneously. Drawboard PDF improves annotating and features like customizable pens, pressure-sensitive ink, and simple sharing choices.

1.3.3 Benefits for Remote Work, Student Groups, and Professional Collaboration

1. Remote Work

PDF annotation tools help remote teams collaborate on documents without being physically present in the same place.

Team members may come up with ideas, offer criticism, and decide quickly and effectively thanks to real-time co-annotation features.

By doing this, the likelihood of misunderstandings and delays is decreased, communication is improved, and everyone is on the same page.

2. Student Groups

Collaborative PDF annotation solutions such as Hypothes offer a platform for interactive learning for student groups. Students can annotate and discuss academic papers, asking questions right on the page and contributing their ideas.

As a result, a collaborative learning atmosphere is created where students can interact more fully with the content and learn from one another.

Furthermore, the submission and evaluation processes for assignments are streamlined when these technologies are integrated with LMS platforms.

Professional Collaboration

Tools such as Drawboard PDF allow for easy collaboration on papers and projects in professional contexts. It is simpler to get feedback and make changes when teams can work on technical drawings, contracts, reports, and other documents at the same time.

All stakeholders are informed and included in the decision-making process thanks to the instantaneous sharing of annotated papers. Better project results and more effective processes follow from this.

1.4 PDF Annotation Apps for Windows

There are many of excellent solutions available to you if you're searching for the best Windows apps for annotating PDFs.

1.4.1 XChange Editor for PDF Features:

PDF XChange Editor offers many annotation tools. Its OCR capability allows you to edit scanned documents, highlight text, add sticky notes and stamps, and create shapes. It's quite adaptable.

User-friendliness: There is nothing complicated about the UI. It's simple to locate what you need, regardless of experience level, thanks to the clear labels on everything.

Cost: The Pro edition is available with advanced capabilities. However, you can obtain a lot of functionality for free. If you need more than the necessities without going over budget, it's a good option.

1.4.2 Features of Foxit PDF Reader

 A wide range of tools is also provided by Foxit PDF Reader. With ease, highlight text, add notes, add stamps, and create shapes. It also allows you to embed audio and video because it supports multimedia annotations.

User-Friendliness: Many individuals find its ribbon-style toolbar, comparable of Microsoft Office, to be intuitive. It will save you time to find the desired functionality because the tools are arranged neatly.

Cost: Nothing costs for the basic version. Foxit Phantom PDF offers more sophisticated features. If you require more powerful editing and collaboration features, this is a wonderful choice.

1.4.3 Features of Adobe Acrobat DC:

Adobe Acrobat DC is a high-end PDF tool offering features such as highlighting, stickers, stamps, graphics, graphics, form creation, and digital signatures

User-friendliness: One of the best PDF tools available is Adobe Acrobat DC as it has the ability to enlarge presentations.

Cost: The subscription service offers professional features starting at $12.99 per month for the Standard version and $19.99 per month for the Pro version.

1.5 PDF Annotation on Mac

You have some excellent options if you're a Mac user who needs to annotate PDFs.

1.5.1 Preview

Every Mac comes with Preview preinstalled. You have the ability to sign documents, draw shapes, add notes, and highlight text. It is basic but efficient.

1.5.2 How does it work with macOS?

What Preview can do: Preview is a native Mac application; therefore, it functions with macOS without any issues. It is quick and seamlessly works with other Mac functions like Finder and Quick Look.

Cost: The Preview is free. If you want inexpensive basic annotation tools, this is a fantastic choice.

1.5.3 PDF Expert

What PDF Expert can do: It provides advanced tools. In your PDFs, you may modify text and photos, add comments, draw shapes, and highlight, underline, and strike through text.

How it works with macOS: Since it was created specifically for Mac, it features a clear and easy-to-use interface and performs smoothly. It is also compatible with two Mac features, Spotlight and Split View.

Pricing: PDF Expert offers a free trial, but the paid edition is required to access all of the features. It is worth it if you need better tools for altering and annotating PDFs.

1.5.4 Adobe Acrobat DC for Mac

What it can do: The most potent tool is Adobe Acrobat DC. You can make, edit, convert, sign, and highlight text in PDFs. You can even add sticky notes. There's a reason it's the industry standard.

How it works with macOS:  Although it is heavier than Preview, Adobe Acrobat DC has good macOS integration. It works with Adobe Document Cloud and supports MacBook Pro features like the Touch Bar.

Part 2. Mobile PDF Annotation

2.1 Annotate PDFs on the Go

There are some outstanding iOS and Android apps that make it simple to annotate PDFs while you are on the go.

GoodNotes: It is a favorite one among iOS users. It converts your iPad into a digital notepad that lets you annotate PDFs directly, highlight text, and jot down handwritten notes. Writing and annotating seem intuitive and natural because of the app's flawless Apple Pencil integration.

Notability: Another great option for iOS is Notability. It is an app that combines taking notes and annotating PDFs. You can record meetings or seminars while annotating documents thanks to capabilities like audio recording. Notability is adaptable to a range of requirements since it accepts multiple input formats, such as handwriting, sketching, and typing.

Xodo: An excellent choice for iOS and Android users is Xodo. It provides a number of annotation features, making it a versatile PDF annotation app. For collaborative projects, Xodo's real-time collaboration feature, which enables many users to annotate the same document at once, is ideal.

2.2 Optimized Features for Touchscreen Devices and Note-Taking

Touchscreen devices are perfect for note-taking and annotations, offering features like smooth handwriting recognition, precision with a stylus, and quick annotations with a finger.

Advanced apps support PDF annotation free, highlighting, underlining, and comments on documents or PDFs, while multimedia elements like images and audio notes can enhance annotations.

These devices are ideal for students, professionals, and anyone needing detailed, dynamic notes, making them suitable for document-taking and annotation.

2.3 Syncing Annotations Across Devices

These days, you may easily access your annotated PDFs on several devices thanks to modern software. Your notes and highlights are synchronized and always up to date, whether you're using a computer, tablet, or smartphone.

You may resume where you left off, regardless of the device you are using, thanks to this function, which greatly boosts productivity.

Also, enhancing teamwork and communication even when on the go is made easier by enabling team members to see and build upon each other's annotations in real-time. You can maintain efficiency and organization in this way, and all of your key notes will always be accessible.

Part 3. Conclusion

Choosing the best PDF annotator depends on your own requirements and tastes. Essential things to think about are how simple it is to use, how well it works with different devices, and what kind of annotation tools you need—like multimedia support or handwriting recognition.

Though many applications, both paid and free, have strong features, Afirstsoft PDF sticks out for its extensive capability and flawless cross-device syncing.

Whether you're a professional in need of sophisticated collaboration tools or a student in need of basic note-taking and highlighting, Afirstsoft PDF Editor offers a flexible and effective solution to fulfill your needs for PDF annotation.