15 Best PDF Annotation Software for Windows, Mac, and Linux

Part 1. 5 Best Windows PDF Annotation Software

With so many options, finding the right software can be overwhelming for someone who is new to digital PDF annotation. Let’s find out our 5 best picks for Windows below:

1. Afirstsoft PDF 

Key Features:

• Custom text box to add reviews to the PDF file in different font styles.
• Highlight, underline, or strikethrough passages in PDF.
• Add Pop-up notes to any marked-up text.
• Insert stickers anywhere on a PDF file and add comments to them.
• Mark out grammatical mistakes and typos with the tilde.

Afirstsoft PDF is a complete suite of tools to edit your PDF files and add feedback, reviews, or suggestions for improvement. The software costs $7.99 per month, $44.99 per year, and $55.99 for three years.

2. Nitro PDF 

Key Features:

• Add a text box or call out on PDFs.
• Cross out, underline, or highlight text to point out specific information.
• Insert stamps, shapes, or hand drawings into PDF files for review.

Nitro PDF has been a choice for many users as a feature-packed PDF markup software. It offers a 14-day free trial, after which you can upgrade to its Nitro Pro for $14.99/month, Nitro PDF Pro for $179.99 per license, or any of the business plans.

3. SwifDoo PDF

Key Features:

• Pen and rectangular area highlighters to point out distinct content.
• Custom markup with freehand or straight lines, shapes, and arrows.
• Insert comments or attach notes to PDF files.
• Apply predefined stamps for approval or rejection of content.

SwifDoo PDF is a free PDF annotation software for Windows thatcan handle large PDFs of any type with ease. It has a premium Quarterly plan for $14/month, a 2-year subscription for $2.5/month, and a Perpetual License for $79.99.

4. PDF Annotator

Key Features:

• Add comments and thoughts right into text boxes.
• Attach signature, custom, symbol, or date stamp to PDFs.
• Highlight or underline with auto smooth function.
• Pen tool to draw shapes or write text on any page.
• Insert images in PDF files.

PDF Annotator is a powerful tool for markup PDFs and keeping a record of modifications made to the document. Currently, the software has a 30-day free trial with a PDF Annotator License for $79.95 plus VAT.

5. Adobe Acrobat 

Key Features:

• Use the Pencil tool to freehand draw on PDF files.
• Add sticky notes or use the highlighter, underline, or strikethrough option to mark text.
• Annotate with stamps and shapes for special needs.
• Add a comment box anywhere on PDF files.

Adobe Acrobat PDF editor is known for its reliability, performance, and latest annotation features. Its premium plans cost US$19.99/month for Acrobat Pro and US$12.99/month for the Acrobat Standard plan.

Part 2. 5 Best PDF Annotation Software for Mac

After going through PDF annotators for Windows, let’s find out what we have in store for you as a Mac user:

1. Foxit PDF Editor 

Key Features:

• Highlight, Underline, and strikethrough to raise your concerns.
• Add comments, questions, or reminders to any part of the PDF.
• Create custom annotations with shapes, lines, arrows, and freehand drawings.
• Insert text directly onto the PDF page.
• Apply pre-designed stamps.

Foxit PDF Editor is another PDF annotation software Mac you can rely on to improve your collaborative efforts. It comes with a free trial and will cost you $129 per year.

2. PDF Expert

Key Features:

• Highlight text with a color of your choice to navigate to them faster.
• Sticky note to jot down your ideas.
• Add a comment to a particular highlight.
• Text tool to write whatever comes to your mind while reviewing

PDF Expert, with its intuitive UI, handy features, and quick processing, stands out as one of the best PDF annotation software for complex systems like macOS. Its Basic Value subscription costs $6.67/month, and the Lifetime plan is a one-time payment of $139.99.

3. PDF Nomad

Key Features:

• Annotate with rectangles, ovals, arrows, lines, and drawings.
• Note annotations for comments or remarks for detailed feedback.
• Stamp annotated page number.

PDF Nomad is a carefully designed PDF editor for macOS and offers a common set of tools to help you annotate your PDFs quickly. Currently, the subscription costs a one-time fee of $39.99.

4. Drawboard PDF 

Key Features:

• Many font styles for text annotations.
• Change the properties of the PDF, like the color and thickness of the ink used for markups.
• Use a mouse, finger, or stylus to write or draw on PDF.
• Add notes, texts, shapes, and images as well while annotating.

For anyone working PDFs as an individual or a team, the Annotate toolbar in Drawboard PDF has some of the most easy-to-use markup tools for everyday needs.

The software has a free version to let you familiarize yourself with the UI. Afterward, you can buy Pro Lite at $4.19/mo, Pro Plus at $6.99/mo, or Pro Unlimited at $13.33/mo for adding and editing markup.

5. Preview

Key Features:

• Select the text or highlight it with the pencil tool using different colors.
• Rectangular selection to select bulk text for annotations.
• Highlight and redact text.
• Draw tool with multiple shapes and color options and Sketch tool to optimize the drawn objects further.
• A Loop tool to magnify a portion of the text.
• Text boxes with different font styles and colors.

Although Preview does not offer edits, this free PDF annotation software for macOS (built-in) has a dedicated markup tool for feedback or noting something you want to remember. You won’t pay a dime for using it and get the best of both worlds.

Part 3. 5 Linux PDF Annotation Software to Review with Ease

Although Linux comes with a basic PDF viewer, let’s talk about some software to edit and annotate your documents with ease.

1. Okular

Key Features:

• Attach questions, comments, or explanations in pop-ups or inline notes.
• Add Approve or Draft stamps to PDF files.
• Mark up PDFs with highlighter, tilde, strikethrough, and underline.
• Add digital signatures in PDFs.

Okular is an open-source document viewer for Linux that lets you collaborate and review different sections of your lengthy PDF reports. It is released under GPLv2+, which means you don’t have to pay a dime to use it.

2. Scribus

Key Features:

• Add comments or review in any section of the PDFs.
• Insert checkboxes so other reviewers can select single or multiple fields.
• Pen and pencil icons for freehand drawing and annotation.
• Highlight or add shapes.

Scribus is another open-source desktop publishing tool for Linux that allows you to add editorial reviews and project feedback to your PDF reports. This PDF annotator is completely free to use.

3. Master PDF Editor

Key Features:

• Highlight important content, underline errors, or cross out text in paragraphs.
• Attach sticky notes or insert shapes in PDFs for visual markup.
• Add header, footer, and watermarks to PDF files.
• Insert digital signature to files.

Master PDF Editor is a PDF annotation program with a user-friendly interface and clean layout that makes it easy-to-use for students, professionals, and basically anyone who frequently works with PDFs. This software is available for free or as a one-time purchase of $69.95.

4. Xournal++

Key Features:

• Highlight text to point out key details and add comments to them.
• Cross out or underline passages with the Pen tool.
• Add shapes to bring attention to the paragraph.
• Erase incorrect or unnecessary annotations.
• Insert audio recording to any point in the PDF file.

Known for its freehand drawing features, Xournal++ is another amazing annotation tool for Linux users. It has an easy and modern interface and a customizable toolbar to add or remove tools according to your needs.

5. Zotero

Key Features:

• Highlight text with different colors.
• Insert notes or comments on any page using the selected color theme.
• Attach tags to notes to label and organize them.
• Select text in a paragraph and add comments to it.

Zotero is best suited for researchers who want to quickly review PDF reports, add concerns, and integrate notes. The best part is this software is available for free.

Part 4. Comparison Table of 15 PDF Annotation Software

Part 5. Conclusion

To wrap things up, we’ve discussed the 15 best PDF annotation software for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Out of these, Afirstsoft PDF is the most affordable solution with a user-friendly interface and full set of annotation options. Download it now and manage your markups with ease.