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Apps with PDF annotation

4 apps

Top PDF annotation apps ranked by the community

  1. Adobe Acrobat

    2.2(646) · App Store

    Adobe Acrobat is the PDF application from Adobe, the company that created the format. The free Acrobat Reader views, annotates and signs files, while paid Acrobat Standard and Pro add text and image editing, OCR, conversion to and from Office formats, redaction, comparison and e-signature requests. An AI Assistant can summarise documents and answer questions about them.

    11 Adobe Acrobat alternatives

    Pros

    • Reference PDF tool from the company that created the format
    • Free Reader for viewing, annotating and signing
    • Pro adds editing, OCR, redaction, comparison and signature requests

    Cons

    • Editing and conversion require a costly subscription
    • Heavy app with frequent prompts to upgrade
    Cost / License
    FreemiumProprietary
    Categories
    PDF EditorsE-signature
    Platforms
    WebWindowsMaciPhoneAndroidBrowser extension
    Features
    AI assistantElectronic signaturesMerge and split PDFsOCRPDF annotationPDF conversion
    Visit websiteMore about Adobe Acrobat

  2. PDF Expert

    4.7(216.1K) · App Store

    PDF Expert is a PDF app from Readdle designed for Apple devices. Reading, annotating, highlighting and filling forms are free, while a subscription unlocks text and image editing, OCR for scanned pages, page management, conversion and signatures. Its native interface is designed to stay responsive with large documents.

    8 PDF Expert alternatives

    Pros

    • Native Apple design that stays fast with large documents
    • Reading, annotation and form filling are free
    • Clean tools for editing text, images and pages

    Cons

    • Editing, OCR and conversion require a subscription
    • Fewer enterprise and automation features than Acrobat
    Cost / License
    FreemiumProprietary
    Categories
    PDF Editors
    Platforms
    MaciPhone
    Features
    Electronic signaturesMerge and split PDFsOCRPDF annotationPDF conversionPDF text editing
    Visit websiteMore about PDF Expert

  3. Sumatra PDF

    17.7Kstars

    Sumatra PDF is a small, fast document reader for Windows that opens PDF, EPUB, MOBI, XPS, DjVu and comic book files. It focuses on quick startup and a minimal interface rather than editing, with basic annotation support and a portable version that runs without installation. It is free and open source under the GPLv3.

    6 Sumatra PDF alternatives

    Pros

    • Very fast startup and a minimal interface
    • Opens PDF, EPUB, MOBI, DjVu and comic book files
    • Portable version runs without installation

    Cons

    • Available on Windows only, with no Mac or Linux version
    • No PDF editing and only basic annotations
    Cost / License
    FreeOpen source
    Categories
    PDF Editors
    Platforms
    Windows
    Features
    Ad-freeOffline modePDF annotation
    Visit websiteMore about Sumatra PDF

  4. Okular

    Okular is the document viewer developed by the KDE community, opening PDF, EPUB, DjVu, XPS, comic books and other formats in one application. It supports highlighting, notes and other annotations, form filling and digital signatures for PDFs. Okular is free and open source, is usually installed with the KDE Plasma desktop on Linux and is also available for Windows.

    6 Okular alternatives

    Pros

    • Opens PDF, EPUB, DjVu, XPS and comics in one viewer
    • Highlights, notes, form filling and digital signatures
    • Free and open source, with no ads

    Cons

    • Cannot edit the text or images of a PDF
    • Works best on KDE Plasma and feels less native elsewhere
    Cost / License
    FreeOpen source
    Categories
    PDF Editors
    Platforms
    WindowsLinux
    Features
    Ad-freeElectronic signaturesOffline modePDF annotation
    Visit websiteMore about Okular