Download PDF Annotation - Best Software & Apps

  • Adobe Reader

    2.0.0.163

    License
    free Download
    Platform
    Windows
    Android
    Mac
    iPhone
    Palm OS

    Adobe Reader 11: the essential PDF viewer

    7
    4195 votes
    • PROS: Increased security, Send files by e-mail, Sticky notes and highlight options, Full-screen reading, Accessibility options
    • CONS: Memory use
  • Free PDF reader

    1

    License
    free Download
    Platform
    Windows

    A PDF program that also converts your content

    8
    2 votes
    Download
    • PROS: Great if you are stuck trying to convert your PDF, A simple interface makes it very easy to use,
    • CONS: It is ugly looking when compared to modern app GUIs, The software is slowly going out of date
  • Foxit Reader

    9.0.1.1049

    License
    free Download
    Platform
    Windows
    Mac
    Symbian

    Foxit Reader

    7
    543 votes
    • PROS: Small file size, Much quicker than Adobe Reader, Allows you to annotate documents
    • CONS: Doesn't allow you to edit files, User manual is only available online
  • Nitro PDF Reader

    3.5.3.14

    License
    free Download
    Platform
    Windows

    Powerful PDF viewer with annotation tools

    7
    211 votes
    Download
    • PROS: Nice interface, Can extract images and text from PDF files, Lets you convert documents to PDF, Complete set of annotation tools
    • CONS: None worth mentioning
  • PDF-XChange Viewer

    2.5.313.1

    License
    try Download
    Platform
    Windows

    Attractive PDF reader and editor

    7
    951 votes
    Download
    • PROS: Fast and easy on computer resources, Nice editing options, Extensive configuration options
    • CONS: Cannot create documents, Substandard help, Editing features stay enabled unless specifically disabled, which can lead to mistakes
  • Adobe Acrobat

    3D 8.3

    License
    try Download
    Platform
    Windows
    Mac

    PDF Reader on a Subscription basis

    5
    44 votes
    • PROS: The most widely used PDF reader in the world Adobe Acrobat has advanced features and superior support, Subscription model means you will always have the most up to date version without additional expense
    • CONS: Some people prefer to pay one time fees for software instead of the recurring cost of software as a service
  • Gaaiho PDF Reader

    3

    License
    free Download
    Platform
    Windows
    Android

    Let this free Gaaiho PDF Reader handle your PDF needs, Gaaiho has over 20 years of PDF software manufacturing experiences

    9
    9 votes
    • Drawboard PDF

      License
      try Download
      Platform
      Windows

      Construction. Engineering. Architecture. A PDF editor for commercial use

      5
      2 votes
      Download
      • PROS: Huge variety of annotation tools, Stylus and finger touch support are both top notch, Can be used to create new PDFs
      • CONS: Small problems with the interface, Can be unstable
    • Evince

      2.32.0-144.1

      License
      free Download
      Platform
      Windows

      A Free (GPL) Productivity program for Windows

      9
      14 votes
      Download
      • Nuance PDF Reader

        7.0

        License
        free Download
        Platform
        Windows

        Handy PDF viewer with marking tools and built-in converter

        7
        17 votes
        Download
        • PROS: Several viewing options, including full screen, You can underline and highlight text, Links to online converter
        • CONS: No editing tools
      • Skim

        1.4.5

        License
        free Download
        Platform
        Mac

        Excellent free and simple PDF reader for Macs

        6
        24 votes
        Download
        • PROS: Great for reading and editing PDFs, Liike Preview but with more features, Highlight text, navigate with TOCs and more, Integration with LaTeX, PDFSync etc
        • CONS: Not as advanced as Adobe Acrobat X, Some basic features not as intutive as they should be
      • ABBYY FineReader

        Express 8.0.0.3948

        License
        try Download
        Platform
        Mac

        Accurate multilingual OCR software for Macs

        4
        26 votes
        Download
        • PROS: Very accurate, Scans lots of languages, Exports to PDF,
        • CONS: Interface is quite basic, Formatting issues
      • Mendeley

        Varies with device

        License
        free Download
        Platform
        Windows
        Mac

        Free Reference Manager and Social Media For Researchers

        -
        No votes yet
        • PROS: Organises and stores all research in one secure location, Quick and easily adaptable citation and bibliography creation
        • CONS: Synchronisation with other libraries can be slow, Science based with limited further features for arts or humanities
      • PDFill FREE PDF and Image Writer

        10

        License
        free Download
        Platform
        Windows

        Create FREE PDF or Image with options to Email, Optimize, Encrypt, Rotate, Crop, Merge, Split, Reorder, Header, and Watermark

        8
        4 votes
        Download
        • Xournal

          0.4.5

          License
          free Download
          Platform
          Windows

          A Free (GPL) Productivity program for Windows

          7
          8 votes
          Download
          • Xodo - PDF Reader & Annotator

            2

            License
            free Download
            Platform
            Android
            iPhone

            Xodo is the ultimate cross-platform PDF viewer and annotator. And it’s 100% free.

            8
            4 votes
            • PDF Reader X

              1.9

              License
              free Download
              Platform
              Mac

              Fast clean and efficient PDF reader

              9
              3 votes
              Download
              • PROS: Very fast and lightweight, Allows you to annotate PDFs , Supports full screen mode
              • CONS: Not as powerful as Adobe Acrobat
            • Inky - PDF reader & ink annotation

              License
              free Download
              Platform
              Windows

              The Ultimate Paperless Office App?

              -
              No votes yet
              Download
              • PROS: Save PDFs with new file names, Quick and intuitive annotation tool
              • CONS: Only English (US) supported, Requires almost 20MB of free space
            • ePapyrus PDF-Pro

              5

              License
              free Download
              Platform
              Windows

              A light, fast and affordable PDF editor. Create, comment and edit your PDF files easy and fast with this amazing software!

              -
              No votes yet
              Download
              • PDF Studio

                7.02

                License
                try Download
                Platform
                Mac
                Windows

                Create PDFs from scanned images

                6
                3 votes
                • PROS: Allows you to add interactive elements and sounds, Doesn't require Adobe Reader
                • CONS: Reader isn't as good as Adobe's
              Softonic’s Best Rated Software for this topic
              #NameVersionVotesRatingPlatform
              19.0.1.10495437.3Windows, Mac, Symbian
              22.5.313.19517.2Windows
              33.5.3.142116.7Windows
              42.0.0.16341956.7Windows, Android, Mac, iPhone
              53D 8.3445Windows, Mac

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