Download PDF Annotation - Best Software & Apps

  • Adobe Reader

    2019.010.20069

    License
    free Download
    Platform
    Windows
    Android
    Mac
    iPhone
    Palm OS

    Adobe Reader 11: the essential PDF viewer

    7
    10505 votes
    • PROS: Increased security, Send files by e-mail, Sticky notes and highlight options, Full-screen reading, Accessibility options
    • CONS: Memory use
  • Foxit Reader

    9.4.1.16828

    License
    free Download
    Platform
    Windows
    Mac
    Symbian

    Foxit Reader

    8
    3144 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
  • Free PDF reader

    1

    License
    free Download
    Platform
    Windows

    A PDF program that also converts your content

    8
    326 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    • CONS: It is ugly looking when compared to modern app GUIs, The software is slowly going out of date
  • PDF-XChange Viewer

    2.5.322.10

    License
    buy Download
    Platform
    Windows

    Attractive PDF reader and editor

    8
    2002 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
    buy Download
    Platform
    Windows
    Mac

    PDF Reader on a Subscription basis

    6
    67 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
  • Nitro PDF Reader

    3.5.3.14

    License
    free Download
    Platform
    Windows

    Powerful PDF viewer with annotation tools

    7
    709 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
  • EverNote

    5.8.3.6507

    License
    free Download
    Platform
    Windows
    Android
    Pocket PC
    Windows Mobile
    BlackBerry

    Store and quickly synchronize anything

    7
    489 votes
    • PROS: Capture anything, Add notes, images, passwords, etc., Organize items in notebooks and by tags, Easy data syncing across platforms
    • CONS: None worth mentioning
  • Mendeley

    Varies with device

    License
    free Download
    Platform
    Windows
    Android
    Mac

    Free Reference Manager and Social Media For Researchers

    9
    4 votes
    • 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
  • Drawboard PDF

    License
    buy Download
    Platform
    Windows

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

    7
    23 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
  • Skim

    1.4.5

    License
    free Download
    Platform
    Mac

    Excellent free and simple PDF reader for Macs

    7
    52 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
  • 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
    16 votes
    • Evince

      2.32.0-144.1

      License
      free Download
      Platform
      Windows

      A Free (GPL) Productivity program for Windows

      8
      54 votes
      Download
      • Nuance PDF Reader

        7.0

        License
        free Download
        Platform
        Windows

        Handy PDF viewer with marking tools and built-in converter

        5
        95 votes
        Download
        • PROS: Several viewing options, including full screen, You can underline and highlight text, Links to online converter
        • CONS: No editing tools
      • PDF Reader X

        3.0.26

        License
        free Download
        Platform
        Mac

        Fast clean and efficient PDF reader

        8
        8 votes
        Download
        • PROS: Very fast and lightweight, Allows you to annotate PDFs , Supports full screen mode
        • CONS: Not as powerful as Adobe Acrobat
      • Xournal

        0.4.5

        License
        free Download
        Platform
        Windows

        A Free (GPL) Productivity program for Windows

        7
        36 votes
        Download
        • Qiqqa

          Varies with device

          License
          free Download
          Platform
          Windows
          Web Apps

          A free research and reference tool that is ideal for academics

          -
          No votes yet
          • PROS: It files and categorizes your research with more than just titles, The tool suggests other research material
          • CONS: It takes a while to learn how to use the tool effectively, You may have to turn to the forum to help you understand how it works
        • ABBYY FineReader

          Express 8.0.0.3948

          License
          buy Download
          Platform
          Mac

          Accurate multilingual OCR software for Macs

          4
          22 votes
          Download
          • PROS: Very accurate, Scans lots of languages, Exports to PDF
          • CONS: Interface is quite basic, Formatting issues
        • 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
          6 votes
          Download
          • Xodo - PDF Reader & Annotator

            4.6.5

            License
            free Download
            Platform
            Android

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

            8
            8 votes
            Download
            • PDF Studio

              2018.1.0

              License
              buy Download
              Platform
              Windows
              Mac

              Create PDFs from scanned images

              8
              23 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
            19.4.1.1682831448.4Windows,Mac,Symbian
            22.5.322.1020027.7Windows
            33.5.3.147097.2Windows
            42019.010.20069105057.2Windows,Android,Mac,iPhone
            55.8.3.65074896.7Windows,Android,Pocket PC,Windows Mobile

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