How to Annotate a PDF Online
Free, step-by-step guide. No signup needed — everything runs in your browser.
1
Open the PDF Annotator
Navigate to the tool. No signup, no upload to a server.
2
Upload your PDF
Drop the PDF you want to mark up. Each page renders directly in your browser for annotation.
3
Pick an annotation tool
Choose Highlight for yellow marker on text, Text Note for sticky-note style comments, or Draw for freehand pen marks.
4
Click, drag, and annotate
Click and drag on the page to add highlights or text boxes. With the draw tool, hold and move your mouse like a pen. Navigate between pages with the arrows.
5
Download the annotated PDF
Hit Save to PDF — all annotations are baked into the file. Download instantly.
Tips for best results
- Highlights are translucent so the underlying text remains readable — ideal for review and note-taking on PDFs.
- Text notes are placed where you click — keep them short for clarity. Long notes work better as a separate document.
- Hold and drag the draw tool slowly for precise lines — great for circling specific words or drawing arrows to comments.
- Use ‘Undo’ to step back through your annotations if you make a mistake.
- Annotations are baked into the PDF on download — they’re permanent once you save. Keep an original copy if you want to re-edit later.
Try PDF Annotator now
Highlight, note, and draw on PDFs. Free, no signup, 100% private.
Open PDF Annotator