Top 4 PDF Editor with Annotation Software for Windows & Mac

Make your PDF documents more organize and detailed in a few steps!

• Download the AcePDF software and import your PDF files into the tool.
• Next, head to the "Comment" tab and pick the annotation style you prefer.
• You can now, highlight, add shapes, or underline essential parts in your PDFs.

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Robust software programs called PDF annotation tools are created to increase productivity and teamwork when dealing with PDF documents. These programs offer a combination of features that let users annotate PDF files interactively, add comments, highlight text, draw shapes, insert images, and more. Furthermore, the PDF annotation tool is the perfect answer for professionals, students, researchers, and anybody who frequently works with digital documents. It makes marking significant portions of a page, making notes, and highlighting crucial information uncomplicated. Also, these tools make it simple to gather comments, examine papers, and communicate with others in real-time by allowing users to share annotated PDFs. Even if you need to examine documents, work with colleagues, or organize your digital files, you can quickly use a PDF annotation tool to handle your documents. Moreover, this post highlights the best tools that are worth a try. You can pick one that will catch your attention and cater to all your annotation needs. Without any further, let’s start discovering them!

Understanding PDF Annotations

Annotations in a PDF are additional components or notes that can be added to a document to add more details, highlight key passages, or facilitate collaboration. Unlike plain text, unlike simple text, annotations on a PDF can be readily inserted, changed, or removed without changing the underlying document's content. You can efficiently communicate with, organize, and improve PDF documents using these different annotations. Annotations support effective collaboration and information sharing between users working on the same page, as well as individual note-taking and comprehension. To know the various types of annotation you can use to annotate PDF, check the listed details below.

• Highlighting. With this annotation style, you can choose particular passages of text or portions to highlight with a colored overlay. It is frequently used to highlight important ideas or glean important information.
• Underlining. Underlining, like highlighting, allows you to put a line beneath a selected section of text to denote significance or relevance. It is frequently used to highlight important passages or concepts.
• Commenting. You can easily add notes, comments, or criticism to a PDF document using comment annotations. Collaboration and debate are made more accessible by posting comments in text boxes, sticky notes, or audio recordings.
• Adding shapes. Rectangles, circles, arrows, and lines are just a few of the shapes frequently available in PDF annotation tools. These forms can be used as visual cues, to surround or highlight particular areas, to denote relationships, or both.
• Drawing and Markup. You can make freehand marks on the PDF document with a digital pen or stylus by adding annotations. You can do this to add unique remarks, doodles, or signatures.

Features to Look for in a PDF Annotator

After knowing better the meaning and types of annotations, it is time to learn the features to look for in a PDF annotator for Windows and Mac. That way, you can easily streamline your search time and options. Also, assessing the availability of features can help you pick a tool that meets your expectations and enhances your PDF annotation experience. Below are essential and advanced features you need to consider in a PDF annotator tool.

Essential Features:

• Compatibility. Pick a PDF editor with annotation that is compatible with various hardware and software. That includes desktop and laptop computers, tablets, and smartphones for devices, and Mac and Windows for OS. As a result, your PDF documents are accessible and annotatable on a variety of devices and operating systems.
• Support for Multiple File Formats. A flexible PDF annotation tool should support a mixture of file types. Some examples are image files (JPEG, PNG), Microsoft Office documents (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), and more. This makes it possible to annotate a variety of file types without the use of additional software or conversion./li>
• Easy-to-Use Interface. Select a PDF annotator that has a simple, user-friendly interface. You should be able to annotate documents quickly and effectively using a complete range of tools that are simple to use and access.
• Annotation Tools. Several annotation options, like underlines, highlights, comments, drawing shapes, adding text, and sticky notes, should be included by a decent PDF annotator. Using these tools, you can highlight important information, annotate papers, and add comments.
• Collaboration Features. Look for features that make PDF document collaboration simple. This includes tracking changes, sharing annotated documents with others, and submitting comments that other collaborators may view and reply to.

Advanced Features:

• Optical Character Recognition (OCR). Using OCR technology, the PDF markup tool can recognize and extract text from scanned or image-based PDFs. Even if the papers weren't created in editable text format, you can now search, pick, and annotate content within them. If you want to know more information on what is OCR, you can extend your reading here.
• Cloud Integration. Access to your annotated PDFs across various devices is made simple by integration with cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. Additionally, it makes it simple to collaborate and share with others.
• Digital Signatures. Digital signatures can be added to PDF files by advanced PDF annotators, assuring the validity and integrity of the document. This is especially helpful when signing contracts, agreements, or other binding legal papers.
• Form Filling. Look for form-filling features that let you electronically complete and sign interactive PDF forms. By doing away with printing and laborious form filling, time is saved.
• Annotation Summaries and Navigation. You can examine annotation summaries or browse through annotations inside of a document using certain functionality offered by PDF annotators. This simplifies browsing through and finding particular annotations in big or complicated papers.

Top PDF Annotators in The Market

1. AcePDF

AcePDF is one of the best and most advanced PDF annotate app that we highly recommend. This professional software has well-equipped annotation tools to make your PDF more organized and collaborative. It has a “Comment” panel where all the annotation features are placed. You can highlight, underline, strikethrough essential texts, and add shapes. Also, you can add sticky notes, comments, and callouts to leave a message for the next editor of the file. Besides, you can add bookmarks to PDF, especially on the part that has annotations to jump into it quickly. On the other hand, the tool has an advanced OCR function that lets you convert scanned PDFs to editable PDFs or other formats, like Word, Excel, and more.

2. Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, a popular PDF editing software, offers a comprehensive set of PDF comment tool to enhance your PDF documents. To emphasize essential information, you can quickly highlight text or portions of a PDF document using different colors. Other options are available in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC for adding comments to a PDF document. You can post text comments, sticky notes, voice comments, and even attach files to give more context or input. Additionally, it contains advanced form fields that let you add form fields, checkboxes, radio buttons, and dropdown menus to construct interactive forms. Within the software, documents can also be electronically filled out and sent.

3. Foxit PhantomPDF

Foxit PhantomPDF is another PDF annotation software. This all-in-one tool can help you read, organize, create, and edit PDF documents. Furthermore, the software offers tools for redacting private data from a PDF. To protect data privacy, you can permanently delete or hide confidential content. Besides, several different drawing tools are available in Foxit PhantomPDF, such as lines, shapes (rectangles, circles, and triangles), arrows, and freehand drawing. With the help of these tools, you may annotate your PDF by marking up certain parts, drawing diagrams, or including visual signs. Furthermore, the app has a Microsoft Word-like interface, making it easier to navigate with the tools on its ribbon.

4. Nitro Pro

Various annotation options are available in Nitro Pro, a PDF editing program, to help you improve your PDF files. You can annotate, mark up, and collaborate on PDF files using this software. Its PDF markup tool has an impressive consists of highlights, cross-out, strikethrough, underline, and more. You can directly apply these to an important text in the PDF file. Additionally, Nitro Pro has measurement tools that can help you measure areas, distances, and angles within the file. Also, options are available in Nitro Pro for adding comments to your PDF. For instance, you can insert text comments, sticky notes, and text boxes to give feedback, pose questions, or add more context to particular portions of the document.

Tips for Effective PDF Annotation

You can utilize some tips and tricks to annotate a PDF effectively. By doing these tips, you can enhance your annotation process, maximize your productivity, and maintain organization when working with PDF annotation software. Moreover, we collected the recommended tips and tricks you can rely on to guide you through.

• Create a Categorization System. Create a systematic technique for classifying your annotations. To identify the aim of each annotation, for instance, you can use various symbols, tags, or keywords (such as essential, to-do, or clarification).
• Use a Color Coding. To distinguish different types of annotations visually, give each one a different color. For example, use yellow to draw attention to essential details, red for corrections, and green for comments or suggestions. The objective of each annotation may be immediately determined because of consistent color labeling.
• Use Shortcut Keys. Learn how to use the keyboard shortcuts that your PDF annotating tool offers. Using these shortcuts, you may significantly reduce the time and effort required to complete frequent annotation tasks like underlining, highlighting, and adding comments.
• Keep a Summary. Make a summary or table of contents page in the PDF file that lists significant annotations and the pages on which they appear. This is a convenient reference guide and increases the annotations' general accessibility.

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