Annotate a PDF: highlight, draw and cover
Review a contract, study a paper or point out a detail on a plan. Mark up the PDF with a highlighter, a pen, boxes and whiteout.
Step by step
Open the PDF
Drop your file into the editor above.
Pick a marker
Choose Highlight for text, Draw for freehand notes, Box for rectangles or Whiteout to cover content.
Mark the page
Drag on the page. Use Select to move or delete anything you added. Undo is always available.
Download
Save your annotated copy. The original file is not modified.
Highlight without hiding the text
The highlighter is semi-transparent, so the words underneath stay readable, just like a real marker. Pick yellow, green, pink or blue to colour-code your notes.
A word about whiteout
Whiteout paints an opaque patch over an area. It is ideal for hiding a visual mistake before you write a correction. It is not a secure redaction tool: the original text can still exist in the file below the patch. Never rely on it to hide confidential information you plan to share.
Frequently asked questions
Can I remove a highlight later?
Yes, while you are still editing. Select the highlight and delete it, or use Undo. Once downloaded, annotations are part of the new file.
Can others edit my annotations?
Annotations are drawn into the page content. Another editor could cover them, but they are not stored as separate comments.
Is whiteout safe for redacting?
No. Use a dedicated redaction tool that removes the underlying text if you need to hide sensitive data.
Related tools and guides
Edit PDF text
Change the text of a PDF right where it is. Free, no sign-up, no watermark, and your file never leaves your browser.
Add text
Type text anywhere on a PDF: fill in blanks, add dates and notes. Free, private and no watermark.
Is editing PDFs online safe?
How to tell whether an online PDF editor keeps your documents private, and what to check before you upload.