pdfonly

Free Online PDF Annotator

Highlight text, draw, and add notes to any PDF — directly in your browser.
No file upload. No account. No cost.

Drop your PDF here

or click to browse

🔒 Files never uploaded⚡ No install needed✏️ Highlight & annotate🖊 Freehand drawing💬 Add text notes⬇️ Download annotated PDF

How to Annotate a PDF Online

No software to install. Works on any device with a browser.

1

Open your PDF

Drop your PDF file into the upload area or click to browse. Your file is loaded directly in your browser — nothing is sent to any server.

2

Annotate freely

Highlight areas in any color, underline or strikethrough text, draw freehand, or add sticky text notes anywhere on the page.

3

Download your file

Click Download to save your annotated PDF. All your highlights and notes are embedded in the file, ready to share.

Everything You Need to Mark Up a PDF

A free alternative to Adobe Acrobat — no subscription required.

Highlight

Drag over any area to highlight it in yellow, green, blue or pink.

U

Underline

Drag under any text to add an underline annotation.

S

Strikethrough

Drag over text to add a strikethrough line through it.

Freehand Drawing

Draw arrows, circles or any shape directly on the PDF.

Text Notes

Click anywhere to add a text label or comment on the page.

100% Private

Your PDF is processed entirely in your browser. No file is ever uploaded.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this PDF annotator really free?

Yes, completely free. There are no hidden fees, subscriptions or limits. You can annotate as many PDFs as you want at no cost.

Do my files get uploaded to a server?

No. PDFOnly processes everything locally in your browser using JavaScript. Your PDF never leaves your device.

How do I highlight a PDF online?

Open your PDF, select the Highlight tool from the toolbar, then click and drag over the area you want to highlight.

Can I annotate a PDF without signing up?

Yes. No account, no email and no login required. Just open the site and start annotating immediately.

How do I save my annotations?

Click the Download button. Your annotations are embedded into a new PDF file which you can save and share.

Does PDFOnly work on mobile and tablet?

Yes. PDFOnly works on any device with a modern browser. No app installation is needed.