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Edit, OCR, and Work Smarter.
10 Best iPad Apps to Annotate PDF - Ultimate 2025 Guide
Everybody has to use PDFs for different purposes. Perhaps you may need to read a PDF, fill in a form, or sign a contract. This may take a long time and get irritating on a Mac. You can use the best iPad app to annotate PDFs more easily.
Students will be able to outline important topics and make short notes. Attorneys can use annotation apps to read contracts, leave comments, and brief cases. Business people can employ annotation to exchange comments or sign contracts. Let’s find out the best PDF annotation apps for iPad.
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Part 1. What to Consider When Choosing the Best iPad App to Annotate PDFs
Before choosing a PDF annotator for iPad, there are a few key things to consider:
- The application must be easy to navigate and its interface must be alright.
- It must be able to highlight, underline, draw, add sticky notes, and sign.
- The best apps make writing feel smooth.
- The app should let you save, share, and export PDFs to other platforms.
Part 2. 10 Best iPad Apps to Annotate PDFs in 2025
1. PDF Expert
PDF Expert by Readdle is one of the most powerful PDF annotators. It has features of highlighting, underlining, signing, and filling out PDF forms. It also features collaboration. As a result, you are able to comment as others work on the same file.
Price:
- Freemium
- Yearly: $6.67/month
- Lifetime: $139.99 one-time payment
Pros
- Full annotation tools
- Supports form filling & signatures
- Great for collaboration
- Smooth Apple Pencil support
Cons
- Higher cost than some apps
- Minor bugs with updates
- Not free
2. Adobe Acrobat Reader
Adobe Acrobat Reader remains a trusted choice for PDF annotation. It lets you add text sketches, comments, and sticky notes. The app also provides tools to underline, highlight, or strike through content. On an iPad, pairing it with an Apple Pencil creates a smooth experience.
Price:
- Free basic version
- Premium features: $9.99/month
Pros
- Free to start
- Sticky notes and comments
- Excellent with Apple Pencil
- Trusted brand with wide support
Cons
- A premium subscription can be expensive
- Advanced features locked
3. PDF Viewer (by PSPDFKit)
PDF Viewer is a free PDF annotation tool that is easy to use. It gives the possibility to highlight, write, sign, and interact effectively with the iCloud and Files apps.
Price:
- Free basic version
- Premium upgrade: $11.99/year
Pros
- Free with quality features
- Clean and simple interface
- Good cloud integration
Cons
- Occasional glitches
- Limited advanced tools
4. LiquidText
Looking for the best apps for annotating PDFs on iPad? LiquidText takes PDF editing beyond the basics. It lets you pull out text, images, and sections and arrange them freely. This setup is perfect for research, brainstorming, and mapping out complex projects.
Price:
- Free version
- Subscription starts at $3.99/month
- Pro version: $19.99/month
Pros
- Unique mind-mapping feature
- Strong Apple Pencil support
- Great for research & linking ideas
- Only a few issues few issues a few issues few issues
Cons
- Complex interface
- Expensive for full features
- Can lag with large files
5. Notability
Notability combines note-taking and PDF annotation. It is the best iPad app to annotate PDFs. You can merge documents, import images, and bookmark pages. You can easily share notes using links.
Price:
- Free version available
- Premium: $14.99/year
Pros
- Merge multiple PDFs
- Handwriting-to-text tool
- Bookmarking and easy sharing
- Smooth with Apple Pencil
Cons
- Subscription required for full features
6. GoodNotes 6
Need the best app to annotate PDF on iPad with Apple Pencil? GoodNotes is widely used for handwriting and organization.
The app lets you create custom notebooks, pick from a wide range of pens, and transform your handwriting into typed text. It works seamlessly with the Apple Pencil for a smooth, natural writing experience.
Price:
- Free (3 notebooks)
- $9.99/year or $29.99 one-time
Pros
- Excellent support for handwriting
- Organizational depth
- Converting handwriting to text
- Lots of templates
Cons
- Free version limited
7. iAnnotate 4
iAnnotate gives a natural writing experience, like writing on paper. You can highlight, sign, strikeout, and even embed voice notes in a PDF.
Price:
- $9.99 one-time purchase
Pros
- Strong annotation tools
- Voice notes support
- Works well with Apple Pencil
Cons
- Steeper learning curve
- Not free
8. PDFelement
PDFelement offers advanced editing features along with annotation. The PDF markup for iPad includes stamps, highlighting, callouts, and drawing. It is also possible to fill out forms and sign them with a signature.
Price:
- Yearly: $17.99 (sale price)
- Perpetual license: $39.99 (sale price)
Pros
- Comparatively affordable
- Fills and edits forms
- A good resource for students and professionals
Cons
- Older versions had stability issues
Related article:
9. PDF Markup
Need the best iPad app to annotate PDF for free? PDF Markup focuses on highlighting, underlining, strikethrough, and freehand drawing. It also supports sticky notes, callouts, and digital signatures.
Price:
- Free basic version
- Premium: $18–$79.99/year
Pros
- Good range of markup tools
- Colors customization
- Integration with the Apple Cloud
- Drawing freehand
Cons
- Advanced features locked behind a paywall
10. Apple Markup Tool (Built-in)
Markup, Apple’s free annotation tool. It is built right into the iPad. Accessible through the Files app and Safari, it lets you easily edit PDFs.
Price:
- Built-in app
Pros
- 100% free
- Already included with iOS
- Easy for beginners
Cons
- Only basic features
- No advanced editing
Function Comparison Table
Please swipe to view
App
Free Version
Apple Pencil Support
Collaboration
Advanced Tools
Best For
PDF Expert
Professionals
Adobe Acrobat
General users
PDF Viewer
Beginners
LiquidText
Researchers
Notability
Students
GoodNotes
Handwriting lovers
iAnnotate 4
Heavy readers
PDFelement
All - in - one solution
PDF Markup
Quick edits
Apple Markup
Simple free use
Part 3. Best Windows and Mac Apps to Annotate PDF
While iPad apps make annotation convenient on the go, many users—especially professionals handling complex documents, researchers analyzing lengthy papers, or designers working with high-resolution files—require deeper editing tools and a full-screen workflow.
That’s where Tenorshare PDNob shines: offering precision, advanced features, and seamless multitasking—whether drafting legal notes, grading submissions, or collaborating on projects. As a cross-platform PDF tool for Windows and Mac, PDNob supports annotations, OCR, and over 100 editing options in a lightweight, stable package—with no watermarks or trial limitations.
Key Features:
- Multi-Format Conversion: Convert PDFs to Word, Excel, PPT, and more (RTF, TXT, images, EPUB) with perfect formatting.
- Flexible Editing Tools: Add, remove, or edit text, images, watermarks, links, and backgrounds.
- High-Accuracy OCR: Digitize 99%+ scanned/handwritten files into editable, searchable PDFs (supports 16+ languages).
- Military-Grade Security: 256-bit AES encryption for maximum document protection.
- Bulk Processing Power: Handle large file batches instantly with no delays or crashes.
- AI-Powered Automation: Extract, summarize, translate, and convert PDF content intelligently.
How to use Tenorshare PDNob PDF Editor:
Open a File Using PDNob PDF Editor
Download and install PDNob PDF Editor. Launch the software.
Click on the “Open File” button. Now open the desired file.
Go to “Comment” Tab
Once the PDF is open, click the “Comment” tab in the top toolbar.
This reveals multiple annotation options.
Use Different Annotation Features
Here are the most frequently used annotation features in PDNob, You can do whatever you want. Edit the PDF according to your needs.
Save the Annotated PDF
After finishing your annotations, click File > Save As. Now save the file to your PC.
Part 4. FAQs of the Best iPad App for Annotating PDF
Are there free iPad apps to annotate PDFs without subscriptions?
Yes, apps like Apple Markup, PDF Viewer, and Adobe Acrobat free version allow annotation without paying. You can try this to annotate a pdf on iPad.
What is the best PDF annotation app for iPad?
For professionals, PDF Expert is the best. For free users, PDF Viewer is great. You can simply install the application from Apple App Store.
Is GoodNotes good for annotating PDFs?
Yes, GoodNotes is excellent if you like handwriting and note-taking.
Can you markup a PDF on an iPad?
Yes, you can use built-in Apple Markup or third-party apps.
Conclusion
Searching for the best free pdf annotation app for iPad? Annotating PDFs on an iPad is simple with the right app. We have compiled a list of the best iPad app for annotating PDFs for your use. Whether you are a student, lawyer, or professional, these apps save time and improve workflow. On desktop, nothing beats Tenorshare PDNob. It gives you full annotation, editing, and conversion features in one package.
downloads :
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- Instantly read, summarize, and extract insights from PDF
- Convert PDF to 30+ formats like Word, Excel, and images
- Edit text, images, watermarks, links, and backgrounds for PDF
- 99% OCR precision for making scanned PDFs editable and searchable
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By Jenefey Aaron
2025-08-28 / Annotate PDF