11 Best PDF Annotation Apps for iPad — Add Notes to PDFs Easily

When working with PDF files, you often need to underline some parts of a document, add some notes, or cross out some information. With PDF annotation apps for iPad, you can use highlighting, annotating, and underlining features to work with your doc. Once you find the best PDF annotation app for iPad, processing your documents will be a breeze.

Top 11 PDF Annotation Apps for iPad

  1. Adobe Acrobat Reader - Integrates with Adobe Sign
  2. Markup - Excellent collaboration tools
  3. PDF Expert - Ability to redact PDFs
  4. PDFelement - Rich variety of annotation features
  5. LiquidText - For working with large documents
  6. PDF Viewer - High password security
  7. Notability - Record voice in real-time
  8. iAnnotate 4 - Multitasking support
  9. iLovePDF - Easy multi-tasking operation
  10. GoodReader PDF Editor & Viewer - Doubles as conversion tool
  11. PDF Hero - Stamps adding

Top-notch PDF annotation apps allow users to highlight and create sticky notes, comment blocks, stamps, and even make handwritten lettering. The extensive feature set, as a rule, includes filling out forms, signing, and collaboration functions. Based on these requirements, as well as the price-quality ratio and ease of use, I have compiled this list to help you find the best PDF annotation app for iPad.

1. Adobe Acrobat Reader – Our Choice

Integrates with Adobe Sign Adobe Acrobat Reader DOWNLOAD FREE

Verdict: You can quickly view and process PDF files with Adobe Acrobat Reader from any device. It supports the Apple Pencil, which allows you to highlight, mark up, annotate, and draw directly on the doc, and so on.

It is popular among iPad users as it makes filling out and signing forms a breeze. The basic tools and functions of the app are available for free, however, in order to edit, arrange, merge, compress PDF files and customize export settings, you need to purchase a subscription.

adobe acrobat reader pdf annotation app for ipad interface

2. Markup

Excellent collaboration tools DOWNLOAD FREE

Verdict: Markup is one of the most reliable PDF editor apps, which allows you to scan, view, annotate and organize documents in PDF and other formats. This PDF annotator iPad has such newbie-friendly tools as sticky notes, shapes, text blocks, and arrows. What’s more, you can fill out and sign forms, as well as use personal stamps.

You can highlight text directly on website pages as well as transfer files and make backups. You can download, send, and synchronize docs stored on cloud services or your devices.

markup pdf annotation app for ipad interface

3. PDF Expert

Ability to redact PDFs PDF Expert DOWNLOAD FREE

Verdict: Being a great free PDF reader, it is also an advanced PDF annotation app for iPad. Thanks to the integration with iCloud, you can open and work with documents directly from the cloud, use signing tools and fill out forms. Using the iPad Pencil, you can customize shapes or highlight the areas of your document.

You can reorder, add, or delete PDF files. With a built-in compressor, you can archive your documents and protect them with a password. By upgrading to the Pro version, you will be able to edit texts and images.

pdf expert pdf annotation app for ipad interface

4. PDFelement

Rich variety of annotation features PDFelement DOWNLOAD FREE

Verdict: PDFelement comes with a rich set of annotation features. You can highlight and underline text as well as use the pencil, add shapes, use the stamp, strikethrough and annotation tools.

Here you will also find document organization features and file storage options. Form filling and signing are also available thanks to the integration with Apple Pencils, making the process even faster and easier.

pdfelement pdf annotation app for ipad interface

5. LiquidText

For working with large documents LiquidText

Verdict: This excellent free PDF editor has been designed to work with large PDFs. It is the best PDF annotation app for iPad as it allows you to use multi-touch gestures to compress large parts of the file.

Here you can extract and combine annotations, such as clippings or stickers. Besides, it delivers unrivaled performance and has an intuitive interface.

liquidtext pdf annotation app for ipad interface

6. PDF Viewer

High password security PDF Viewer

Verdict: Designed with user-friendliness in mind, this PDF annotator iPad is easy to navigate and has many features. It supports a full-text search and is fitted with a text-to-speech tool. The dark mode will come in handy for those who prefer to read and work at night. Thanks to the rich annotation functionality, you can take notes, highlight text, pictures, and audio files, as well as sign and fill out forms.

The paid version allows you to reply to notes, merge documents, and set restrictions on files via passwords or permissions. The tools of the free version are more than enough for basic PDF processing needs, but these advanced ones will make your user experience even more convenient and pleasant.