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Drawboard PDF alternatives

As of Nov 13, 2026, the highest-graded Drawboard PDF alternative is Foxit PDF Editor (2.8 GPA). The best free one is PDF Expert (2.4 GPA).

Drawboard PDF compared with 5 alternatives: PDF Expert, Xodo, Bluebeam Revu, PDF Annotator and Foxit PDF Editor.

Drawboard PDF has a free plan. Paid plans start at $83.92 per year (Pro Plus). 2 of the 5 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 3 more offer a free trial.

Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from

Black Friday: is there a Drawboard PDF sale?

At a glance

ToolPriceFree planRuns on
Drawboard PDFThis toolFree plan · from $83.92/yrYesWeb, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
PDF ExpertFree plan · from $79.99/yrYesmacOS, iOS
XodoFree plan · from $7.99/moYesWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
Bluebeam RevuFree trial · from $260/yrTrial onlyWeb, Windows, iOS
PDF AnnotatorFree trial · from $79.95 one-timeTrial onlyWindows
Foxit PDF EditorFree trial · from $129.99/yrTrial onlyWeb, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android

Price against what you get

Drawboard PDF starts at $6.99 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 4 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.

Foxit PDF Editor scores higher without starting lower. PDF Expert starts lower without scoring higher.

Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged

D1.0C2.0B3.0A4.0Free$2$5$10$20$50$100More for lessCosts more, scores moreCosts less, scores lessCosts more, scores lessDrawboard PDFPDF ExpertXodoBluebeam RevuFoxit PDF Editor

What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →

  • The best score at each price
  • Has a free plan
  • No free plan
The full chart of PDF editors, and the best at every price

How each one differs from Drawboard PDF

  1. PDF Expert

    PDF reader and editor for Mac, iPhone and iPad from Readdle

    • PDF Expert starts at $79.99 per year.
    • PDF Expert lists no web app and Windows and Android apps, which Drawboard PDF has.
    • PDF Expert also covers forms.
    • PDF Expert does not cover documents and file sharing, which Drawboard PDF does.

    Suits: Mac, iPad and iPhone users who want one subscription across all three

    PDF Expert vs Drawboard PDFPDF Expert pricing and details

  2. Xodo

    PDF tools on web, desktop and mobile, sold separately or as a suite

    • Xodo starts at $7.99 per month, billed annually ($10.99 billed monthly).
    • Xodo also lists a Linux app.
    • Xodo can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    • Xodo does not cover documents and file sharing, which Drawboard PDF does.

    Suits: Linux users who need a full desktop PDF editor

    Xodo vs Drawboard PDFXodo pricing and details

  3. Bluebeam Revu

    PDF markup, takeoff and drawing review software for construction

    • Bluebeam Revu starts at $260 per user / year, billed annually (Basics).
    • Bluebeam Revu has no free plan, only a free trial, unlike Drawboard PDF.
    • Bluebeam Revu lists no macOS and Android apps, which Drawboard PDF has.
    • Bluebeam Revu also covers reports.
    • Bluebeam Revu does not cover documents and file sharing, which Drawboard PDF does.

    Suits: Contractors and estimators doing takeoffs on PDF drawings

    Bluebeam Revu vs Drawboard PDFBluebeam Revu pricing and details

  4. PDF Annotator

    Windows PDF markup and note-taking app sold as a perpetual license

    • PDF Annotator starts at $79.95 one-time per user (version 10).
    • PDF Annotator has no free plan, only a free trial, unlike Drawboard PDF.
    • PDF Annotator lists no web app and macOS, iOS and Android apps, which Drawboard PDF has.
    • PDF Annotator can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    • PDF Annotator does not cover documents and file sharing, which Drawboard PDF does.

    Suits: Students taking handwritten notes on lecture PDFs

    PDF Annotator vs Drawboard PDFPDF Annotator pricing and details

  5. Foxit PDF Editor

    PDF editor for Windows, Mac and web, yearly or as a one-time license

    • Foxit PDF Editor starts at $129.99 per user / year.
    • Foxit PDF Editor has no free plan, only a free trial, unlike Drawboard PDF.
    • Foxit PDF Editor can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    • Foxit PDF Editor also covers forms.
    • Foxit PDF Editor does not cover file sharing, which Drawboard PDF does.

    Suits: Offices replacing Adobe Acrobat on Windows and Mac machines

    Foxit PDF Editor vs Drawboard PDFFoxit PDF Editor pricing and details

Limits worth knowing in Drawboard PDF

  • Paid features are subscription-only; the pricing FAQ says there is no one-time purchase except the 3-year education offer.
  • The pricing page shows Pro Plus and Pro Unlimited individual rates only as the usual yearly rates in the education block.
  • Drawboard Projects is a separate team product, $29 per user a month (Team) or $39 (Growth), $22.50 and $30.83 billed yearly.
Drawboard PDF pricing and details

Common questions

What are the alternatives to Drawboard PDF?

The alternatives to Drawboard PDF in this directory are PDF Expert, Xodo, Bluebeam Revu, PDF Annotator and Foxit PDF Editor. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Drawboard PDF.

Is there a free alternative to Drawboard PDF?

Yes. PDF Expert and Xodo have a free plan alongside paid ones.

Which Drawboard PDF alternatives work on Linux?

The Drawboard PDF listing does not include a Linux app. Xodo lists one.

When were these prices checked?

Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 18, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.