The PDF Annotator Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about PDF Annotator in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
PDF Annotator
The Insider’s Guide
Windows PDF markup and note-taking app sold as a perpetual license
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among PDF editors, read from PDF Annotator’s own pages.
Made by GRAHL software design · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from PDF Annotator’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on PDF Annotator’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 14 of the 45 other PDF editors we grade
PDF Annotator is a Windows program for writing on PDFs with a pen or keyboard, highlighting, adding stamps and shapes, measuring on plans, and combining or reordering pages. It is sold as a one-time license for version 10 rather than a subscription, and a 30-day trial converts to the full version with an unlock key.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about PDF Annotator, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating on record, but it installs and starts with nothing to set up.
- 1
Best for writing on PDFs with a pen on Windows
It does not list editing of existing text and a later major version costs extra.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $79.95 one-time per user (version 10).
- 3
You can try it first
30-day trial version, converted to the full version with an unlock key
- 4
It runs on Windows
Windows.
- 5
Pen, text and highlighter
Write by hand or type comments directly on a PDF, and mark passages with a text marker.
- 6
Shapes, stamps and images
Arrows, lines, rectangles and circles, more than 330 predefined stamps, date and signature stamps, and inserted images.
- 7
Measuring tools
Dimension distances and areas and measure angles on PDF plans or technical drawings.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 14 of 45
That is against the other PDF editors we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
Nothing PDF Annotator does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 3 things listed below take a company.
PDF Annotator at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $79.95 one-time per user (version 10)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 30-day trial version, converted to the full version with an unlock key
- Runs on
- Windows
- Made by
- GRAHL software design
- Category
- PDF Editors
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for writing on PDFs with a pen on Windows
PDF Annotator is a Windows program for pen, text and highlighter marks, stamps and measuring, sold at $79.95 one-time for version 10. It does not list editing of existing text and a later major version costs extra.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | $79.95 one-time is under a year of the $7.99 middle monthly price for PDF editors ($95.88), with updates inside version 10 free. |
| Free plan and trial | C | A 30-day trial that converts with an unlock key; the listing does not mention a card. |
| Features | C | Pen, shapes, stamps, measuring, a formula editor and page combining, but no listed editing of existing text. It does the marking-up job fully, which is a smaller job. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, but it installs and starts with nothing to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Windows only; no Mac, mobile or browser version. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who PDF Annotator is for
- Fits if you mark up and sign PDFs by pen on Windows
- Works for people who measure on plans in PDFs
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you use a Mac or phone, as it is Windows only
- Not for you if you need to edit existing text, which the pages read do not list
- Watch out: the license covers version 10, and a later major version needs an upgrade or Upgrade Assurance at $39.94
- Watch out: prices exclude VAT and volume pricing needs a quote
Good to know
Good for
- Students taking handwritten notes on lecture PDFs
- Engineers marking up and measuring on drawings
- People who want to buy a PDF annotator once instead of subscribing
Worth knowing
- It runs on Windows only; there is no Mac, mobile or browser version.
- The license covers version 10; a later major version needs an upgrade purchase or Upgrade Assurance.
- Prices exclude VAT, and volume pricing needs a quote for purchase orders.
- It is built for marking up and organizing pages, and the pages read do not list editing of existing text.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$79.95 one-time
To start
PDF Annotator is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $79.95 one-time per user (version 10).
License
$79.95
one-time per user, for 1 to 4 users
Perpetual license for version 10 with free updates within that version; volume prices fall to $23.95 per user at 1,000 or more.
Upgrade Assurance
$39.94
for 2 years per user, one-time
Optional add-on covering 2 years of all updates, including major ones, and priority support tickets.
Trying it first
30-day trial version, converted to the full version with an unlock key
Read from pdfannotator.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Education
Student and faculty licenses
The shop page has separate Student Licenses and Faculty Licenses tabs; prices are shown there.
Stated on pdfannotator.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Windows
Windows PDF markup and note-taking app sold as a perpetual license. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, pDF editing.
Pen, shapes, stamps, measuring, a formula editor and page combining, but no listed editing of existing text.
- Pen, text and highlighter
- Write by hand or type comments directly on a PDF, and mark passages with a text marker.
- Shapes, stamps and images
- Arrows, lines, rectangles and circles, more than 330 predefined stamps, date and signature stamps, and inserted images.
- Measuring tools
- Dimension distances and areas and measure angles on PDF plans or technical drawings.
- Formula editor
- Creates and edits scientific formulas, with LaTeX support.
- Create and combine PDFs
- A virtual PDF printer creates PDFs from other applications, and pages can be inserted, merged and reordered.
- Full-screen presentation
- Presents PDFs full screen, with annotation tools available while presenting.
Where it runs
- Windows
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
PDF Annotator is made by GRAHL software design.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
14/45
Other PDF editors it is graded above
PDF Annotator's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 14 of the 45 other PDF editors we grade, and level with 5.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 31 of 45) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 46 PDF editors we grade, cut by the letter each got. PDF Annotator’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 31 of 45
- CFree plan and trialAbove 7 of 45
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 45
- BEase of useAbove 11 of 45
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 45
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Nothing PDF Annotator does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 3 things listed below take a company.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 26 of the 45 other PDF editors grade higher. It costs $79.95, paid once.
What you could not
- Editing the text inside a PDF without breaking its layout.
- A real app for Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
- It is priced for each person, which means accounts and billing for a team.
What this rests on. PDF Annotator’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
PDF-XChange Editor, Xodo, Xodo PDF Studio, Drawboard PDF and Bluebeam Revu
The 5 tools PDF Annotator is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
PDF-XChange Editor
Free plan · from $62 one-time
Windows PDF editor with a free edition and perpetual licenses.
- PDF-XChange Editor has a free plan. PDF Annotator does not, though it has a free trial.
- 2.2GPA
Xodo
Free plan · from $7.99/mo
PDF tools on web, desktop and mobile, sold separately or as a suite.
- Xodo has a free plan. PDF Annotator does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Xodo lists a web app.
- Only Xodo lists macOS, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- 2.2GPA
Xodo PDF Studio
Free trial · from $9.99/mo
Offline PDF editor for Windows, Mac and Linux, formerly Qoppa.
- Only Xodo PDF Studio lists macOS and Linux apps.
- Xodo PDF Studio also covers workflow automation.
- 2.6GPA
Drawboard PDF
Free plan · from $83.92/yr
PDF markup app with pressure-sensitive ink and measurement tools.
- Drawboard PDF has a free plan. PDF Annotator does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Drawboard PDF lists a web app.
- Only Drawboard PDF lists macOS, iOS and Android apps.
- 2.0GPA
Bluebeam Revu
Free trial · from $260/yr
PDF markup, takeoff and drawing review software for construction.
- Only Bluebeam Revu lists a web app.
- Only Bluebeam Revu lists an iOS app.
- PDF Annotator can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is PDF Annotator free?
No, PDF Annotator is a paid product, but you can try it first. 30-day trial version, converted to the full version with an unlock key.
How much does PDF Annotator cost?
PDF Annotator lists 2 plans. License: $79.95 one-time per user, for 1 to 4 users.
What platforms does PDF Annotator work on?
PDF Annotator is available on Windows.
Does PDF Annotator offer any discounts?
PDF Annotator publicly lists the following: Student and faculty licenses.
Does PDF Annotator have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. PDF Annotator is listed for Windows.
Does PDF Annotator have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. PDF Annotator is listed for Windows.
Is PDF Annotator open source?
PDF Annotator is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Does PDF Annotator have a student discount?
Student and faculty licenses. The shop page has separate Student Licenses and Faculty Licenses tabs; prices are shown there.
Who makes PDF Annotator?
PDF Annotator is made by GRAHL software design.
What are the alternatives to PDF Annotator?
The closest alternatives to PDF Annotator in our directory are PDF-XChange Editor, Xodo, Xodo PDF Studio, Drawboard PDF and Bluebeam Revu.
How does PDF Annotator compare with other PDF editors?
PDF Annotator's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 14 of the 45 other PDF editors we grade, and level with 5.
Could I make my own version of PDF Annotator?
Nothing PDF Annotator does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 3 things listed below take a company.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from PDF Annotator’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from PDF Annotator's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by GRAHL software design. Prices change, so check pdfannotator.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- PDF Annotator, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/pdf-annotator
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "PDF Annotator: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/pdf-annotator
Know someone choosing between PDF editors?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/pdf-annotator/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded PDF editors after PDF Annotator, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- PDF Editors Insider's GuideEvery one of the 46 PDF editors we grade, compared
- PDFgear Insider's GuideFree PDF editor for desktop, mobile and web with an AI copilot3.4 GPA
- Stirling PDF Insider's GuideOpen-source PDF editor you can run on your own machine or server3.2 GPA
- Online2PDF Insider's GuideFree browser tool to convert, merge, edit, compress and unlock PDFs3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what PDF Annotator’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. PDF Annotator is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by GRAHL software design. Prices and plans change: check pdfannotator.com before you buy.