Best Free Annotate PDF

How it works

1. Upload. Choose the PDF you want to mark up (up to 100 MB).
2. Add a markup. Pick a note, text box or rectangle, set the page and position, and add your text.
3. Download. The annotated PDF downloads automatically; the original is never stored.

About this tool

Annotate PDF adds a markup to your document: a sticky note, a free-text box written directly on the page, or a rectangle to draw attention to an area. You choose the page and the position, and the annotation is embedded as a real PDF annotation that other readers can see. It is handy for leaving a comment, flagging a section, or boxing something for review without opening heavyweight PDF software. No signup, processed in memory and discarded.

What people use it for

• Leave a comment on a document for a colleague
• Box a clause or figure that needs attention
• Write a correction directly onto the page
• Flag a section before sending a PDF for review

Developer API

Automate this tool from your own code. Send a POST request to the endpoint below and get the same result the web tool produces. It is rate-limited per IP and needs no signup — API keys for higher limits are coming.

• cURL
• Python
• JavaScript

curl -X POST https://best.free/api/tools/pdf-annotator/ \
  -F 'file=@document.pdf' \
  -F 'type=note' \
  -F 'text=Please review this section' \
  -F 'page=1' \
  -F 'x=72' \
  -F 'y=72' \
  -o annotated.pdf

import requests

files = {"file": open("document.pdf", "rb")}
data = {"type": "note", "text": "Please review this section", "page": 1, "x": 72, "y": 72}

r = requests.post("https://best.free/api/tools/pdf-annotator/", files=files, data=data)
with open("annotated.pdf", "wb") as out:
    out.write(r.content)

const fd = new FormData();
fd.append("file", fileInput.files[0]);
fd.append("type", "note");
fd.append("text", "Please review this section");
fd.append("page", 1);
fd.append("x", 72);
fd.append("y", 72);

const r = await fetch("https://best.free/api/tools/pdf-annotator/", { method: "POST", body: fd });
const blob = await r.blob();  // the annotated.pdf

Response: The PDF with a note, text box or rectangle added.

Frequently asked questions