Here are the 9 best mobile apps for drawing on PDFs for both Android and iPhone users. These apps, including Adobe Acrobat Reader, Write on PDF, and Sketchbook, offer a range of features to help you annotate, markup, and draw on your PDF documents with ease.
Whether you're a student taking notes, a professional reviewing documents, or an artist sketching out ideas, these apps provide the tools you need to get the job done.
| App | Logo | Available On | Reviews | Downloads | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Adobe Acrobat Reader |  | Android, iOS | 4.7/5 | 777M+ | AI-powered assistant, Edit text and images, Store and read anywhere |
| 2. Write on PDF |  | Android, iOS | 4.6/5 | 290M+ | Annotate PDFs with handwriting, Variety of pens and tools |
| 3. Sketchbook |  | Android, iOS | 4.8/5 | 146M+ | Professional-grade tools, Natural drawing experience |
| 4. Xodo PDF | PDF Reader & Editor |  | Android, iOS | 4.6/5 | 26M+ | PDFs einfach bearbeiten, Dateien sicher speichern, Dokumente mit Anmerkungen versehen |
| 5. Squid |  | Android, iOS | 4.3/5 | 10M+ | Handwritten notes, PDF markup, Wireless casting |
| 6. Concepts |  | Android, iOS | 4.7/5 | 5M+ | Infinite canvas, Vector-based, Nudge, Slice, Select |
| 7. Notewise |  | Android, iOS | 5/5 | 2M+ | Natural Handwriting, Seamless Collaboration, Reliable Cloud Sync |
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1. Adobe Acrobat Reader
Annotate PDFs, Fill & sign, Convert to PDF
Cost: Adobe Acrobat Reader: Edit PDF (Free), Adobe Acrobat PDF Pack ($9.99/month)
Immerse yourself in a seamless drawing experience with Adobe Acrobat Reader, your go-to mobile app for effortlessly annotating and marking up PDFs. With its advanced AI capabilities, drawing on PDFs becomes a breeze, empowering you to unleash your creativity and enhance your productivity.
Despite minor drawbacks, such as occasional prompts for a paid subscription, Adobe Acrobat Reader remains a top choice for mobile PDF editing. Its intuitive interface and robust feature set make it easy to highlight, comment, and draw on PDFs, ensuring a seamless and efficient workflow. Whether you're a student taking notes, a professional reviewing documents, or simply someone who needs to mark up PDFs, Adobe Acrobat Reader has you covered.
Download:
Application information:
| Downloads | Over 1 Billion |
| Features | View, annotate, fill, sign, and share PDFs for free; plus connect to Dropbox, Google Drive, and more. |
| Pros | User-friendly interface, comprehensive features, and excellent cross-platform compatibility. |
| Cons | Some advanced features require a paid subscription, occasional performance issues with large files, and can be resource-intensive on older devices. |
- Tags:
- PDF Editing
- AI-powered assistant
- Document Collaboration
✨ Read more: app for converting jpg to pdf
2. Write on PDF
Annotate PDF files, Multiple pen & tools, Share annotated PDFs
Cost: Adobe Acrobat Reader: Edit PDF (Free), Adobe Acrobat PDF Pack (US$9.99/mo)
Unleash your creativity and effortlessly draw on PDF documents with the remarkable Write on PDF app. This intuitive app empowers you to annotate, highlight, and make notes directly on your PDFs, transforming them into dynamic and interactive workspaces.
Despite its overall effectiveness, Write on PDF has some room for improvement. Users have expressed concerns about occasional glitches with pen strokes, the lack of shape-drawing capabilities, and the absence of a "save as" option. The highlighter's performance could also be enhanced, particularly when printed. However, the app's strengths far outweigh its minor drawbacks, making it an invaluable tool for anyone who needs to work with PDFs on their mobile device.
Download:
Application information:
| Downloads | Over 200 million downloads |
| Features | Edit PDF text, highlight and annotate content, fill forms, sign documents, convert PDFs, and collaborate with others. |
| Pros | User-friendly interface, versatile annotation tools, and seamless cloud integration. |
| Cons | Limited free features, potential compatibility issues with complex PDFs, and reliance on Adobe ecosystem. |
- Tags:
- Annotate PDFs
- Handwritten notes
- Variety of Pens
✨ Read more: app for brainstorming
3. Sketchbook
Realistic drawing experience, Customizable brushes, Layer support
Cost: Sketchbook (Free), Sketchbook Pro (Paid)
Sketchbook is an exceptional drawing app that offers an unparalleled experience for artists of all levels. With its intuitive interface and wide range of features, Sketchbook empowers users to create stunning digital artwork with ease. Despite a few minor glitches that have been reported, Sketchbook remains a highly versatile app that caters to both beginners and experienced artists.
As a dedicated drawing app for PDFs, Sketchbook allows users to import, annotate, and modify existing PDF documents. This feature makes it an excellent choice for students, professionals, and anyone who needs to work with PDFs regularly. Whether you're sketching out ideas, making notes, or creating detailed illustrations, Sketchbook provides the tools and flexibility you need to bring your creative vision to life. With its powerful brush engine and customizable settings, Sketchbook ensures that every stroke feels natural and responsive, delivering a truly immersive drawing experience.
Download:
Application information:
| Downloads | Over 100 million downloads |
| Features | Professional-grade drawing tools like pencils, pens, markers, and brushes that mimic natural media, along with layers, blending modes, and customizable canvas sizes. |
| Pros | Intuitive interface, realistic drawing experience, extensive toolset. |
| Cons | Free version has limited features, can be laggy on older devices, some advanced features require a subscription. |
- Tags:
- Natural drawing experience
- Professional-grade features
- Highly customizable brushes
✨ Read more: app for art commissions
4. Xodo PDF | PDF Reader & Editor
Annotate PDFs easily, Fill & sign documents, Sync across devices
Cost: Xodo PDF (Free), Xodo PDF Pro (Varies with plan)
Get ready to unleash your creativity with Xodo PDF, the ultimate drawing app for your mobile device! This versatile software transforms your PDF documents into digital canvases, empowering you to annotate, highlight, and freehand draw with ease. Whether you're reviewing legal documents, studying textbooks, or simply brainstorming ideas, Xodo PDF provides the tools you need to make your mark.
Despite minor inconveniences, such as the lack of quick page navigation and cloud syncing, Xodo PDF remains a top-notch PDF reader and editor. Its intuitive interface and robust feature set make it a joy to use. As one user enthusiastically proclaimed, "This is the one!!" So, dive into the world of Xodo PDF and let your drawings bring life to your documents.. Xodo PDF | PDF Reader & Editor
Download:
Application information:
| Downloads | Over 10 million downloads |
| Features | Read, annotate, sign, fill forms, and share PDFs; convert between PDF and other formats; scan and merge documents. |
| Pros | Free, user-friendly, feature-rich, cross-platform synchronization. |
| Cons | Occasional performance issues with large files, limited advanced editing features compared to desktop software. |
- Tags:
- Fast PDF viewing
- Advanced PDF editing
- Seamless PDF annotation
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5. Squid
Annotate PDFs, Take notes, Sketch ideas
Cost: Squid Premium ($0.99/month), Squid Premium Lifetime ($9.99)
For students and professionals seeking a comprehensive note-taking solution, Squid emerges as an exceptional choice. With its intuitive interface and stylus support, Squid empowers you to seamlessly mark up PDFs, making it an ideal companion for digital note-taking. Whether you're in the lecture hall or brainstorming ideas at work, Squid's versatility and precision allow you to capture your thoughts and insights with ease.
Despite its strengths, Squid's potential is somewhat limited by the lack of syncing capabilities and a streamlined PDF importing process. However, its exceptional features and overall user experience more than compensate for these shortcomings. The seamless integration with the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 with S Pen is a testament to Squid's commitment to providing an unparalleled note-taking experience. By embracing Squid, you gain a powerful tool that will elevate your note-taking to new heights, making learning and productivity more effective and enjoyable.
Download:
Application information:
| Downloads | Over 10 million downloads |
| Features | Squid allows you to take handwritten notes for various purposes, mark up PDFs, import and annotate images, record audio, and share your notes in different formats. |
| Pros | Natural writing experience, versatile annotation tools, good organization features. |
| Cons | Limited pen and paper options, occasional performance issues, some features require a paid subscription. |
- Tags:
- Natural handwriting
- Annotate PDFs
- Organize notes
✨ Read more: app architecture
6. Concepts
Infinite canvas, Vector-based, Nudge, Slice and Select tools
Cost: Concepts (Free), Concepts Everything ($2.99/mo or $29.99/yr)
Concepts is a versatile drawing app for your mobile device that empowers you to unleash your creativity. With its infinite canvas, you can freely sketch, plan, take notes, and illustrate without boundaries. The app's user-friendly interface and customizable options make it a joy to use, whether you're a seasoned artist or a beginner looking to explore your artistic side.
As a drawing app for PDFs, Concepts truly shines. The ability to annotate, highlight, and sketch directly on your PDF documents makes it an invaluable tool for students, professionals, and anyone who needs to collaborate on visual ideas. Concepts' intuitive gestures and pressure-sensitive brushes allow you to create precise drawings, add annotations with ease, and bring your ideas to life on the go.
Download:
Application information:
| Downloads | Over 5 million downloads |
| Features | Infinite canvas for sketching, note-taking, and illustrating with flexible vector brushes, shape guides, and customizable grids. |
| Pros | Powerful tools, intuitive interface, excellent for creative work. |
| Cons | Some features require a subscription, occasional performance issues on older devices, learning curve for advanced features. |
- Tags:
- Vector-based
- Infinite Canvas
- Nudge, Slice and Select tools
7. Notewise
Natural Handwriting, Seamless Collaboration, Anywhere Accessibility
Cost: Notewise Free (Free), Notewise Pro ($9.99/month)
Notewise is the ultimate note-taking companion, transforming your mobile device into a digital canvas. With its intuitive interface, drawing on PDFs has never been easier. Its smooth stylus-like experience mimics the feel of pen and paper, allowing your ideas to flow effortlessly.
Unlock endless possibilities with Notewise's versatile features. Capture inspiration with ease, insert images directly into your notes, and organize your ideas seamlessly with customizable folders. The app's thoughtful updates continuously enhance your note-taking experience, making it the ideal substitute for physical notebooks and drawing tablets.
Download:
Application information:
| Downloads | Over 1 million downloads |
| Features | Cross-platform note-taking with handwriting support, PDF annotation, customizable notebooks and templates, focus mode, and organization tools. |
| Pros | Intuitive interface, powerful features, excellent for handwriting. |
| Cons | Limited free version, occasional performance issues, some desired features require subscription. |
- Tags:
- Natural handwriting
- Seamless Collaboration
- Extensive Note Organization
8. DrawNote
Infinite Canvas, Powerful Editing Tools, Real-time Collaboration
Cost: Free (Free), DrawNote Pro ($4.99)
DrawNote is an exceptional note-taking app that allows you to unleash your creativity by drawing and writing on PDFs. With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features, you can effortlessly transform your notes into visually stunning masterpieces. Whether you're a student jotting down lecture notes, an artist sketching ideas, or a professional creating presentations, DrawNote has got you covered.
With the option to purchase a lifetime subscription, you can enjoy the app's full potential without being bombarded by annoying ads. Unleash your imagination with DrawNote, the ultimate note-taking and drawing companion that empowers you to create, collaborate, and share your ideas like never before.
Download:
Application information:
| Downloads | Over 1 Million Downloads |
| Features | Combines note-taking, to-do lists, mind mapping, sketching, and drawing tools in one app. |
| Pros | Versatile, user-friendly, and supports various drawing tools. |
| Cons | Limited cloud storage options, occasional performance issues reported, and lacks advanced note organization features. |
- Tags:
- Infinite Canvas
- All-in-One Note Taking
- Handwriting & Sketching
9. Sketch on PDF
Freely adjustable bounds, Infinite digital space, Scroll smoothly through PDF
Cost: Sketch on PDF Free (Free), Sketch on PDF ($6.99)
Do you often need to mark up PDF documents on your mobile device? Sketch on PDF is the perfect app for you! With its user-friendly interface and wide range of features, you can easily add annotations, drawings, and highlights to your PDFs. Whether you're a student taking notes, a teacher preparing lesson plans, or a professional reviewing documents, Sketch on PDF has everything you need to get the job done.
Despite its many strengths, Sketch on PDF is not without its drawbacks. Some users have reported issues with exporting annotated PDFs and losing pages. However, the app's developers are constantly working to improve the app, and they are always open to feedback from users. If you're looking for a powerful and versatile PDF markup app, Sketch on PDF is definitely worth checking out.
Download:
Application information:
| Downloads | Over 800,000 |
| Features | Annotate PDFs with drawings, highlights, text, shapes, signatures, and stamps, while also offering organization and page manipulation tools. |
| Pros | User-friendly interface, comprehensive annotation tools, and smooth performance. |
| Cons | Limited advanced features compared to professional PDF editors, occasional performance hiccups with large files. |
- Tags:
- Freeform annotation
- Infinite Canvas
- Customizable tools