Annotate PDF

How to Annotate a PDF

1
Open your PDF
Drag and drop your file into the tool, or click to select it. Nothing uploads.
2
Draw and highlight
Use the pen to write or draw, the highlighter to mark text, and the eraser to remove anything — adjusting color and stroke width as you go.
3
Download
Save your annotated PDF; your pen strokes and highlights are burned into the document so they display in any PDF viewer.

About This Tool

Utilitly's PDF annotator lets you draw, write, and highlight directly on a PDF in your browser. It's built for quick, visual markup — signing off on a proof, flagging a passage, sketching a correction — without installing software or sending your file anywhere.

Pen, highlighter, and eraser

Three straightforward tools cover most markup: a freehand pen for drawing and handwriting, a semi-transparent highlighter for marking text regions, and an eraser for removing strokes. Each supports adjustable colors and stroke widths, so you can match the emphasis you need.

Annotations saved permanently into the PDF

When you download, every pen stroke and highlight is flattened and permanently burned into the document's page layers. That means your markup appears correctly in any standard PDF viewer — it won't disappear or shift when someone else opens the file.

Annotate privately, in your browser

There's no upload and no server copy. All annotation rendering happens directly in your browser, so confidential documents stay on your device. If you've looked for a way to annotate a PDF without uploading it anywhere, this keeps everything local.

Why annotate PDFs with Utilitly

100% local — rendered in your browser; never uploaded or stored.
Pen, highlighter, eraser — with adjustable colors and stroke widths.
Permanent markup — annotations burned in, visible in any viewer.
No watermark — clean output.
Any operating system — works from the browser everywhere.

Common reasons to annotate a PDF

Highlighting key passages in a contract or report
Marking up a design proof or document for review
Signing off on or circling corrections before sending back
Handwriting notes on a form or worksheet
Emphasizing sections of a study guide or reference document

Frequently Asked Questions

What annotation tools are available?

A freehand pen for drawing and writing, a semi-transparent highlighter for marking text regions, and an eraser for removing annotations. All support adjustable colors and stroke widths.

How do I highlight text in a PDF?

Select the highlighter tool, choose a color, and drag across the text you want to mark. The highlight is semi-transparent so the underlying text stays readable.

Are my annotations permanently saved into the PDF?

Yes. When you download the annotated PDF, all pen strokes and highlights are flattened and permanently burned into the document's page layers, so they appear correctly in any standard PDF viewer.

Does the annotator upload my document to a server?

No. All annotation rendering happens directly inside your browser, so your document never leaves your device.

Can I change the color and thickness of my pen or highlighter?

Yes. Both the pen and highlighter support adjustable colors and stroke widths, so you can control the look of your markup.

Can I erase an annotation after drawing it?

Yes. The eraser tool removes pen strokes and highlights before you download, so you can clean up as you work.

Is it safe to annotate a confidential PDF?

Yes. Because everything is processed locally in your browser and nothing is uploaded, even sensitive documents stay entirely on your device.

Is there a watermark on the annotated PDF?

No. Your annotated file comes out clean, with no Utilitly branding.