Draw on PDF
Circle it, cross it out, point an arrow at it, write YES in the margin: draw freehand on a PDF like you would on a printout, then download the marked-up file. Free, private, in your browser.
Files processed in your browserSelect a PDF or drag & drop
One PDF, up to 100 MB
Your files never leave your device. Draw on PDF runs entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Nothing is uploaded to a server. When you close this tab, your file is gone from memory.
How to draw on pdf
- Select your PDF. Choose or drag in the document. Page 1 is rendered in your browser.
- Draw. Write, circle, cross out or annotate freehand with your mouse, finger or stylus.
- Move between pages. Page through the document and keep drawing; every stroke is kept.
- Download. Press Save drawing and download the annotated PDF. Nothing is uploaded.
Want more detail? Read our full guide: How to draw on a PDF.
Why draw freehand on a PDF?
There is a whole vocabulary of review that lives at the tip of a pen. You circle the figure that looks wrong, strike a line through the sentence that should go, draw an arrow from a margin note to the clause it refers to, sketch a quick tick beside the point you agree with. It's faster than typing a comment and, more importantly, it's unambiguous: the mark sits exactly on the thing it's about. On paper this is second nature; on a screen it usually isn't.
Most PDF software pushes freehand marks into a separate annotation layer, hidden behind toolbars, comment panels, and often a paid tier. Worse, those annotations can behave inconsistently: a recipient on a different reader may not see them, and they can drop out entirely when the file is printed or flattened. What should be a simple scribble becomes a compatibility gamble.
This tool renders the actual page in your browser and lets you draw right on it with a mouse, trackpad, finger or stylus: no tablet required, though a stylus makes handwriting more natural. You can page through the whole document and keep marking, and every stroke is remembered per page. When you save, the marks are burned directly into the page content, so they display and print identically on every reader, forever. If you slip, Undo last peels off the most recent stroke and Clear this page wipes the current one.
It suits the messy, human side of document work: initialing a handwritten correction, marking up a floor plan, grading a worksheet, or annotating a diagram where a typed comment simply can't point at the right spot. And since the page preview, the drawing and the final save all happen locally, the document you're scribbling on is never sent anywhere.
Frequently asked questions
Are my files uploaded?
No. The page preview, the drawing and the saved file all happen entirely in your browser.
What can I use this for?
The pen-and-paper marks: circling a figure, crossing out a line, drawing an arrow to the clause that matters, writing a note in the margin, initialing a correction. For straight repeated marks like DRAFT across the page, the Watermark tool is a better fit.
Do I need an Apple Pencil or drawing tablet?
No. A mouse or trackpad works fine for circles, arrows and crossings-out. A stylus just makes handwriting more natural.
Can I draw on several pages?
Yes. Page through with Prev/Next and draw wherever you need; every stroke is kept per page and burned into the download.
How do I remove a mistake?
Undo last removes the most recent stroke, Clear this page wipes the current page. After downloading, run the tool again on the original file.