Goodnotes
Mark up a PDF by hand in Goodnotes and export a clean copy
A handwriting-first notes app that also annotates PDFs. Use it to review a contract, drawing or handout with a pen and share the result.
Written from the tool's official pages, listed under Official sources at the end of this guide. Check them for current features, limits and terms.
Try it (opens in a new tab)Steps to try
- Install Goodnotes on your device from the official downloads and check the platform you use is listed there.
- Import the PDF into a notebook or folder named for the project, keeping the original file elsewhere.
- Decide your marks before you start, for example one colour for questions and another for changes, and use them consistently.
- Annotate with the pen and highlighter. Add typed notes where your handwriting would be unclear.
- Search your annotations to confirm the important marks can be found again.
- Export the annotated PDF, open it in a different viewer to check the marks appear, then share it.
Limitations
Handwriting search and conversion are not perfect. Features and availability differ by platform, and some AI features are separate from basic note-taking. Exported files may look different in other viewers, so check before sending.
Pricing
The official site offers a free start and paid options. Plans and limits change, so check the official website for current details.
Privacy and data
Contracts, financial records and student work are sensitive. Check where your files are stored and synced, what collaboration shares, and the provider's privacy and security pages before using it for confidential material.
About the sources
Based on the official page, which describes Goodnotes' platforms and its PDF annotation, search and export features. Testimonials on the page are the vendor's marketing.
Alternatives
Notability and other PDF annotators work similarly. A free PDF reader with comment tools is enough for light markup.
Official sources
The official pages this guide was written from. Read them for current features, limits and terms.