How do I add a comment to a PDF for free?

Adobe Acrobat Reader (free) has a full sticky note and text highlight tool — click the comment bubble icon and then click anywhere on the page. On Mac, Preview's Markup Toolbar is built in and free. On Windows, Microsoft Edge includes a comment pin tool. All three work with no subscription.

Why can't I comment on a PDF?

The PDF may have commenting restrictions set by the creator. In Acrobat, this shows as a yellow banner: 'This document has restrictions.' The comment tools are greyed out until the owner removes the restriction (which requires the document password). If you need to comment and don't have the password, you'd need to ask the sender to share an unrestricted version.

Can my client comment on a PDF without Adobe?

Yes. Google Drive lets anyone with a Google account select text and add a comment. Browser-based review tools let your client click any spot and pin a note with no account. If your client won't install Acrobat Reader, a shared review link is the more reliable path.

How do I comment on a PDF on my iPhone or iPad?

Open the PDF in the Files app or as a Mail attachment and tap the pencil icon to enter Markup mode. Tap the + button and choose Note to drop a sticky note, or use the highlighter for text. When done, tap Done — the annotated PDF saves in place. For a PDF someone else sent you, this method works; for collecting comments from a client on their phone, a shared browser link is easier than asking them to use Markup.

Will my PDF comments show up on the other person's computer?

Usually, but not always. Acrobat-to-Acrobat is reliable. The gap is cross-app: a Preview comment on Mac may appear blank when opened in Acrobat on Windows. To guarantee visibility, export a flattened copy (File → Export as PDF in Preview) before sending — this bakes the notes in as images, though the recipient can no longer reply to them.

How do I comment on a specific page of a PDF?

Navigate to that page first, then activate the comment tool and click the spot. When you send the file, tell the recipient the page number too — 'see my note on page 4' — so they're not hunting through a long document for a small dot.

drafty

How to comment on a PDF

Quick answer

To comment on a PDF, open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader (free), click the comment bubble icon, and click the page to drop a sticky note. On Mac, use Preview's Markup Toolbar. On Windows, use Microsoft Edge's built-in comment pin. If your client is the one commenting, share a link they can open in a browser — no download, no account.

Step 1

In Adobe Acrobat (Reader or Pro)

Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat. Click the speech-bubble icon labeled 'Add a comment,' or press Ctrl+6 / Cmd+6 to activate the sticky note tool. Click the area you want to annotate, type your note, then press Ctrl+Enter to close it. To highlight text with an inline comment, select the text first, right-click and choose 'Add Comment.' Save with Ctrl+S / Cmd+S. The free Adobe Reader includes all of this — no Pro subscription needed for sticky notes or highlights. One gotcha: if the creator locked commenting, you'll see 'This document has restrictions' and the tools will be greyed out. There's no workaround without the document password.

Step 2

On Mac with Preview

Open the PDF in Preview (the default on macOS). Press Shift+⌘+A to show the Markup Toolbar. Click the Note icon (speech bubble) to drop a text note, or select text and click Highlight. Type your comment, press Escape, save with ⌘+S. The compatibility catch most people discover after the fact: Preview annotations may not display in non-Apple viewers. A client on Windows opening your marked-up file in Acrobat might see nothing where your note was. To be safe, export a flattened copy (File → Export as PDF) before sending — it bakes the notes in as visible marks, though the recipient can no longer reply to them.

Step 3

On Windows with Microsoft Edge

Right-click any PDF and choose Open with → Microsoft Edge. In the toolbar, click the comment pin icon (speech bubble with a plus). Click the spot, type your note, click Post. Select text to get Edge's highlighter. Save with Ctrl+Shift+S. Same cross-app compatibility caveat: Edge annotations are an overlay that modern Acrobat reads fine, but older versions may not show them. If you're not sure what viewer your recipient uses, a quick test before you send saves a follow-up email.

Step 4

When your client needs to comment — share a link, not the file

This is where most designer-to-client PDF workflows break down. You email the PDF. Your client downloads it, annotates in whatever they have, and replies with 'the bit near the top.' Now you have two files and a description. The alternative: share a review link the client opens in their browser and clicks the exact paragraph or section they mean. No download, no Adobe account. Every note lands pinned to the spot they meant, in a single thread, and you push a revised version without sending a new link.

The faster way

If your client is the one commenting, a shared link is faster than emailing the file. Drop the PDF into Drafty, share the URL, and your client clicks exactly where they mean and pins a note — no account, no re-emailed PDF. Push a revised version and the link stays the same.

Open a live demo

Questions

How do I add a comment to a PDF for free?: Adobe Acrobat Reader (free) has a full sticky note and text highlight tool — click the comment bubble icon and then click anywhere on the page. On Mac, Preview's Markup Toolbar is built in and free. On Windows, Microsoft Edge includes a comment pin tool. All three work with no subscription.
Why can't I comment on a PDF?: The PDF may have commenting restrictions set by the creator. In Acrobat, this shows as a yellow banner: 'This document has restrictions.' The comment tools are greyed out until the owner removes the restriction (which requires the document password). If you need to comment and don't have the password, you'd need to ask the sender to share an unrestricted version.
Can my client comment on a PDF without Adobe?: Yes. Google Drive lets anyone with a Google account select text and add a comment. Browser-based review tools let your client click any spot and pin a note with no account. If your client won't install Acrobat Reader, a shared review link is the more reliable path.
How do I comment on a PDF on my iPhone or iPad?: Open the PDF in the Files app or as a Mail attachment and tap the pencil icon to enter Markup mode. Tap the + button and choose Note to drop a sticky note, or use the highlighter for text. When done, tap Done — the annotated PDF saves in place. For a PDF someone else sent you, this method works; for collecting comments from a client on their phone, a shared browser link is easier than asking them to use Markup.
Will my PDF comments show up on the other person's computer?: Usually, but not always. Acrobat-to-Acrobat is reliable. The gap is cross-app: a Preview comment on Mac may appear blank when opened in Acrobat on Windows. To guarantee visibility, export a flattened copy (File → Export as PDF in Preview) before sending — this bakes the notes in as images, though the recipient can no longer reply to them.
How do I comment on a specific page of a PDF?: Navigate to that page first, then activate the comment tool and click the spot. When you send the file, tell the recipient the page number too — 'see my note on page 4' — so they're not hunting through a long document for a small dot.

Keep exploring

How to annotate a PDF How to review a PDF Get feedback on a PDF PDF annotation tool

Stop emailing files back and forth.

Share one link. They comment on the exact spot — no account, always the current version.

Open a live demo