How to Annotate a PDF Free on Mac (Without Adobe)
Add highlights, comments, and drawings to PDFs on Mac for free. Preview is built in, or use FixMyPDF for browser-based annotations.
Mac has a built-in PDF annotator in Preview, and FixMyPDF provides browser-based annotation that works in Safari and Chrome. Both are free. This guide covers when to use each.
Using Preview for PDF Annotation (Built-In)
Preview is the quickest option on Mac. Open any PDF in Preview. Click the Markup toolbar button (pen icon). You can highlight text, add notes, draw, and add text boxes. Save with Cmd+S — changes are embedded in the PDF. This is completely free, requires no internet, and is already installed on your Mac.
Using FixMyPDF for Annotation
FixMyPDF's annotation tool runs in the browser. It is useful when: you are on a Mac without Preview access, you want to annotate without opening the desktop app, or you need a portable approach that also works on Windows and mobile.
Annotation Types Available
Both options support: highlight text, add text comments, draw freehand, add sticky notes. FixMyPDF also supports: arrows and shapes, strikethrough text.
Saving Annotations Permanently
When annotations are embedded in the PDF (flattened), they cannot be removed by the recipient. Use the flatten tool after annotating to make annotations permanent and prevent editing.
For Reviewed Documents
If you are reviewing a document and returning it with comments, annotate and then flatten — this ensures your comments cannot be accidentally moved or deleted by the recipient.
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