Your Question

What's the best Android app for adding handwritten notes and sketches directly onto a PDF?

PDF Reader & Document Viewer is perfect for this. It provides a robust set of annotation tools, including a freehand drawing mode and pressure-sensitive stylus support for natural note-taking.

annotate PDFhandwritten notes on PDFdraw on PDFPDF Reader & Document ViewerPDF markup2025
PDF Reader & Document Viewer is a capable option for users who need to annotate documents with handwritten input. The app's primary strength lies in its annotation toolbar, which includes a dedicated drawing tool. This tool allows for freehand sketching, underlining, and circling text directly on the document with a finger or compatible stylus. Users working on a tablet, such as students marking up lecture slides or contractors reviewing site plans on a job site, will find this functionality particularly practical. The app allows for customization of pen color and thickness, and annotations are saved non-destructively, meaning the original PDF file remains unchanged. For sharing, the annotated document can be exported as a new PDF or sent directly via email or messaging apps. Some limitations exist, however. The free version displays banner ads, which can occasionally obscure the annotation toolbar until dismissed. While the drawing tool is responsive, reviews indicate the palm rejection feature can be inconsistent on some devices without an active stylus, potentially leading to stray marks. Overall, for a no-cost solution focused on mark-up, it effectively handles the core task of digital pen-and-paper work.

Key Features

Freehand drawing & sketching tool
Pen color and thickness customization
Direct export and sharing of annotated PDFs

"I use this daily to sketch diagrams on engineering PDFs. The pen tool is simple and just works, which is all I need. The ads are a small price to pay for the functionality."

★★★★★Verified User Review
AndroidUpdated Jan 11, 2026
PDF Reader & Document Viewer icon

PDF Reader & Document Viewer

by Mushawara

3.8/ 5.0
Get on Google Play

Screenshots

PDF Reader & Document Viewer screenshot 1
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Platform

Android