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  • How to Add Comments to a PDF in 3 Ways [Complete Guide]

How to Add Comments to a PDF in 3 Ways [Complete Guide]

  • By Charlotte
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  • Updated on September 25, 2025
Introduction:
When you review a PDF document and need to express your feelings, you must want to add a comment in the PDF. However, because PDF files are designed for easy sharing but not editing, it can be a headache. Choosing the right PDF annotator or editor is the key. That’s why we wrote this article to help. Whether it's a text type or other types of comments, this post walks you through how to add comments to a PDF in 3 ways.
summary

Tips for Adding Comments to PDF: Types of Comments

Basically, a comment in a file is a piece of text added to annotate the specific content, but you can add multiple types of comments to a PDF, in fact. The types of comments in PDF include, but are not limited to:

  • Text comment
  • Sticky note comment
  • Shapes with comment
  • Comment on other annotations

To add comments to a PDF efficiently, a handy tool is required. The software applications introduced in the post are stable and easy to use. In addition to the listed comments, they also help add video, audio, and some other objects to PDFs for commenting. Read on to learn how to.

Way 1: How to Add Comments to a PDF with SwifDoo PDF

SwifDoo PDF is a small and fast software program that allows you to add comments in a PDF on Mac and Windows. It enables you to annotate a PDF by typing text, adding sticky notes and carets in different colors, drawing shapes and lines, etc. You can use its free trial to edit PDFs without limitation. SwifDoo PDF offers numerous additional features, including the ability to convert, secure, compress, and sign PDFs, among others.

The three steps below show you how to add comments to a PDF easily using SwifDoo PDF.

Step 1: Drag and drop your PDF file into the free downloaded and launched PDF comment tool. 

For macOS:

Step 2: Click the Annotate tab at the top and choose the comment tool, Note.

How to Add Comments to a PDF with SwifDoo PDF step 2

Step 3: Click where you'd like to comment on the PDF, and type your text in the pop-up box to add a comment to the PDF.

How to Add Comments to a PDF with SwifDoo PDF step 3

Step 4: Choose the Highlight tool to highlight specific text, and right-click the highlight to add comments through the Add Note option. 

How to Add Comments to a PDF with SwifDoo PDF step 4

Step 5: Right-click on the PDF comments you've added, choose Properties or Set Status, and you can change their appearance and give your feedback on the document.  

  • When needed, you can add comments to a PDF by directly typing text on it using the “Typewriter” tool. You have the option to change its color, opacity, line type, and other properties. The “Attachment” comment tool under the "Annotate" tab enables you to embed videos in a PDF, making it possible to add video (or audio) comments.
  • Click “Manage Annotations” in the “Annotate” section to open the comments panel in the left sidebar, then tap an icon or right-click on a comment to edit, reply, or delete it. Using the PDF software, you can print comments with your PDF file.

Way 2: How to Add Comments in a PDF with PDF Expert

PDF Expert is one of the most lightweight and simple-to-use PDF annotators to add comments to a PDF for free. The free version of the software enables you to read, comment on, and complete forms in PDF format. You can use your finger or the Apple Pencil to do the comment work. More advanced features such as converting PDFs require its pro version.

Learn how to add comments on a PDF with PDF Expert.

Step 1: Open your PDF file with the PDF annotator and choose Annotate on the top menu bar.

How to Comment on a PDF with PDF4me step 1

Step 2: Select Note, Highlight, Pen, or another comment tool in the drop-down toolbar.

Step 3: Tap a position on the PDF and enter text in the comment box to comment the PDF file.

How to Comment on a PDF with PDF4me step 3

Compared to desktop software, web applications sometimes may be more convenient to access. Find out which online tool to use and how to leave comments on a PDF in the coming part.

Way 3: How to Comment on a PDF with PDF4me

Another free way to add comments to a PDF document is by using an online tool, PDF4me. The software is developed to streamline your review work with a series of comment tools. It can be used to add pop-up comments, highlights, lines, and shapes in PDF documents. It also comes with PDF conversion, compression, combination, and a variety of other capabilities.

Take a quick look at how to add comments on a PDF document online for free using this tool.

Step 1: Access the online tool in your browser and choose the PDF Editor tool on its website.

Step 2: Tap Select File to upload the PDF you want to add comments to.

Step 3: Choose the comment tools in the left sidebar, for example, the Notes or Comments tool.

PDF4me add comments to PDF step 3 | SwifDoo PDF

Step 4: Click to add a comment box and type the text to add text comments or pop-up note comments to the PDF. 

How to Comment on a PDF with PDF4me step 4

The online PDF comment and annotation tool is easy to use but only allows you to process one file per hour. 

Conclusion

All three PDF software allow you to insert comments in a PDF quickly and for free. Most of them let you add common comments such as bubble comments. Among them, SwifDoo PDF enables you to add many more types of comments, including highlights, stamps, videos, and audio. Importantly, after comment, you can review and manage all of them in the sidebar quickly. Get it for a 7-day free trial and you are able to test all the features.

For Windows:

For macOS:

FAQs - People Also Ask

  • Q: How do you add comments to a PDF in the Adobe Reader PDF software?
    To add comments in a PDF in Adobe Reader, open your PDF with the software, select "Tools" > "Comment", and use the comment tools in the pop-up toolbar to do your work. You can click the comment tab or tool from the side tools pane to work in a PDF. 
  • Q: Why can't I add comments to a PDF?
    If you can't make comments on a PDF but can do that with some other PDFs, it is probably because the PDF file is password-protected from unauthorized editing. Regarding how to add comments to a secured PDF file, enable editing by offering the correct password in PDF software, or remove the password from the protected PDF. Then you can add comments to the PDF without hassle.
  • Q: Can people see comments in PDF?
    After you insert comments into a PDF document and send the PDF to others, the recipients can see the comments just like you can in a PDF annotator. Therefore, multiple people can add comments in a PDF for collaboration. Please note that the built-in PDF reader in any browser won't let you check the audio or video comments.
  • Q: How do you add notes to a PDF?
    The method to add notes is similar to adding comments. Choose the Annotate or Comment menu in a PDF reader like SwifDoo PDF, select the Note tool in the secondary menu bar, and click a place on a page to add a note or comment. 

Charlotte has been in the software industry for 8+ years. She works for AWZWARE now as a passionate writer. She is good at providing simple guides to use various video, office and entertainment software. Charlotte also recommends many other useful tools to make your work and life easier. A food lover too.

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