Drawboard PDF AlternativesTop PDF Readers & Note-taking Tools like Drawboard PDF

Drawboard PDF is described as 'The top AEC PDF app to markup and manage drawings and documents. Ideal for replacing pen and paper, avoid printing documents again by using our intuitive feature set that makes marking up a PDF easy. Open or create a new PDF, markup using our extensive array of tools, then save' and is a PDF Reader in the office & productivity category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Drawboard PDF for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, Android and iPhone apps. The best Drawboard PDF alternative is Okular, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Drawboard PDF are Foxit PDF Reader, Xournal++, Excalidraw and Evince.

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Alternatives list

  1. Okular icon

    Okular

     480 likes
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    Multi-platform document viewer offering extensive format support, including PDF, comics, images, EPUB, and Markdown, with annotation tools, sidebar previews, text-to-speech, DRM management, cross-platform compatibility, and integration with KDE Frameworks libraries.

    113 Okular alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • KDE Plasma
    • Snapcraft
    • Linux Mobile
    • Flathub
    • Haiku
    Okular screenshot 1
     
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    2
    Comments about Okular as an Alternative to Drawboard PDF
    Guest
    Negative
    2

    The annotation for okular doesn't function as seamless drawing on a PDF

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    dsohad
    Positive
    -1

    The pen isnt work with this app.

    Drawboard PDF Icon
    Okular icon

    • This alternative is disputed. Okular is a legitimate Drawboard PDF alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.

    • Okular is the most popular Windows & Linux alternative to Drawboard PDF.

    • Okular is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Drawboard PDF.

    • Okular is Free and Open SourceDrawboard PDF is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Okular is Lightweight and Privacy focusedDrawboard PDF is not according to our users
  2. Foxit PDF Reader icon

    Foxit PDF Reader

     1376 likes
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    Foxit Reader offers a lightweight PDF viewing experience across multiple platforms with features such as annotation, form filling, signing, cloud storage integration, collaborative review options, heightened security via Trust Manager, and organizational tools like Group Policy and XML Configuration.

    120 Foxit PDF Reader alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Bundleware

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • ReactOS
    Foxit PDF Reader screenshot 1
     
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    4
    11
    Comments about Foxit PDF Reader as an Alternative to Drawboard PDF
    Guest
    Positive
    4

    You can write into the PDF, underline text, ... Similar features to Drawboard PDF even in the free version.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    Pencil and free flow handwriting isn't supported well with Foxit

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    violoncello
    Negative
    1

    doesn't allow handwritten annotations with a stylus

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    3 of 4 comments
    Drawboard PDF Icon
    Foxit PDF Reader icon

    • Some users think Foxit PDF Reader is a great Drawboard PDF alternative, some don't.

    • Foxit PDF Reader is the most popular Mac alternative to Drawboard PDF.

    • Foxit PDF Reader is Free Personal and ProprietaryDrawboard PDF is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Foxit PDF Reader is LightweightDrawboard PDF is not according to our users
  4. Xournal++ icon

    Xournal++

     185 likes
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    Handwritten note-taking and PDF annotation using pen input and pressure sensitivity, shape drawing, customizable toolbar layouts, image insertion, audio recording, multi-language options, LaTeX integration, and complete export in PDF or PNG formats across all platforms.

    54 Xournal++ alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Xournal++ screenshot 1
     
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  5. Ad
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    Ashampoo PDF Free icon
    Ashampoo PDF Free

    Ashampoo PDF Free is a software for opening, reading, and creating PDF files. It includes a built-in printer driver for generating PDFs from any Windows application, a compact and fast PDF reader, and the ability to fill out inte...

    https://www.ashampoo.com
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  6. Excalidraw icon

    Excalidraw

     96 likes
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    Excalidraw is an open-source whiteboard tool that lets you easily sketch diagrams that have a hand-drawn feel to them. Available directly online as a web app and also through CodeSandbox to easily see how the code works, and the app is available for self-hosting.

    80 Excalidraw alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    Excalidraw screenshot 1
     

    • Excalidraw is the most popular Web-based & Self-Hosted alternative to Drawboard PDF.

    • Excalidraw is Freemium and Open SourceDrawboard PDF is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Excalidraw is Privacy focusedDrawboard PDF is not according to our users
  7. Evince icon

    Evince

     459 likes
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    Evince (or GNOME Document Viewer) is a document viewer for multiple document formats: PDF, Postscript, djvu, tiff, dvi, XPS, SyncTex support with gedit, comics books (cbr,cbz,cb7 and cbt) and others. See Supported Document Formats for details.

    115 Evince alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flathub
    • GNOME
    Evince screenshot 1
     
  8. KOReader icon

    KOReader

     72 likes
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    An ebook reader application supporting PDF, DjVu, EPUB, FB2 and many more formats, running on Kindle, Kobo, PocketBook, Linux and Android devices.

    66 KOReader alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Android
    • AppImageHub
    • Kobo Books
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Kindle Fire
    • Android Tablet
    KOReader screenshot 1
    KOReader screenshot 2
    KOReader screenshot 3
     

    • KOReader is the most popular Android & Android Tablet alternative to Drawboard PDF.

    • KOReader is Free and Open SourceDrawboard PDF is Freemium and Proprietary
    • KOReader is LightweightDrawboard PDF is not according to our users
  10. Xodo icon

    Xodo

     71 likes
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    Xodo is the ultimate cross-platform PDF viewer and annotator. Powerful, fast, and optimized for all phones and tablets, Xodo makes it easy to access, edit, share, sync, manage, sign, and more.

    115 Xodo alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
    Xodo screenshot 1
     
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    2
    34
    Comments about Xodo as an Alternative to Drawboard PDF
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Free. has Stylus and gesture support for windows tablets.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    XODO is free and has the option to add new pages into the PDF. In Drawboard PDF you only can add blank pages for free.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Drawboard PDF Icon
    Xodo icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Xodo is a great Drawboard PDF alternative.

    • Xodo is the most popular iPhone & iPad alternative to Drawboard PDF.

    • Xodo is the most popular commercial alternative to Drawboard PDF.

    • Xodo is Paid and ProprietaryDrawboard PDF is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Xodo is LightweightDrawboard PDF is not according to our users
  11. Adobe Acrobat Reader icon

    Adobe Acrobat Reader

     443 likes
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    Seamlessly view, annotate, and collaborate on PDFs with freehand drawing and sticky notes. Utilize cloud storage for effortless access and upgrade for advanced editing and conversion to formats like Word and Excel.

    107 Adobe Acrobat Reader alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Adobe Acrobat Reader screenshot 1
     
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    2
    Comments about Adobe Acrobat Reader as an Alternative to Drawboard PDF
    Guest
    Negative
    8

    limited annotation capabilities. Cannot write directly onto pdf like in drawboard.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    violoncello
    Negative
    0

    doesn't allow for handwritten annotations with a stylus

    Drawboard PDF Icon
    Adobe Acrobat Reader icon

    • This alternative is disputed. Adobe Acrobat Reader is a legitimate Drawboard PDF alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.

    • Adobe Acrobat Reader is Freemium and ProprietaryDrawboard PDF is also Freemium and Proprietary
    • Adobe Acrobat Reader is LightweightDrawboard PDF is not according to our users
  12. Linwood Butterfly icon

    Linwood Butterfly

     41 likes
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    Butterfly is a note-taking app where your ideas come first. You can paint, add texts, and export them easily on every device. This app works on android, windows, linux, and in the web.

    44 Linwood Butterfly alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • Self-Hosted
    • Snapcraft
    • AltStore
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    Linwood Butterfly screenshot 1
     
  13. OpenBoard Whiteboard icon

    OpenBoard Whiteboard

     67 likes
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    OpenBoard is a cross-platform (Linux / Windows / macOS) interactive whiteboard application. It is currently maintained by the Education Department (DIP) of the Canton of Geneva in Switzerland.

    92 OpenBoard Whiteboard alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    OpenBoard Whiteboard screenshot 1
     
  14. xournal icon

    xournal

     74 likes
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    Xournal is an application for notetaking, sketching, keeping a journal using a stylus. It is free software (GNU GPL) and runs on Linux (recent distributions), Windows and other GTK+/Gnome platforms.

    50 xournal alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    xournal screenshot 1
     
12 of 56 Drawboard PDF alternatives