Which PDF Reader Has The Best Highlighting Features?

I've been using PDF readers for years, and saving highlights is one of those features I use all the time. In most readers like Adobe Acrobat or Foxit, you just select the text you want to highlight, right-click, and choose the highlight option. The highlight stays there even after you close the document. Some readers let you customize the color, which is great for organizing different types of notes. If you want to save those highlights for later, make sure to save the PDF file after highlighting. The highlights are embedded in the file, so you can open it anywhere and they'll still be there. I also like how some apps let you export just the highlights as a separate document, which is super handy for studying or reviewing key points.

I’ve been using PDF readers for years, and exporting highlights is super handy for keeping track of important stuff. If you’re using Adobe Acrobat, just open your PDF, go to the 'Tools' menu, and select 'Comment'. All your highlights will be listed there. Right-click on any highlight, choose 'Export', and save it as a text file. Some readers like Foxit or PDF-XChange Editor have similar options under their 'Annotations' or 'Comments' tabs. If you’re on a Mac, Preview lets you copy all highlighted text by selecting it manually and pasting into a note app. It’s a bit manual, but it works. For more advanced options, tools like 'Kilonova' or 'PDF Expert' can export highlights directly to Evernote or Notion, which is great for organizing research or study notes.

I've tried a bunch of PDF readers over the years, and one that really stands out for color customization is 'Adobe Acrobat Reader'. It lets you pick any color you want for your highlights, which is super handy when you're annotating documents for work or study. I love how you can create a color-coding system—like yellow for important points, blue for questions, and green for references. It makes reviewing documents later so much easier. Another great feature is the ability to save custom colors, so you don't have to keep picking the same shades over and over. The interface is intuitive, and the customization options are deeper than most other readers I've tried.

I can confirm that PDF annotation and highlighting are supported, but with some limitations. Kindle allows you to highlight text and add notes, just like with regular eBooks, but the experience isn't as smooth. The annotations sync across devices, which is super handy if you switch between your phone and Kindle. However, PDFs don't reflow like Kindle books, so sometimes the text is too small to highlight accurately. One workaround is converting PDFs to Kindle format using Amazon's 'Send to Kindle' service, which improves readability. The annotations then behave more like native Kindle books. For heavy PDF users, though, a tablet with a dedicated PDF reader might be better for advanced features like freehand drawing. Kindle’s strength lies in eBooks, but it’s decent for basic PDF markups.

Reading a PDF on a Kindle with highlights is easier than you might think, and I love how seamless the process can be. First, make sure your Kindle supports PDFs—most modern ones do. You can transfer the file via USB by connecting your Kindle to a computer and dragging the PDF into the 'Documents' folder. Alternatively, email the PDF to your Kindle’s unique email address (found in your Amazon account settings) with the subject line 'Convert' to optimize it for reading. Once the PDF is on your Kindle, open it and use the highlight feature by pressing and holding on the text. If the PDF is text-based (not scanned), you’ll see the option to highlight. For scanned PDFs, you might need to use the 'Highlight Image' tool or convert the file to a Kindle-friendly format like MOBI or AZW3 using Calibre. Your highlights sync to your Amazon account, so you can review them later on the Kindle app or website. It’s a game-changer for studying or annotating books!

I’ve been using Kindle for years, and uploading PDFs with highlights is simpler than it seems. First, connect your Kindle to your computer via USB, then drag and drop the PDF file into the 'documents' folder. If you want to sync wirelessly, email the PDF to your Kindle’s unique email address (found in your Amazon account settings). Make sure the subject line says 'convert' if you want Amazon to optimize the format. For highlights, I use the Kindle app on my phone or tablet. Open the PDF, press and hold to highlight text, and your annotations sync automatically to your Kindle account. If the PDF isn’t highlighting properly, converting it to Kindle format using Amazon’s service usually fixes it.

As someone who reads a ton of PDFs for research and leisure, I’ve found that annotation tools are lifesavers. My go-to is Adobe Acrobat—it’s super intuitive. Just select the text and click ‘Comment’ to add notes or ‘Highlight’ to mark key passages. I also love how you can use different colors for different purposes, like yellow for main ideas and pink for questions. For free alternatives, Foxit Reader is fantastic. It lets you highlight, underline, and even add sticky notes. If you’re on a Mac, Preview works surprisingly well for basic annotations. One pro tip: if you’re collaborating, save your annotated PDF as a separate file to avoid overwriting the original. And don’t forget to explore keyboard shortcuts—they speed things up dramatically!

As a long-time Kindle user, I can confidently say that PDFs on Kindle do support bookmarks and highlights, though the experience isn't as seamless as with native Kindle formats like AZW or MOBI. When you open a PDF on your Kindle, you can add bookmarks by tapping the upper right corner of the screen, which saves your current page for quick access later. Highlights are also possible, but the process is a bit clunkier—you have to press and hold to select text, then choose 'Highlight' from the pop-up menu. One downside is that PDFs are static documents, so text selection can be finicky, especially with scanned or image-based PDFs. Unlike EPUB or Kindle formats, you can't adjust font size or spacing, which sometimes makes highlighting awkward. That said, if the PDF has clean, selectable text, the highlights and bookmarks sync across devices via Amazon's Whispersync, just like regular Kindle books. For heavy annotation users, I'd recommend converting PDFs to Kindle format using Send to Kindle tools for a smoother experience.