Drawboard PDF: 3 good alternatives

Drawboard PDF offers all the tools with which you can annotate PDF files. You can find out which alternatives there are to this tool in this practical tip.

• PDF Reader by XODO

Xodo is one of the few comprehensive and modern PDF tools that are available for free in the Windows Store.

• With Xodo you not only get an overview of your PDF files and books, you also have access to any annotation tool.
• The app is very suitable for working with a digital pen.
• The tool is particularly suitable for Windows tablets as it has been optimized for touch input.
• With “Xodo Connect” you can also work together on a PDF file while your markups and notes are synchronized free of charge.
• You also have many choices when it comes to viewing your file. You can also change the color of the document and its content to make it easier to read, or even set white PDF files to dark mode.
• While it offers all the necessary tools, the app occasionally crashes and may lose markings in the process. In addition, some tools cannot distinguish between pen and touch input.
• Nevertheless, the app is an ideal alternative for PDF files, as it brings order to your PDFs and offers many tools for editing.

• Microsoft Edge

The classic Microsoft Edge browser has replaced the old reader app from Microsoft and offers the most important functions for annotating PDF files.

• In addition to PDFs, Edge also reliably opens epub files.
• With Edge, you can mark text in four colors and handwrite it in any other color with different pen thicknesses on your PDF, provided you have a pen such as the Surface Pen for your Surface Pro.

• MetaMoJi Note Lite

With MetaMoji Note Lite there is another easy-to-use Windows Store app for annotating PDF files.

• The free version of the app offers the most important tools with which you can label PDF files.
• You can add pages, photos, articles, web pages, and notes to PDF files with the tool.

• Conclusion: which PDF app is a good alternative to DrawBoard PDF?

The three programs presented are sufficient PDF programs for most situations. In addition, Xodo in particular offers useful functions. However, there are many functions in AnyPDF that make using  significantly better than using the other apps. Many tools are designed for professionals and are not limited to quick annotations on the document. If you want to use more tools, you can almost exclusively use AnyPDF, which offers many functions and is optimized for tablet and pen input. Alternatively, you can also import PDF files into OneNote and use the entire scope of OneNote on your PDF document there.