How To Draw On A PDF In 2024 (Free)

Draw on PDF documents for free. It takes 1 click and 10 seconds!
Last updated on:
December 29, 2023
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You’re most probably here because:

  • You have a PDF document;
  • You want to draw on it;
  • But you’re not sure how to that.

Don’t worry, out PDF drawing tool is here to help you. On this page, you’re going to find the ultimate solution to drawing on a PDF.

How to draw on a PDF without Adobe Acrobat

The free and the most reliable PDF drawing alternative to Adobe is SignHouse, where you can just upload the PDF and get going with drawing on the file.

Then, you can download the file with your drawing on it. That’s it!

1. Upload a PDF

We first need to know which file you’re trying to draw on.

So, feel free to upload it.

Upload a PDF before you write on it

With SignHouse, you can just drag and drop the file, or upload it by browsing your computer and selecting it.

2. Start drawing

Here’s the best part — drawing on the document. From the left side of the menu, you want to select the draw feature.

How to draw on a PDF for free

You can select multiple pens, markup tools, and colours for your PDF.

Draw as much as you need!

Pro Tip: To get free access to the contract in the image above, you can freely visit our Marketing Agreement Template. We’ve got many other contracts too!

* Newer SignHouse versions will have more drawing tools.

3. Sign & Download

The last step of the process is, of course, download the PDF document with your drawing on top of it.

Did you know you can also draw your signature with our software? It takes just two clicks: one to generate it, and the other one to attach it to the PDF.

How to draw my signature for a PDF

You can download a document in just one click, by hitting the button in the top-right corner of the page.

What happens to my PDF?

When uploading the PDF, our system generates a 1:1 copy of the file that you can now draw on top of.

We also respect your privacy, and so, here’s what happens behind the scenes:

  • A few hours after uploading, we delete the pre-drawing document;
  • And we keep the duplicate with your drawing on top of it so you can access it within your dashboard.

In your dashboard, you can edit, re-draw, share, private-share, or delete the file.

At SignHouse, you have 100% full control of your PDFs.

How to draw on a PDF (Mac)

  1. Open the PDF using Preview;
  2. Select Markup (pen icon) in the top-right corner;
  3. Click on “Draw” or “Sketch”.
  4. Start drawing
How to draw on a PDF on a Mac using Preview

To properly draw on a PDF using your Mac, you need to open the PDF using Preview. Then, select the Markup feature and click on “Draw” or “Sketch”.

Now you can draw and save the document.

How to draw on a PDF using a computer (Windows)

The easiest way to draw on a PDF using your Windows computer is to choose an online and free software, like SignHouse. Alternatively, you can use the drawing in tool in apps such as Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft Word.

If you opt to use SignHouse’s PDF drawing tool:

  1. Upload your PDF to the platform;
  2. Select the drawing tool;
  3. Draw as much as you want & Download.
How to draw on a PDF on Windows

Drawing a PDF using your Windows computer (laptop or PC) shouldn’t take longer than a few seconds. Besides, it’s free at SignHouse.

Can I draw a PDF with a pen on Windows?

Yes, definitely. At SignHouse, you can use a stylus pen or any other type of pen to draw on a PDF if you use a Windows device.

Whether you’re using a Windows PC or a laptop, SignHouse warmly welcomes you to use a pen to draw on a PDF.

How to draw on a PDF on Chrome

If you’re using a Chromebook and you want to draw on a PDF, here’s what you need to do in order to draw quickly:

  1. Open the PDF in Chrome;
  2. Click the three-dot icon in the top-right corner;
  3. Select “Annotate”;
  4. Start drawing anywhere on the file.
How to draw on a PDF in Chrome

That’s it. You can then hit the download button (also in the top-right corner) to download the PDF with your drawing(s) on top of it.

Alternatively, you can use SignHouse’s online PDF draw function which we’ve explained above.

How to draw on a PDF on Android

If you want to draw on a PDF using your Android device, it’s best that you download an app on the Play Store, by searching ‘PDF Draw’.

Though, the safest option is SignHouse’s online PDF drawing tool, which was previously explained.

Pro Tip: At SignHouse, you can also eSign a PDF on Android. Endless possibilities!

What programs allow you to draw on a PDF?

There are many solutions out there. Here is a compact list of 7 PDF drawing apps:

  1. Preview (Mac);
  2. SignHouse (Mac, Windows);
  3. Adobe Acrobat Reader (Mac, Windows);
  4. Nitro Pro (Windows);
  5. PDFOnlineReader (Mac, Windows);
  6. EaseUS PDF Editor (Windows);
  7. Expert PDF Viewer (Windows).

At the end of the day, you get to choose which PDF drawing software to use.

FAQs

Can I use a stylus pen on a PDF?

Yes, you can use a stylus pen to draw anything on a PDF. If you use SignHouse, know that it is free using a stylus pen for PDFs.

Can you freehand draw on a PDF?

Yes, absolutely. All you have to do is just upload your PDF, select the drawing tool and start drawing. Remember to apply changes and save the file!

Do I need to use Adobe to draw on a PDF?

No, you can do it 100% for free with software like SignHouse. To draw on a PDF without adobe:

  1. Upload your document;
  2. Select the draw tool and get going.
  3. Download the drawn PDF.

It's really that easy. And if you choose SignHouse, know that you can do it in less than 10 seconds!

How do you draw in a PDF with pencil?

To draw in PDF using your pencil, you simply need to connect it to your device. After that, use a PDF drawing software and start drawing on the file.

If you opt to use SignHouse, know that you can 100% use a pencil to draw on a PDF for free (on any of your devices).

Why can’t I draw on a PDF?

PDF files are meant to prevent anyone from drawing or adding any text unless they're meant to. If so, know that you can use a free PDF drawing software like SignHouse to do it.

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About the author

Ch David is the co-founder of SignHouse. David is here to help the product development team expand the capabilities of ultimate eSignature maker for all your needs. Join David and the SignHouse team in stepping up electronic signatures!