Skip to main content

Highlight Text in PDF For Free

Drop document here to upload
Select from device
Up to 100 MB for PDF and up to 25 MB for DOC, DOCX, RTF, PPT, PPTX, JPEG, PNG, JFIF, XLS, XLSX or TXT

Last updated on Sep 4, 2026

How to highlight text in PDFs online with pdfFiller

Highlighting text in PDFs online is a straightforward process that helps in emphasizing important information for better understanding and collaboration. Using pdfFiller, you can quickly highlight text, annotate documents, and improve your workflow significantly.

What is highlighting text in PDFs?

Highlighting text in PDFs involves marking specific sections of a document with a colored overlay to draw attention to the selected text. This feature is essential for annotating important information, making it easier for users to find and reference key details within documents.

Importance of highlighting text in document workflows

The effective use of highlighted text enhances document collaboration by allowing users to emphasize important points, facilitate discussions, and streamline feedback. Highlighting allows for better communication among team members, reducing the chances of misinterpretation and improving overall productivity.

Highlighting text features available in pdfFiller

  • Multiple color options for highlighting
  • Ability to combine highlights with comments
  • Simplified collaboration tools for feedback
  • Standalone annotations that do not alter original content

pdfFiller provides a seamless experience for highlighting text, ensuring users can annotate their PDFs without complications while managing a cohesive workflow.

Supported formats for PDF highlighting

While highlighting is primarily a feature associated with PDFs, pdfFiller supports a range of file formats where highlighting can be beneficial, including DOCX, TXT, and more, allowing a versatile approach to document management. Users can convert supported formats to PDF for easy highlighting and further editing before sharing their annotated documents.

How does highlighting text work in different browsers?

pdfFiller's capability to highlight text in PDFs is browser-agnostic, meaning that it works seamlessly across popular browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. Users should ensure that their browser is updated to the latest version for optimal performance. The user interface remains consistent regardless of the browser, enabling easy access to highlighting tools.

Managing highlights through pdfFiller's capabilities

pdfFiller allows users to manage their highlights easily. Users can edit or remove highlights as necessary, making document review straightforward. Additionally, the platform also offers filters for viewing highlighted text, enabling quick access to key points and improving document navigation.

Step-by-step instructions to highlight text using pdfFiller

  • Upload your PDF document to pdfFiller.
  • Select the "Highlight" tool from the toolbar.
  • Choose your preferred color for highlighting.
  • Click and drag over the text to highlight the desired section.
  • Save or download the annotated PDF when finished.

This straightforward approach makes the process intuitive, ensuring users can focus on their content rather than the complexities of software.

Advantages of using pdfFiller to highlight text

  • Easy-to-use interface that simplifies document editing
  • Cloud storage for secure access to documents from anywhere
  • Collaboration tools allowing team feedback on highlighted sections
  • Integration capabilities with other tools enhancing workflow efficiency

By leveraging pdfFiller, users gain a robust platform for editing and managing PDFs, making it ideal for teams and individuals alike.

Real-world applications and sectors benefiting from highlighting text

Professional environments such as legal, education, marketing, and project management often require document markup to emphasize critical information. Highlighting text in PDFs is particularly useful in these sectors for drafting contracts, reviewing academic papers, and creating promotional materials, allowing teams to collaborate effectively and streamline their processes.

Comparing pdfFiller with alternatives for highlighting text

When evaluating pdfFiller against other PDF editing tools, key considerations include ease of use, accessibility features, and collaboration capabilities. While some platforms may offer highlighting features, pdfFiller distinguishes itself through its extensive integration options and user-friendly interface, making it preferable for teams collaborating on complex document workflows.

Conclusion

Highlighting text in PDFs online with pdfFiller is an essential feature that aids in better document collaboration and streamlines workflows. With its intuitive interface, robust features, and cloud-based accessibility, pdfFiller empowers users to annotate their documents effortlessly, enhancing their productivity and efficiency in various professional settings.

Try most popular PDF tools

Discover a full set of tools to handle any document task.

Edit PDFs

Make quick PDF edits online.

Sign

Add legally binding signatures.

Merge

Combine multiple PDFs.

Request signatures

Send a document for signing.

Convert

Transform PDFs into other formats.

Rearrange

Change the order of pages.

Share

Send PDFs for review or editing.

Compress

Reduce PDF file sizes.

How to annotate a PDF?

1. Upload

Online PDF annotation: Highlight, redact, draw, and comment

  • Annotate and edit Go beyond editing and add context to your changes. After fixing a typo or updating a section, drop a comment or highlight the area to pinpoint and explain edits.
  • Guide every signature Use annotation tools to highlight important sections, redact sensitive details, or add comments to clarify contract clauses before you send the document for signing.
  • Team feedback, simplified Stop juggling feedback across endless email chains. Share your document and let everyone add their highlights, comments, and suggestions directly on the PDF.
  • All your notes in one place Never lose track of important feedback. All annotations are saved with your documents in your secure cloud storage, keeping your projects organized and accessible.

Who uses this tool?

Learn how professionals use pdfFiller to review documents and exchange feedback.

Business Owners

Review business plans or financial reports and add notes directly on the document for your team. Highlight key performance indicators and comment on specific sections to provide clear feedback without altering the original file.

  • Financial reports
  • Business plans
  • Marketing mockups
  • Strategic roadmaps
Business Owners
  • G2 — Users Most Likely To Recommend
  • G2 — Grid Leader in Small-Business
  • G2 — High Performer
  • G2 — Regional Leader
  • G2 — Easiest To Do Business With
  • G2 — Best Meets Requirements
  • G2 — Best Support

pdfFiller scores top ratings on review platforms

pdfFiller is rated 4.6/5 stars on 125,000+ G2 reviews.

I am able to find and create just about anything that I need for examples.
Aleshia L
Sometimes when returning to filled documents, some text is in the wrong place.
Henry M
Easy to use. And great to have the ability to fill out these forms.
Anonymous Customer
What do you like best?
I love the variety of functions available in PDF Filler. I also love how easy it is to use, Highly recommended for anyone working quickly in a remote environment for documents that need edits, signatures, etc.
What do you dislike?
Sometimes I get logged out ... not a real problem, but as I work from multiple computers sometimes it adds and extra step for me.
Recommendations to others considering the product:
It is a great product with many features to help work with PDF documents.
What problems are you solving with the product? What benefits have you realized?
Makes my turn around of documents so much faster and easier! Saving the environment too - reducing my printing and scanning time.
Summer Crockett Moore
Kara Rocks Kara was so helpful and understanding. She was prompt in her replies, knowledgeable, polite and very professional. A credit to the company. Thank you so much. :-)
anon
I give it a 4/5 because sometimes… I give it a 4/5 because sometimes editing text might change the context of the document (ex.remove boxes or darkness of boxes etc). Other than that it's worked fine.
mrs lee

Annotate PDFs with a trusted, all-in-one solution

Try pdfFiller for all your document management needs.

pdfFiller workspace for creating, filling and managing PDF forms

Why trust pdfFiller to annotate your documents?

All-in-one solution

Watch our PDF editor in action

Check out this video tutorial to learn how to edit and annotate PDFs using pdfFiller’s drag-and-drop editor.

FAQs

If you can't find what you're looking for, please contact us anytime!

To highlight text in PDFs using pdfFiller, simply open your document, select the 'Highlight' tool from the toolbar, and drag your cursor over the text you want to emphasize. Once highlighted, you can save the changes directly in the cloud. This feature not only simplifies your workflow but ensures that important information is easily accessible. Additionally, you can share your highlighted document with team members instantly, streamlining collaboration.

pdfFiller offers a user-friendly interface and cross-platform compatibility for highlighting text in PDFs, making it accessible from any device. Unlike other tools that limit functionalities without extensive tutorials, pdfFiller provides straightforward features that enhance productivity. Moreover, you can securely save and share highlighted PDFs, ensuring document security and compliance for remote teams or legal contexts.

Yes, pdfFiller allows users to highlight text in scanned PDFs by utilizing its Optical Character Recognition (OCR) capabilities. Once you upload a scanned document, pdfFiller converts it to an editable format, enabling you to highlight text seamlessly. This feature is valuable for legal teams needing to review printed contracts or remote professionals managing important documents digitally. Remember to double-check the OCR recognition for accuracy before highlighting.

pdfFiller prioritizes security with end-to-end encryption for documents, including those you highlight. When highlighting text in PDFs, your data remains protected on the cloud, ensuring confidentiality and compliance with various regulatory standards. It's essential to utilize strong passwords and regularly update security settings for your account to maintain document integrity, especially for sensitive legal documents or client files.

Yes, you can easily remove highlights from PDFs in pdfFiller by selecting the highlighted area and choosing the 'Remove Highlight' option. This feature allows you to edit documents fluidly, ensuring that only relevant information remains emphasized. This could be particularly useful for legal teams when revising drafts or for remote professionals who need to maintain updated and clear documentation.

While pdfFiller does not currently support batch highlighting directly, you can quickly navigate through multiple PDFs and highlight text in each document one at a time. The streamlined process minimizes time spent on manual tasks, which is crucial for SMEs managing bulk documents. Using the 'Document Automation' features alongside can also enhance your workflow efficiency.

What businesses achieve with pdfFiller

Discover how you can benefit too.

Other software options offering customized branding have really extreme pricing. Compared to the monthly costs of PandaDoc, we are now saving unbelievable amounts of money.

B2B Services Message Direct

One tool. Every document task.

One workflow shouldn’t take five tools

Start free trial