Top PDF Readers with Highlighter for Windows and Mac in 2025
Introduction:
Highlighting PDFs is a good way to quickly access what you need afterward. Check this article to find the best PDF reader with highlighter. We will discuss the top 5 readers and compare their features, pros, and cons.

Part 1. Top 5 PDF Readers with Highlighter

Let's get into the details of each tool.

1. SwifDoo PDF - Affordable All-in-One PDF Solution

SwifDoo PDF is an all-in-one tool for PDF reading, editing, annotation, and more. With its highlighter, you can highlight text and areas without effort. When highlighting, you can select the color you prefer.

In addition to highlighting, SwifDooo PDF offers various PDF annotation tools to help you mark up the content you care about. For example, add underlines and shapes or draw on the PDFs. As for PDF reading, it offers various reading modes to satisfy your needs. With SwifDoo PDF, you'll get an unrivaled PDF reading experience. Click the download button below to get its free trial and enjoy!

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Best for

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2. Adobe Acrobat Reader: Free and Reliable Standard

Adobe is the inventor of PDF and the first company to introduce a PDF reader. You can use this tool for free to highlight PDFs. However, it only lets you choose specific colors. In addition, if you want to use other features, you need a subscription.

Since this reader has a lot of features, it is expensive. This means you must spend a lot of money on all the tools, even if you only need some. Anyhow, it is a good choice for general users to highlight PDFs.

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3. Foxit PDF Editor: Advanced Editing for Professionals

Foxit PDF Editor is a professional PDF tool that offers various advanced features related to editing, annotation, converting, signing, and more. You can find the highlighting tool in the annotation suite.

Its standout features include support for text reflow, multimedia addition, and integration with cloud services like Google Drive and OneDrive. It can be a good choice for professionals looking for a cost-effective Adobe alternative.

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4. Nitro PDF: Comprehensive Reader with Highlighter

Nitro PDF has all the tools to handle PDFs, including highlighting, editing, OCR, conversion, etc. It has a Microsoft Office style ribbon interface, which is very newbie friendly! However, it offers very few free features, and most of them, including the highlighter, require a subscription.

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5. PDF-XChange Editor: Affordable and Lightweight

PDF-XChange Editor is a lightweight PDF tool for Windows users. Its intuitive interface lets users quickly find the tool and proceed to the next step. While many of its features are free, you can only access advanced features in the paid version. Luckily, it's free to highlight text.

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Part 2. PDF Readers with Highlighter Comparison

You may still be confused after learning about these PDF readers with highlighter. The following comparison table will give you a clearer picture of these tools.

Tool Key Features Pricing Platforms Best For
SwifDoo PDF Editing, converting, annotating Free, $16/month, or $96.75 Windows, Mac, Mobile Students, budget users
Adobe Acrobat Reader Viewing, annotating, cloud integration Free Windows, Mac, Mobile Casual users, students
Foxit PDF Editor Editing, collaboration, cloud support $11/month Windows, Mac, Mobile Professionals, mobile use
Nitro Pro OCR, eSignatures, editing $179.99 or $11.24/month Windows, Mac, iOS Businesses, heavy editors
PDF-XChange Editor Annotating, editing, OCR (paid) Free, $56 perpetual Windows Windows users, budget

Part 3. How to Choose the Right PDF Reader with Highlighter for You

Every tool has pros and cons, and it is hard to say which is the best. You can choose the one that best suits your situation. When making your choice, you can consider the following factors.

Budget. Free options such as Adobe Acrobat Reader or PDF-XChange Editor suit users on a tight budget. SwifDoo PDF and Foxit PDF Editor offer affordable plans for paid options, while Nitro Pro is more expensive.

Purpose. Casual users can choose Adobe Acrobat and PDF-XChange Editor; Heavy users who want advanced users can pick SwifDoo PDF, Foxit PDF Editor, or Nitro Pro.

Device. Make sure the tool supports your operating system. In addition, you can choose based on whether or not you need cross-platform processing.

Conclusion

You can choose the best PDF reader with highlighter based on your needs. Each tool offers unique benefits, from free tools like Adobe Acrobat Reader to premium options like Nitro Pro. Evaluate your budget, purpose, and equipment needs to choose and streamline your workflow..