Edit & sign
Highlight a PDF online — free
Mark up the parts that matter. Real PDF Editor lets you highlight text and key passages in any PDF, choose the colour, then download — free, in your browser, with nothing uploaded.
100% free · no sign-up · files never leave your device
Highlight in the colour you want
Drag across a line, a paragraph, or a block to drop a translucent highlight, and switch colours — yellow, green, blue, pink — from the side panel. Each highlight can be nudged or resized after you place it, so you can mark up a whole document exactly how you read it.
Highlight a PDF on Mac, Windows, or in Chrome
No Adobe Acrobat and no install. Because it runs in the browser, highlighting works the same on a Mac, a Windows PC, or in Chrome on any device — free, with the file staying on your machine.
How it works
- 1
Open the PDF
Launch the editor and open the document you want to mark up.
- 2
Pick the Highlight tool
Select the Highlight tool (keyboard shortcut H).
- 3
Drag across the text
Drag over the words or area you want to highlight, then pick a colour from the side panel.
- 4
Download
Repeat for other passages, then click Download to save the highlighted PDF.
Why use Real PDF Editor
- Highlight any text or area
- Choose from several highlight colours
- Move or resize a highlight after placing it
- Free, private, and fully in-browser
Frequently asked
How do I highlight a PDF?
Open the PDF in Real PDF Editor, select the Highlight tool (H), drag across the text you want to mark, and choose a colour. Download the highlighted PDF when you're done.
How do I highlight text in a PDF for free?
Highlighting is free with no watermark, and it runs in your browser so the file is never uploaded.
Can I change the highlight colour?
Yes — pick from several colours in the side panel before or after placing a highlight.
How do I highlight a PDF on a Mac?
Open the editor in any Mac browser, choose the Highlight tool, and drag over the text — there's nothing Mac-specific to install.
How do I remove a highlight from a PDF?
Select the highlight and press Delete (or use the Delete button) before you download — it's removed cleanly.
Can I highlight a PDF in Chrome?
Yes. Real PDF Editor runs in Chrome and any modern browser, so you can highlight without an extension.