Overview

Xournal++ Free Download – Handwriting Notes and PDF Annotation Tool

Xournal++ is a free, open-source handwriting notetaking software with PDF annotation support. It is written in C++ with GTK3 and supports Linux, macOS, and Windows. It works with pressure-sensitive drawing tablets like Wacom, making it ideal for students, teachers, and professionals who need to annotate PDFs or take handwritten notes. This article provides a comprehensive guide to downloading, installing, and using Xournal++.

What is Xournal++?

Xournal++ (also known as Xournalpp) is an open-source handwriting notetaking program developed by the Xournal++ community. It is available for Linux, macOS, and Windows 10 and later, and is distributed under the GNU General Public License. The current version is 1.3.7.

Xournal++ is designed for flexibility, functionality, and speed. It allows you to annotate on top of PDFs, select text from the background PDF, and follow links within PDF documents. It supports pen pressure sensitivity, making it a natural fit for drawing tablets.

Key Features of Xournal++

PDF Annotation

Annotate on top of PDFs with handwriting, highlights, underlines, and strikethroughs. Your annotations are saved separately, leaving the original PDF untouched.

Handwriting Support

Supports pen pressure sensitivity with devices like Wacom tablets. Write and draw naturally with a stylus.

PDF Text Selection

Select text from the background PDF, copy it, highlight it, underline it, or strike it through.

PDF Link Following

Follow links from the background PDF. Navigate to external URLs or internal document sections.

Export Options

Export to a variety of formats including SVG, PNG, and PDF, both from the GUI and command line.

Page Management

Sidebar with page previews and advanced page sorting. Insert, delete, and rearrange pages easily.

How to Download Xournal++

Xournal++ can be downloaded from GitHub releases or from the Microsoft Store.

Installation Guide

Windows Installation

1. Download the Windows installer from GitHub releases
2. Run the installer and follow the setup wizard
3. Choose the installation directory (default is recommended)
4. Complete the installation and launch Xournal++
5. Open a PDF file to begin annotating

Linux Installation

1. Install via Flatpak: flatpak install flathub com.github.xournalpp.xournalpp
2. Or use your distribution's package manager: sudo apt install xournalpp

Why Choose Xournal++?

Xournal++ is the best free open-source PDF annotation and handwriting notetaking tool. It supports pressure-sensitive drawing tablets, allows non-destructive PDF annotation, and exports to multiple formats. Xournal++ is particularly valuable for students, teachers, and professionals who need to mark up documents or take handwritten notes.

For users who need to convert PDFs to other formats, the PDF Converter tool provides quick online conversion. The Color Palette Generator is useful for creating color schemes for annotation highlights.

System Requirements

• Operating System: Windows 10/11, macOS 10.15+, Linux
• Processor: Any modern 64-bit processor
• Memory: 512MB RAM minimum
• Disk Space: 100MB for installation
• Drawing Tablet: Optional, for pressure-sensitive input

Alternatives to Xournal++

Other PDF annotation tools include PDF-Equilibrist (full PDF editor, cross-platform) and LeedPDF (open-source, browser-based). Xournal++'s handwriting support and drawing tablet compatibility make it the best choice for users who prefer pen-based annotation.

Conclusion

Xournal++ is the best free open-source PDF annotation and handwriting notetaking tool, offering pressure-sensitive pen support and non-destructive PDF markup. Download Xournal++ today and annotate your PDFs naturally.