Documents and knowledge · Independent · 22 Oct 2026

xournalpp/xournalpp

Xournal++ is a handwriting notetaking software with PDF annotation support. Written in C++ with GTK3, supporting Linux (e.g. Ubuntu, Debian, Arch, SUSE), macOS and Windows 10. Supports pen input from devices such as Wacom Tablets.

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In simple English

This app lets you write notes by hand on your computer screen. You can use a digital pen or tablet to draw and sketch freely. It also lets you open a PDF document and write your notes right on top of the pages. Your notes are saved in an open format so you can keep them forever. The software is free to download and use on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

What it is

Xournal++ is a handwriting notetaking tool with PDF annotation support. It is written in C++ (a fast programming language used to build desktop and system software) and built for speed and flexibility.

What it is good for

Students and teachers who want to mark up PDF textbooks and write lecture notes with a stylus will find this useful.

Stars16k
LicenceGPL-2.0
Latestv1.3.8 (2026-09-26)checked 22 Oct 2026
Last code change2026-10-20
Written inC++
Setup effort
2 / 5
Payoff
4 / 5
Good
  • Smooth pen and stylus input with palm rejection and stabilization.
  • Mark up, highlight, and take notes directly on top of PDF documents.
  • Add mathematical equations using LaTeX and record audio while you write.
Watch for
  • Requires a pen tablet or touchscreen for the best note-taking experience.
  • PDF files are linked externally, so deleting the original PDF breaks the background.
  • Mac installation requires running terminal commands to bypass security policies.
Replaces

Paper notebooks and commercial PDF annotation software

Works well with

Obsidian

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Install
sudo apt install xournalpp

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On Stack Radar: Productivity & Collaboration › Documents, Notes & Knowledge › PDF Tools.

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