# Highlights: PDF Reader & Notes

> Edit Research Documents/Books

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1498912833](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1498912833)

## Overview

- **ID:** `id1498912833`
- **Platform:** Apple
- **Type:** Apple app
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** Jonas Myren Ribe
- **Category:** Productivity
- **Rating:** 4.50 / 5 (1,614 ratings)
- **Version:** 2026.2.1
- **Last updated:** 2026-09-14
- **First published:** 2020-04-10
- **Size:** 37 MB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-23
- **Store listing:** [Apple App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/highlights-pdf-reader-notes/id1498912833)
- **Website:** [https://highlightsapp.net/features/](https://highlightsapp.net/features/)
- **Privacy policy:** [https://highlightsapp.net/privacy/](https://highlightsapp.net/privacy/)

## Description

**Highlights** is a lightweight PDF reader and research note-taking app for Mac, iPad, and iPhone. Read documents, search PDFs, highlight and annotate text or images, add comments, and organize files stored locally or in services such as iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and Box.

Turn annotations into structured notes, extract text and tables with machine learning, look up citation metadata, and copy highlights as text, images, CSV, or BibTeX. Export notes to Markdown, HTML, PDF, WebArchive, and other formats, or send them to apps including Apple Notes, Notion, Obsidian, Bear, Craft, and Evernote. Highlights Pro adds advanced exports, OCR and table recognition, citation lookups, Smart Copy, customizations, and power annotation tools, with a 14-day free trial.

## Rankings

- #45,224 — Overall
- #5 — Protect Your PDFs
- #4 — highlighter
- #28 — citation generator

## Review summary

Highlights excels at cross‑device syncing and an efficient reading/highlighting workflow, making it popular for research on Mac and iPad. However, many users balk at the ongoing subscription cost and desire a one‑time purchase. Stability issues like freezes and lost highlights undermine reliability, and essential features such as saving progress, bookmarks, and margins are missing. Overall, solid for annotation but hindered by pricing and feature gaps.

### Pros

- Cross‑device syncing and strong macOS/iPad integration keeps annotations synced across devices.
- Efficient reading and annotation workflow that supports research and note organization.
- User-friendly interface with a smooth basic reading/highlighting experience.
- Widely trusted as the go‑to PDF reader on Mac and iPhone among long‑time users.

### Cons

- Subscription pricing (annual Pro) is a major sticking point; many would prefer a one‑time purchase.
- No handwriting or Apple Pencil support for annotations.
- Frequent stability issues: freezes/crashes and loss of highlights across sessions.
- Missing basic features like saving your place/bookmarks and margins/blank pages (limited page/view options).

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Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1498912833)