Xournal++
A cross-platform handwriting notetaking application with PDF annotation support, designed for digital pen tablets.
What is Xournal++?
Xournal++ is a cross-platform, open-source handwriting notetaking software with comprehensive PDF annotation capabilities. It is designed for users who need a digital notebook that works with pressure-sensitive styluses and digital pen tablets, offering features like LaTeX support, audio recording, and extensive drawing tools.
Students, researchers, and professionals who take handwritten notes digitally, especially those using pen tablets like Wacom, Huion, or XP Pen devices on Linux, macOS, or Windows.
Developers choose Xournal++ for its robust feature set, active development, and commitment to being a free and open-source alternative to commercial note-taking apps, with strong support for PDF annotation and digital pen input.
Overview
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.
Use Cases
Best For
- Annotating PDF textbooks and research papers with handwritten notes
- Taking lecture or meeting notes with a digital pen tablet
- Writing mathematical notes with integrated LaTeX support
- Creating sketches and diagrams with shape tools and input stabilization
- Recording audio alongside handwritten notes for review
- Using a customizable digital notebook across Linux, macOS, and Windows
Not Ideal For
- Teams needing real-time collaborative note-taking (lacks built-in collaboration features)
- Users who primarily type notes and rarely use a stylus (handwriting is the core focus)
- Mobile-first environments (iOS app unpublished, web app discontinued, Android app stalled)
- Projects requiring embedded PDFs in saved files (PDFs are linked externally, risking loss of background)
Pros & Cons
Pros
Official binaries for Linux, macOS, and Windows, plus package manager and Flatpak support, ensure broad accessibility without vendor lock-in.
Allows direct annotation on PDFs with text selection, highlighting, and link following, making it ideal for academic and professional document review.
Compatible with pressure-sensitive devices from Wacom, Huion, and others, with input stabilization for smoother handwriting and drawing.
Lua scripting enables custom plugins, allowing users to add functionality without modifying the core application code.
Cons
LaTeX integration requires a separate LaTeX installation, which can be cumbersome to set up and maintain, especially for non-technical users.
Mobile app development has stalled, with iOS unavailable on the App Store and the web app discontinued, limiting usability on handheld devices.
.xopp files do not embed PDFs; if the original PDF is deleted, annotations lose their background, and compatibility with the original Xournal is restricted.
Frequently Asked Questions
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