A cross-platform handwriting notetaking application with PDF annotation support, designed for digital pen tablets.
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.
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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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.
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.