Free Universal Annotator
Use the new Windows and Mac app to open PDFs and supported file types, draw, highlight, add text, stamp, sign, and save annotated output.
New Free Universal Annotator for Windows and macOS.
Draw, highlight, and explain anything on your screen.
PenSlide now includes Free Universal Annotator for Windows and Mac, so you can open supported files, mark PDFs, add notes, and explain your screen during live work.
Windows 10 and 11
macOS 11 or later
- Annotates PDFs and files
- Built for presentations
- Screenshot capture included
New apps
PenSlide Free Universal Annotator is here.
Open supported files, mark them with PenSlide tools, and save a clean annotated PDF. You can download it for Windows and macOS.
Portable or installer
Download the single EXE when you want a quick start, or use the setup package when you prefer an installed Windows app.
Free PDF Annotator guide
Read the new practical guide to learn how PenSlide helps with PDFs, screenshots, meetings, lessons, and training material.
Classic screen annotation
PenSlide still works as a lightweight screen drawing tool for presentations, remote support, online teaching, and tutorials.
Features
Everything you need to explain faster.
This free screen annotation tool gives you the essential pens, shapes, and capture tools to mark your screen clearly without slowing down your work.
Draw anywhere
Use the pen tool to write directly over any app, website, or presentation.
Highlight important areas
Mark text, buttons, diagrams, and slides while presenting live.
Pointer & arrow tools
Guide attention with cursor, arrows, and simple shapes.
Screenshot capture
Capture marked screens and save visual notes quickly.
Undo and clear
Fix mistakes instantly or wipe the screen with one click.
Color & thickness control
Pick the right color and pen size for every explanation.
Presentation friendly
Designed for teachers, trainers, webinars, and product demos.
Lightweight & fast
Opens quickly, uses very little memory, and stays out of the way.
Who it's for
Built for people who explain things on screen.
Whether you teach, train, record tutorials, or help users remotely, Penslide keeps your explanation clear and visual.
Teachers
Mark up lessons live and walk students through key ideas.
Online tutors
Highlight every step on screen during one-on-one sessions.
IT support
Mark buttons, errors, and settings while guiding users through fixes.
YouTubers
Add clean overlays and pointers to every tutorial recording.
Product trainers
Run live demos with clear callouts on every feature.
Remote teams
Annotate shared screens during standups and reviews.
Students
Take visual notes on lectures, readings, and study materials.
Webinar hosts
Keep your audience focused on exactly the right spot.
App preview
A simple toolbar that stays where you need it.
Penslide keeps the tools close without covering your work. Pick a pen, draw an arrow, highlight a detail, capture the screen, and continue.
Desktop mode
Click through Penslide and use your desktop normally.
Pen P
Freehand drawing on top of any window.
Highlighter H
A transparent marker for emphasis.
Rectangle R
Drag to draw a clean box around a region.
Laser pointer L
A red dot follows your cursor.
Eraser E
Remove individual strokes.
Undo Ctrl+Z
Roll back the last stroke.
Clipboard
Copy the marked screen ready to paste.
Current PenslideFree.exe button list
These labels match the current toolbar buttons and tooltips.
PenSlide logoOpen penslide.com
Collapse / expandCollapse / Expand toolbar
CloseClose PenSlide
Desktop / mouse modeDesktop mode - click through to desktop
PenPen - freehand drawing P
HighlighterHighlighter - transparent marker H
RectangleRectangle - drag to draw a box R
CircleCircle - drag to draw an oval or circle C
ArrowArrow - drag to draw an arrow A
Laser pointerLaser Pointer - red dot follows cursor L
EraserEraser - remove strokes E
UndoUndo last stroke Ctrl+Z
ClearClear all drawings from screen
Screenshot with drawingsScreenshot with drawings - save to Desktop S
Save drawings onlySave drawings only as transparent PNG
Copy to clipboardCopy screen with drawings to clipboard
Delete / resetDelete everything and reset canvas
Thin penThin pen 1
Medium penMedium pen 2
Thick penThick pen 3
Blue colorBlue
Red colorRed
Emerald colorEmerald
Amber colorAmber
White colorWhite
Light Gray colorLight Gray
Custom colorPick a custom color
Universal app preview
Open files, annotate pages, and save marked PDFs.
The new PenSlide Free Universal Annotator gives you a document workspace with page previews, drawing tools, text, stamps, signatures, colors, and export options.
PDF
Why Penslide
Simple by design.
Penslide shouldn't feel like a heavy whiteboard suite. It's a small tool that does one job well, turning your screen into a clear, calm canvas.
- No account needed
- No complicated setup
- No bloated interface
- Works over your existing screen
- Designed for live explanation
- Clean, modern toolbar
Opens in under a second
A small executable, ready when you need it.
Sits on top, gets out of the way
Toggle the overlay anytime, your apps keep running.
Tools you actually use
Pen, highlight, arrow, shapes, screenshot. Nothing extra.
Free, forever
No paywalls, no upsells, no signup.
Chrome extension
Use PenSlide directly inside Chrome web pages.
PenSlide Browser Annotator lets you draw, highlight, erase, add arrows and shapes, write notes, and save annotated screenshots directly from Chrome.
Add PenSlide Browser Annotator
Chrome Web Store
Version 1.0.1
187KiB
English (UK)
Get started
Download the new PenSlide apps.
Download PenSlide Free Universal Annotator for Windows or macOS, choose the Windows installer package, or get the classic apps.
Download Free Universal
Windows 10
Windows 11
macOS 11+
Portable
Lightweight
Compare
Why use Penslide instead of heavy whiteboard apps?
Most screen-drawing apps are bloated whiteboard suites. Penslide is a small floating toolbar that gets out of the way.
No account required
Download, run, draw. Nothing to sign up for.
Opens fast
A small portable app that's ready in under a second.
Works over your current screen
Annotate browsers, slides, IDEs, and anything on your desktop.
Simple floating toolbar
One slim panel. No tabs, no canvases, no complicated menus.
Built for live explanation
Designed for presenting, teaching, and walking someone through.
Free to use
No paywalls, no upsells. Penslide is free to use.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Everything you might be wondering before you download.
What is Penslide?
Penslide is a free screen annotation tool, screen annotator, and desktop annotation tool for Windows and Mac. It runs as a small floating toolbar that sits on top of your screen, so you can draw, highlight, and mark anything on your desktop.
Is Penslide screen annotation software?
Yes. Penslide is screen annotation software for live desktop work. It includes pen, highlighter, rectangle, circle, arrow, laser pointer, eraser, undo, clear, screenshot, clipboard, color, and pen thickness tools.
Is Penslide free?
Yes. Penslide is available as a free tool, with no paid tiers or in-app purchases.
Do I need an account?
No. Penslide works without account creation. Download, run, and start drawing.
Can I use it during presentations?
Yes. Penslide is designed for slides, tutorials, webinars, and live screen explanations. It overlays your existing slideshow without interrupting it.
Can I take screenshots?
Yes. Penslide includes screenshot and clipboard tools so you can save or paste your marked screens instantly.
Does it work over any app?
Penslide runs as a screen overlay, so it works over websites, documents, slides, and desktop software.
Is there a portable version?
Yes for Windows. The Windows version is a portable EXE with no installer. The Mac version is provided as a DMG for macOS 11 or later.