Docmend
Add to Chrome
How to collect comments on a PDF with a link
To collect comments on a PDF without emailing copies around, share it by link from a tool that supports commenting. Google Drive lets signed-in people comment on a PDF preview. Adobe Acrobat can create a shared review link. Docmend creates a review link where anyone can select text in the PDF and leave a note without an account, then lets you download the PDF with those notes saved as real PDF comments.
Option 1: Share the PDF from Google Drive
- Upload the PDF to Google Drive.
- Click Share, add people or set the link to Commenter.
- Reviewers open the preview, click the comment button, and drag over the area they want to comment on.
It is free and familiar. Reviewers need a Google account to comment, and the comments stay in Drive. They are not written into the PDF file, so a downloaded copy won’t show them.
Option 2: Send a review link from Adobe Acrobat
Acrobat’s Share button can create a link for a shared review, where reviewers add comments in their browser and everyone sees each other’s notes. What you can send and how many reviews you can run depends on your Adobe plan.
Option 3: Share a review link with Docmend
- Click the Docmend icon in Chrome and choose Upload from computer, or paste a link to the PDF.
- Choose Get feedback, then Create review link.
- Send the link. Reviewers see the real pages, select the words they mean, and leave a note with just their name.
- When the notes are in, click Download PDF with notes.
The downloaded file is your original PDF with each note added as a standard PDF comment on the highlighted text. It opens in Acrobat, Preview, Edge or any other PDF reader, with the reviewer’s name on every note.
How do the options compare?
| Option | Reviewer needs an account | Comments saved in the PDF file | Cost to send |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Drive | Yes, Google | No | Free |
| Adobe Acrobat | Depends on settings | Yes | Depends on Adobe plan |
| Docmend | No | Yes | Free, no limits |
Need a signature rather than comments? See how to get a document signed by a client. It works for PDFs as well as Google Docs.
Got the notes back and want them printed or in a list? See how to export or print PDF comments.
Common questions
Can reviewers change my PDF?
No. The review link is read-only. They can highlight, comment, and approve or sign.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. The review link is a normal web page and works in mobile browsers.
How long does the link stay active?
Until you delete it. You can also switch it to read-only so no new notes can be added.