Annotate PDFs on iPad with semantic colors
Highlyt works in Safari on iPad with full highlighting, color-coding, and search. Your annotations sync across all devices. No App Store download required. The best PDF annotation experience for iPad readers who want their highlights to carry meaning.
How it works
Three steps to get started
Open in Safari on iPad
Visit highlyt.app in Safari and sign in. No app download needed. The web app is optimized for touch: tap to select text, choose a color, and add notes with the on-screen keyboard.
Highlight with touch
Tap and drag to select text, then tap a color to highlight. The touch-optimized interface makes annotation feel natural. Add notes, change colors, and link highlights all with touch gestures.
Sync across all devices
Highlights you make on iPad sync instantly to your desktop, laptop, and phone. Start annotating a paper on your couch, continue at your desk. Everything stays connected.
Who it's for
Built for how you actually read
Study on the couch, review at your desk
Read and highlight textbook chapters on iPad during your commute. When you sit down to study, all your semantic highlights are waiting on your laptop with full search and graph access.
Annotate papers anywhere
Review PDFs during conferences, in the library, or between meetings. Your color-coded annotations and linked ideas sync to your desktop where you can build your literature review.
Read and annotate non-fiction on iPad
The iPad's screen is perfect for reading. Highlyt adds what Apple Books doesn't offer: semantic colors, cross-document linking, and the ability to feed your reading directly to Claude or ChatGPT.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best PDF annotation app for iPad?+
Highlyt is a PDF annotation tool for iPad that goes beyond simple highlighting. It offers semantic color-coding (you define what each color means), a knowledge graph linking ideas across documents, and MCP server integration for Claude and ChatGPT. It works in Safari with no App Store download.
Do I need to download an app?+
No. Highlyt is a progressive web app (PWA) that works in Safari on iPad. You can add it to your home screen for an app-like experience. No App Store download required.
Do highlights sync between iPad and desktop?+
Yes. All highlights, notes, color definitions, and knowledge graph links sync in real-time across all your devices. Annotate on iPad, search on desktop, connect to AI from anywhere.
Is the touch experience good?+
Yes. The interface is optimized for touch interaction. Text selection, color picking, note entry, and highlight management all work with standard touch gestures. Minimum touch targets meet Apple's 44pt accessibility guidelines.
Your next book deserves better than a yellow highlighter
Every book and paper you read builds your knowledge. Highlyt makes sure none of it gets lost. Start your free trial and turn scattered highlights into a connected, searchable, AI-ready knowledge base.