Best Highlight Text Apps

215+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.6 avg rating
18 free apps
Updated May 2026

Every iPhone needs a few good highlight text apps. We benchmark 215+ of them on App Store rating, freshness, and pricing, then surface the standouts so you don't have to scroll the App Store yourself.

Top Picks for Highlight Text

Image to text - Highlighted#1

Image to text - Highlighted by Damir Stuhec

Book highlighter
Editor's Choice
πŸ“š Books
4.8😊(249 ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
Image to text - Highlighted screenshot 1
Image to text - Highlighted screenshot 2
Image to text - Highlighted screenshot 3
Image to text - Highlighted screenshot 4
Image to text - Highlighted screenshot 5
Image to text - Highlighted screenshot 6

Capture, organize, and revisit key passages from your books with advanced text recognition. Create collections, add tags and notes, and easily export your highlights. Stop forgetting what you read and make your reading more impactful.

What We Love

  • πŸ‘ Simple and easy to use
  • πŸš€ Accurate text recognition
  • πŸ’‘ Useful for readers and students
  • πŸ”– Allows organizing highlights by book and tags

Room to Improve

  • πŸ› Issues with text ordering and formatting
  • πŸ” Limited search and filtering options
  • πŸ“± Needs offline support and sync capabilities
Highlights: PDF Reader & Notes#2

Highlights: PDF Reader & Notes by Jonas Myren Ribe

Edit Research Documents/Books
Strong Contender
πŸ“Š Productivity
4.5😐(1.6K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
Highlights: PDF Reader & Notes screenshot 1
Highlights: PDF Reader & Notes screenshot 2
Highlights: PDF Reader & Notes screenshot 3
Highlights: PDF Reader & Notes screenshot 4
Highlights: PDF Reader & Notes screenshot 5
Highlights: PDF Reader & Notes screenshot 6

This app is a fast and lightweight PDF reader designed for research. It allows users to read, highlight, and annotate documents, and then extract this information into organized notes. Advanced features include table data extraction, text recognition, and smart copying of annotations into various formats.

What We Love

  • πŸš€ Great for highlighting and annotating PDFs
  • πŸ” Effective for research and note-taking
  • πŸ“š Useful for academic and professional work
  • πŸ‘ Clean and intuitive user interface

Room to Improve

  • πŸ’° Subscription model is too expensive
  • πŸ› Frequent crashes and bugs
  • πŸ” Limited search functionality
Noteful: Notes & PDF Markup#3

Noteful: Notes & PDF Markup by Noteful Technologies Ltd

Highlight. Write. Learn.
Worth Considering
πŸ“Š Productivity
4.8😊(22K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
Noteful: Notes & PDF Markup screenshot 1
Noteful: Notes & PDF Markup screenshot 2
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Noteful: Notes & PDF Markup screenshot 4
Noteful: Notes & PDF Markup screenshot 5
Noteful: Notes & PDF Markup screenshot 6

This app revolutionizes paperless note-taking on iPad, allowing for handwritten notes, document annotation, and knowledge organization. It offers a fluid writing experience, PDF markup, powerful tagging, and audio recording synced with notes.

What We Love

  • πŸš€ Smooth writing experience
  • πŸ‘ Intuitive and easy to use
  • πŸ’‘ Layers feature
  • πŸ‘ Affordable one-time purchase

Room to Improve

  • πŸ› Occasional crashes or freezes
  • πŸ” No handwriting recognition or search
  • πŸ” Limited text editing options

More Highlight Text apps to explore

4
PDF Expert: Editor & Converter
PDF Expert: Editor & Converter
PDF Expert: Editor & Converter
Edit, Sign, Convert Documents
Free

This app allows you to edit, annotate, fill out forms, and convert PDF documents. It offers AI-powered summarization and analysis, along with tools to merge, sign, and protect your files. Work seamlessly across Apple devices with a user-friendly interface.

Edit PDF text and imagesAnnotate and highlight PDFsFill out PDF forms
πŸ“Š Productivity
(215K)
free with in-app purchases
5
Annotable: Annotation & Markup
Annotable: Annotation & Markup
Annotable: Annotation & Markup
Image Annotation & Markup
Free

This app provides a comprehensive suite of tools for annotating and marking up images. It offers a wide range of customization options for common annotation elements and unique features like text highlighting on screenshots. The app supports various iOS system integrations for a seamless user experience.

Common annotation tools (rectangles, text, arrows)Customizable colors, sizes, and fontsBlur and pixelation for obscuring information
πŸ“· Photo & Video
(894)
free with in-app purchases
6
WorkTime: Shift Work Calendar
WorkTime: Shift Work Calendar
WorkTime: Shift Work Calendar
Job schedule & hours tracker
Free

Easily track your work shifts and hours with this intuitive calendar app. Designed for shift workers, it allows quick entry, schedule visualization, and helpful reminders. Premium features include advanced hour tracking and calendar syncing.

Shift calendar visualizationQuick shift entryShift reminders
πŸ“Š Productivity
(4.6K)
freemium
7
Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF
Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF
Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF
Note taking, canvas & work app
Free

Capture ideas, enhance productivity, and unlock insights with advanced AI features. This app offers tools for professionals, students, and creatives, including infinite whiteboards, AI-powered transcription and summarization, and customizable digital notebooks.

AI-powered transcription and summarizationInfinite whiteboard canvasDigital notebooks with customizable templates
πŸ“Š Productivity
(431K)
free with in-app purchases
8
Typorama: Text on Photo Editor
Typorama: Text on Photo Editor
Typorama: Text on Photo Editor
Typography Art & Poster Maker
Free

Create stunning typographic designs and posters from your text and photos without needing design skills. The app automatically generates unique layouts with various fonts and styles, saving you hours of work. Perfect for social media posts, flyers, and branding.

Automated typographic text layoutsCustomizable text styles and fontsSocial media post creation
πŸ“· Photo & Video
(115K)
free with in-app purchases
9
Highlight Cover: StoryLight
Highlight Cover: StoryLight
Highlight Cover: StoryLight
by Hashone Tech LLP
Free

Enhance your Instagram profile with custom highlight covers. This app offers a vast library of templates, backgrounds, icons, and text options to make your profile visually appealing and attract more followers. Easily customize designs to create a unique and professional look for your stories.

1000+ ready-made cover templatesCustomizable colors, borders, icons, and stickersVariety of backgrounds (floral, marble)
🌟 Lifestyle
(5.6K)
free with in-app purchases
10
Actions: To Do List Organizer
Actions: To Do List Organizer
Actions: To Do List Organizer
Daily Task and Weekly Agenda
Free

Organize your thoughts and tasks with a digital card-based system. Easily create, schedule, and manage to-dos using natural language input and receive timely reminders. Syncs across devices for seamless productivity.

Create Action Cards for remindersNatural language schedulingDrag and drop organization
πŸ“Š Productivity
(9.7K)
subscription
11
Black Highlighter: Redact Text
Black Highlighter: Redact Text
Black Highlighter: Redact Text
Censor & secure screenshots
Free

Easily hide sensitive information in photos and screenshots. The Magic Highlighter automatically detects text and covers it perfectly, ensuring no details are missed. Advanced features allow for automatic redaction of specific information and custom shortcuts for streamlined workflows.

Magic Highlighter for automatic text detectionMultiple color options for redactionImport images from Photos
πŸ“· Photo & Video
(86)
free with in-app purchases
12
Runestone Text Editor
Runestone Text Editor
Runestone Text Editor
Edit plain text and code
Free
$4.99 | 100% OFF

A powerful plain text and code editor for iPhone and iPad. Offers syntax highlighting, line numbers, find and replace, and extensive customization options for developers and writers.

Syntax highlighting for many languagesCustomizable themes and fontsAdvanced find and replace
πŸ› οΈ Developer Tools
(1.3K)
free with in-app purchases
13
Snap Markup - Annotation Tool
Snap Markup - Annotation Tool
Snap Markup - Annotation Tool
Annotate Photos, Images & Pics
$1.99

Easily edit and annotate photos, images, and pictures with a wide array of tools. Add text, shapes, stickers, blur sensitive areas, and magnify details. Save in high quality and share your creations quickly.

Crop and rotate images in various shapesAdd text with customizable stylesPixelate and blur sensitive areas
πŸ”§ Utilities
(3.5K)
free
14
Notability: AI Notes & PDF app
Notability: AI Notes & PDF app
Notability: AI Notes & PDF app
Write, type, annotate, draw
Free

Capture, organize, and enhance your thoughts with a versatile digital notebook. Seamlessly blend handwriting, typing, and multimedia to annotate documents, record lectures, and generate summaries. Ideal for students and professionals seeking to boost productivity and learning.

Handwritten and typed notesPDF and document annotationAudio recording and transcription
πŸ“Š Productivity
(450K)
freemium
15
CiteLighter
CiteLighter
CiteLighter
Highlight Text in Images!
Free

Easily highlight text from images of books or articles. Capture text from photos or screenshots and emphasize key passages by blurring the surrounding content.

Highlight text from imagesCapture text from photosCapture text from screenshots
πŸ“š Books
(29)
free
16
MyScript Notes: AI Handwriting
MyScript Notes: AI Handwriting
MyScript Notes: AI Handwriting
Smart note taking, PDF & study
Free

Transform handwritten notes into editable text with advanced AI. Brainstorm on an infinite canvas, annotate PDFs, and create structured documents. Supports 66 languages and works across devices.

AI handwriting recognitionInfinite canvas for brainstormingPDF annotation
πŸ“Š Productivity
(38K)
free with in-app purchases
17
You Doodle - draw on photos
You Doodle - draw on photos
You Doodle - draw on photos
Create, edit and share art
Free

Easily draw on photos, create memes, and design custom art with a vast array of tools. Add text, shapes, layers, and even blend images. Supports stylus input and integrates with iMessage for quick edits.

Draw on photosAdd text and shapesWork with layers
πŸ“· Photo & Video
(28K)
free with in-app purchases
18
Vont - Text on Videos
Vont - Text on Videos
Vont - Text on Videos
Video & Typography
Free

Easily add text to your videos with a vast selection of fonts and extensive customization options. Adjust size, color, gradients, strokes, shadows, and even create curved text. Install your own fonts for ultimate creative control.

Over 400 fonts availableInstall custom fontsChangeable text size, color, gradient, stroke, shadow, and background
πŸ“· Photo & Video
(17K)
free with in-app purchases
19
Auto Highlight for Safari
Auto Highlight for Safari
Auto Highlight for Safari
Add highlight to web page
$2.99

This Safari extension allows you to highlight text on any web page. You can customize the highlight color, size, and position, and save the highlighted page as an image.

Highlight any text on web pagesAutomatic highlight creationAdjustable highlight color
πŸ“· Photo & Video
(4)
paid
20
Text Capture: Image to Text
Text Capture: Image to Text
Text Capture: Image to Text
Extract text from photos
Free

Easily extract text from your camera in real-time. This app allows you to edit, copy, share, or listen to captured text. It functions entirely offline, ensuring your data remains private.

Real-time text capture from cameraOffline functionalityEdit captured text
πŸ“Š Productivity
(2.7K)
free with in-app purchases