AxelaNote is a Windows PDF editor from Japanese company TransRecog that uses patented transparent layer technology to let you write on edit-protected PDFs without changing the original file. Unlike Adobe Acrobat, which requires full editing permissions, AxelaNote places a virtual transparent sheet over your PDF so you can annotate documents that block comments, printing, or modifications. The software costs ¥3,900 per year for individual users and targets Japanese construction firms, government offices, and students who work with restricted PDF files.
Most PDF editors hit a wall when you try to annotate a document with security restrictions. AxelaNote solves this by never touching the original file. Instead, it creates a separate layer where your notes, drawings, and edits sit on top. This approach earned TransRecog patents in both the US and Japan, and the company won eight awards, including recognition from Japan’s Ministry of Economy.
What Makes AxelaNote Different from Other PDF Editors
AxelaNote does not compete with full-featured PDF editors like Adobe Acrobat or Foxit. It occupies a narrow lane: writing on PDFs that refuse to let you write on them.
Traditional PDF software modifies the actual document file when you add comments or highlights. If the PDF creator set permissions to block annotations, these tools cannot help you. You would need to print the document, write on paper, and scan it back in.
AxelaNote sidesteps this entirely. The software creates what it calls a transparent sheet that overlays your PDF. Your handwriting, text boxes, and markings appear on screen as if they are part of the document, but the original PDF remains untouched. When you save your work, AxelaNote stores your annotations in a separate .axl file that references the original PDF.
This matters in industries where document integrity is critical. Construction companies receive architectural drawings that they cannot modify. Government offices handle forms with strict formatting rules. Students get lecture slides that they should not alter. AxelaNote lets these users add their notes without breaking the rules.
The transparent layer concept is not just marketing. TransRecog holds US Patent 10,866,996 and Japanese Patent 6717759 for this technology. The company was founded in 2017 as a startup from Tokyo Metropolitan University and has focused exclusively on this problem since its launch.
How the Transparent Layer Technology Works
When you open a PDF in AxelaNote, the software loads the document as a background and creates an empty transparent layer on top. You can write using a mouse, keyboard, stylus, or touchscreen. All input methods work simultaneously.
Your annotations exist only in the transparent layer. The PDF file itself never changes. Check the file properties before and after adding notes, and you will see the modification date, file size, and hash signature remain identical.
Writing on Edit-Protected PDFs
PDF security blocks printing, copying text, or adding comments. AxelaNote ignores these restrictions because it never touches the protected file. Your annotations go on the transparent layer instead.
This creates one limitation: you must keep both files together. The original PDF and the .axl annotation file are separate. When sharing, send both files or export to a new PDF that merges the layers. The export creates a standard PDF that your recipient can view anywhere.
Key Features You Should Know About
AxelaNote includes tools designed for document review and markup. The feature set is intentionally narrow compared to full PDF suites.
Template text function saves commonly used phrases for quick insertion. If you review documents regularly, store standard comments once and reuse them with a click. This helps teams maintain consistent feedback language.
Page management tools merge multiple PDFs or reorder pages. The comparison feature spots differences between two versions of the same document. CSV export pulls text from PDF forms into Excel.
Pen and touch support works across all features. Write with a stylus and erase with your finger like using a whiteboard. The software handles large touch displays for electronic whiteboards in meeting rooms.
AxelaNote Pricing and License Options
AxelaNote offers two licensing models. Both require annual renewal.
User License: ¥3,900 per year
- Tied to your account, not a specific computer
- Install on up to 3 PCs
- Move between devices as needed
- Best for individuals or remote workers
Device License: ¥6,480 per year
- Tied to one specific PC
- Anyone using that PC can access AxelaNote
- Better for shared workstations
- Common in offices with rotating desk assignments
Corporate pricing differs from consumer rates. Businesses should contact authorized resellers for volume licensing. The official TransRecog website does not publish enterprise pricing publicly.
All licenses include a 14-day free trial. You can download the full software and test every feature before paying. The trial does not require a credit card upfront.
Payment methods include credit card and Amazon Pay for consumer purchases. Corporate buyers work through resellers who handle invoicing and purchase orders.
The annual subscription model means you cannot buy AxelaNote once and keep it forever. Your license expires after one year unless you renew. Annotations you created remain accessible in your .axl files, but you need an active license to edit them or create new ones.
Who Actually Uses AxelaNote
TransRecog publishes case studies from several industries. The pattern shows organizations with specific PDF annotation needs that standard tools cannot meet.
Construction and Real Estate: Major developers use AxelaNote for architectural drawings. Multiple companies review the same blueprints, adding notes about changes or concerns. Direct PDF editing creates confusion about who modified what. AxelaNote’s transparent layer approach keeps the original drawing clean while still allowing markup.
Daiwa Lease and Shimizu Corporation both appear in TransRecog’s client list. These companies handle large-scale projects where drawing accuracy is critical. Matsumoto Corporation reported eliminating the print-scan-annotate cycle after implementing AxelaNote.
Government and Public Sector: Local government offices adopted AxelaNote to enable remote work without compromising document security. Many official forms cannot be altered, but staff still need to add processing notes or approval marks.
The Ministry of Defense appears as a client, along with the Mitaka City government. These organizations prioritize data security and cannot risk unauthorized document modifications.
Education: University students use AxelaNote for lecture notes on PDF slides. Professors often distribute presentation files that students should not edit, but everyone needs to add their own annotations during class.
The transparent layer keeps the original slides intact for future reference while allowing students to customize their notes. This separation proved valuable when students needed to review clean slides later without their handwritten additions cluttering the view.
Manufacturing and Business: Dai Nippon Printing and NTT Data Corporation use AxelaNote for document review workflows. Corporate training departments annotate PDF materials for workshops without modifying master files.
Clean room environments in manufacturing benefit because AxelaNote eliminates paper. Workers can annotate procedures on tablets without bringing restricted materials into controlled areas.
AxelaNote vs Adobe Acrobat Pro
Adobe Acrobat Pro costs significantly more than AxelaNote. Adobe’s subscription runs $239.88 per year in the US (roughly ¥35,000), making it 9 times more expensive than AxelaNote’s base price.
Acrobat offers far more features. You can create PDFs from scratch, perform OCR on scanned documents, redact sensitive information, and use advanced security controls. AxelaNote does none of these things.
The comparison becomes relevant only when you need to annotate restricted PDFs. Acrobat respects document permissions. If a PDF blocks comments, Acrobat will not let you add comments. You would need to remove the restrictions first, which requires either the password or specialized software.
AxelaNote does not care about permissions because it never modifies the protected file. This makes it the better tool for one specific task: adding notes to documents you cannot edit.
For most PDF work, Acrobat wins on features and flexibility. For writing on restricted documents without altering the original, AxelaNote offers a simpler and cheaper solution.
Neither tool is objectively better. They solve different problems. If your workflow involves mostly unrestricted PDFs and you need comprehensive editing, choose Acrobat. If you regularly encounter protected PDFs that need annotation, AxelaNote fills a gap that Acrobat cannot.
System Requirements and Limitations
AxelaNote runs exclusively on Windows 10 and Windows 11. No macOS version exists. No mobile apps for iOS or Android are available. This Windows-only limitation eliminates many potential users immediately.
The software works with keyboard, mouse, pen, and touch inputs. Surface devices and other Windows tablets handle it well. You need reasonable hardware specs, but nothing extreme. Any modern Windows PC purchased in the last few years should run AxelaNote without issues.
The interface is available only in Japanese. TransRecog has not released an English version despite some international interest. English-speaking users would need to navigate Japanese menus or use translation tools. This language barrier keeps AxelaNote firmly in the Japanese market.
File compatibility centers onthe PDF format. AxelaNote reads standard PDFs and creates .axl annotation files. The export function produces new PDFs with layers merged. You cannot import Word documents or PowerPoint files directly.
Network and cloud features are minimal. AxelaNote is local software that stores files on your PC. No built-in cloud sync exists. No mobile companion app connects to your desktop version. If you want cloud storage, you need to manage that separately through OneDrive, Google Drive, or similar services.
The transparent layer approach requires keeping two files paired. Lose either the original PDF or the .axl annotation file, and your work becomes incomplete. This is not a technical flaw but a consequence of the non-destructive editing philosophy. You gain document integrity but accept file management overhead.
Is AxelaNote Worth the Cost
AxelaNote makes sense for specific users, not everyone who works with PDFs.
You should consider AxelaNote if:
- You regularly receive PDFs with editing restrictions
- Your work requires adding notes without modifying originals
- You operate inthe construction, architecture, or government sectors in Japan
- You need a low-cost alternative to Adobe for annotation only
- You use Windows and can navigate Japanese software
You should skip AxelaNote if:
- You need comprehensive PDF editing beyond annotations
- You work primarily on macOS or mobile devices
- You require English-language software
- Your PDFs are generally unrestricted
- You need cloud-based collaboration features
At ¥3,900 per year, the price is reasonable for the problem it solves. Users who previously printed, annotated on paper, and scanned documents back in would save time and money. The cost equals about one month of an Adobe Acrobat subscription while focusing on one task instead of attempting everything.
The 14-day free trial removes purchase risk. Download the software, test it with your actual PDFs, and confirm it handles your specific use case before paying. Most users know within a few days whether AxelaNote fits their workflow.
TransRecog built a tool for a particular need rather than chasing features. That focus creates value for the right users and irrelevance for everyone else. The transparent layer technology works as advertised. The pricing is competitive within its niche. The limitations are clear upfront.
Whether AxelaNote is worth your money depends entirely on whether you face the problem it solves. For Japanese professionals dealing with restricted PDFs daily, it fills a real gap. For casual users or those outside Japan, better options probably exist.
