Techniques are provided for synchronizing comments between a platform-dependent source document and a platform-independent shared document created from the source document. The shared document can accept feedback, edits, annotations, and other comments (all generally referred to herein as comments) from a variety of platforms and collaborators. The comments entered in the shared document automatically become part of, or otherwise become visible from, the source document. In an embodiment, the techniques are implemented as a computer-driven methodology that includes creating a logical link between the source and shared documents. This link is based on unique IDs of the respective documents, and is used to determine that reviewer comments have been made in the shared document. In response to the source document being open on a given source tool, periodic polling for reviewer comments is carried out and any new comments made in the shared document are displayed in the source tool.