BEST free PDF editor for Mac that'll still make sense in 2026

As a content creator, I know firsthand just how crucial it is to have the right tools for your workflow. When it comes to working with PDFs, having a reliable PDF editor is non-negotiable. Whether you're editing reports, collaborating on client proposals, or making essential tweaks, the right tool makes all the difference. After testing multiple options and dealing with everything from simple annotations to complex OCR tasks, I'll share the best PDF editors for Mac that can streamline your workflow and make document management easier.

Decision framework: finding your perfect PDF solution

When I struggled with choosing between dozens of PDF editors, I developed this simple framework based on actual workflow needs:

Best PDF editor for basic annotation and viewing

Your pain point: "I just need to review documents and add occasional comments." 

Solution: Apple Preview (free) handles this perfectly. I use it daily for client feedback and quick signatures. No need to overcomplicate.

Best PDF editor for text editing and professional features

Your pain point: "I need to edit contract text directly without converting to Word."

Solution: Nitro PDF Pro or Adobe Acrobat. When I'm editing legal documents or proposals, Nitro's direct text editing saves me hours of back-and-forth conversions.

Best PDF editor for document digitization and OCR

Your pain point: "I have stacks of paper documents to digitize." 

Solution: ABBYY FineReader Pro for accuracy, or Nitro PDF Pro for an all-in-one solution. You can successfully digitize entire filing cabinets using ABBYY's iPhone scanning feature.

Best PDF editor for occasional online editing

Your pain point: "I edit PDFs maybe once a mont.h" 

Solution: SmallPDF or iLovePDF work well for non-sensitive documents. Just remember — these are web-based, so never upload confidential files.

Key decision factors to consider:

• Primary goal: Simple viewing, annotation, text editing, or OCR?
• Skill level: Beginner (Preview), Moderate (Nitro), Advanced (Adobe)
• Budget: Free, one-time purchase, or subscription?
• Security needs: Local processing vs. cloud-based?
• Integration requirements: Must work with existing Mac workflows?

Comparison table: Best PDF editors at a glance

If you need to make a quick decision, here are my favorites and their features. For a more detailed review, keep scrolling:

Let’s compare!		Editing	OCR	Notes	Encryption	Cloud storage	Monthly price
Nitro PDF Pro		✓	✓	✓	✓	✕	Part of Setapp
Apple Preview		✓	✕	✓	✕	✕	Free
LibreOffice		✓	✕	✕	✕	✕	Free
ABBYY FineReader Pro		✓	✓	✕	✕	✕	$5.75 (charged $69/year)
SmallPDF		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	$12
Adobe Acrobat Pro		✓	✓	✓	✓	✕	$19.99
iLovePDF		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	Free (limited); $9

Additional handy PDF tools 

App	Best for	Notable features	Monthly price
Skim	Simple file annotation	Excellent annotation capabilities	Free
PDF Search	Searching across multiple PDF files	Related term search, typo prediction	Part of Setapp*
PDF Squeezer	Reducing PDF file size	Up to 90% size reduction, effective for image-heavy files	Part of Setapp*
PDF Pals	Embedding AI into PDF files	Chat with your PDF, answers questions about content	Part of Setapp*

*Setapp is a platform with 260+ apps for macOS, iOS, and web, all for a single monthly fee. Try it free for 7 days.

Complete guide to 8 essential PDF editors for Mac users

Now, let’s take a closer look at each app from my list.

Nitro PDF Pro for comprehensive PDF management

Nitro PDF Pro is the app that currently opens PDF files by default on many of our colleagues' computers — and for good reason. It's like a comprehensive toolbox: you might not remember every feature, but it has everything you need for both simple fixes and complex projects.

Nitro PDF Pro is best for: Mac-based content creators, legal professionals, and business owners who value the Apple ecosystem and need comprehensive PDF capabilities without Adobe's complexity. Ideal for collaborating on contracts, proposals, and documentation requiring frequent text edits and annotations.

Problems Nitro PDF Pro solved

• Direct text editing frustration: When you receive last-minute contract changes, you can edit text directly in the PDF without converting to Word and back, saving 15-20 minutes per document.
• OCR accuracy issues: Scanned documents become fully searchable and editable with 99%+ accuracy, even with mixed fonts and layouts.
• Collaboration chaos: Track comments by author, add voice annotations for clearer feedback, and organize revisions without email chains.

Nitro PDF Pro’s feature benefits

With Nitro PDF Pro, you can easily edit, convert, annotate a file (and track comments by author), record audio notes, rearrange pages, add an electronic signature, and more. 

The OCR feature recognizes text in scanned documents within seconds, letting you select, edit, and change fonts directly — a capability missing from many competitors. Voice annotations eliminate lengthy written explanations, while the signature tool creates legally binding documents without printing.

A Setapp user shared their experience: “This PDF Editor is a fine replacement for Adobe Acrobat without the insane system requirements! I have found it to be more than capable of any editing needs. It has Text-To-Speech built in, too! This is for the visually impaired or if you want to listen to a book. Nitro uses all voices available on a Mac, unlike most alternatives.”

Nitro PDF Pro’s strengths:

• Direct text editing without conversion — actually works as advertised
• Processes large files (100+ MB) without freezing or crashing
• Local processing ensures document privacy and security

"I’m always working with drafts, contracts, research, and Nitro PDF Pro has become my go-to. I can edit, sign, merge, and even convert files without worrying about messing up the layout. It just makes handling documents way less annoying", shares Olha Novitska, content writer, expert iOS and Mac app reviewer at Setapp.

Nitro PDF Pro’s limitations:

• No cloud storage integration for cross-device sync

Using Nitro PDF Pro in your workflow

Nitro integrates seamlessly with macOS. I've created shortcuts that automatically OCR and rename scanned receipts for expense tracking. Pair it with PDF Search to search across multiple PDFs using related terms and typo prediction — invaluable when you can't remember exact phrasing. If you have tons of PDF files on your Mac, PDF Search doesn't rely on your exact query. It checks for related terms and multiple combinations of terms, predicts possible typos, and more.

Pricing info on Nitro PDF Pro

Part of Setapp subscription: $9.99/month for 260+ Mac apps, including Nitro PDF Pro. Free 7-day trial includes full functionality.

Apple Preview for built-in simplicity

Preview is a built-in app from Apple and is entirely free. But don't take it for granted — it's surprisingly capable for basic PDF tasks and remains my go-to for quick annotations.

Preview is best for: Mac users who primarily view PDFs and add occasional comments, students marking up reading materials, and anyone needing basic PDF functionality without installing additional software.

Problems Preview solved

• Quick annotation needs: When reviewing documents, you can highlight, underline, and add notes instantly without launching heavy software.
• Sensitive information exposure: The redaction tool permanently blacks out confidential data with one click — crucial for sharing contracts.
• File sharing limitations: Built-in compression can reduce file sizes for email attachments or for quicker sharing. 

Preview’s feature benefits

For starters, Preview is the only app you'll need if all you do is view files and add the occasional comment. There's no point in searching for a more sophisticated or advanced tool. Preview also handles basic page management: reorder, rotate, delete, or combine PDFs through simple drag-and-drop.

Second, there are still some hidden gems in Preview. For example, the button for redacting text is always at your fingertips. Also, there are handy sticky notes. The text written on them is not visible until you unfold them. It's convenient and doesn't clutter the file with long, sloppy comments.

Preview’s strengths:

• Zero learning curve — if you can use Mac, you can use Preview
• Instant loading, even for large files under 50MB
• Deep macOS integration with Quick Actions and Markup

Preview’s limitations:

• Impossible to edit text — you'll need to convert to another format first
• Occasionally freezes when processing heavy files
• Limited OCR: Can embed recognized text in scanned PDFs (via Export > Embed Text in recent macOS) to make them searchable, but no advanced or real-time OCR for complex layouts/fonts.

Using Preview in your workflow

Here’s an idea, based on my typical research workflow: I download PDFs, highlight key passages with color-coding (yellow for quotes, blue for references), add sticky notes with my thoughts, and export highlighted sections to Notes app. 

The only thing that can get in the way of working in Preview (and in other editors, to be honest) is the file size. It's a real thorn in the side when it comes to sharing — at least because email attachments are limited to 25MB. 

So, for files that can freeze Preview, you can first compress them with PDF Squeezer — it reduces file size by up to 90% for image-heavy documents.

Here are the results of our shrinking test with PDF Squeezer (medium compression):

• A PDF with mostly text: 63 MB → 44 MB (30% reduction)
• A PDF mainly containing images: 63 MB → 2 MB (96% reduction)

Pricing info on Preview

Completely free — included with every Mac. No subscriptions, no limitations, no ads.

LibreOffice for comprehensive document editing

LibreOffice's interface may look dated at first glance, but don't let that fool you — it packs solid functionality under the hood. This free PDF editor for Mac offers more than meets the eye.

LibreOffice is best for: Budget-conscious Mac users needing a full office suite, nonprofits requiring free software, and those who work with multiple document formats beyond PDF within the Apple ecosystem.

Problems LibreOffice solved

• Format conversion headaches: Convert between PDF, Word, Excel, and dozens of other formats without online tools or subscriptions.
• Complex document creation: Build forms, flowcharts, and technical documents with integrated drawing tools.
• Budget constraints: Get professional features without monthly fees — crucial for students and startups.

LibreOffice's feature benefits

LibreOffice is an office suite that works with many extensions, and PDF is just one of them. Here, you can edit and format text, highlight or underline separate fragments, or even insert a 3D shape (in case you need a torus or half-sphere figure in your paper). 

The suite includes word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, databases, and formula editing — all with PDF export capabilities. Draw component creates technical diagrams that export cleanly to PDF.

LibreOffice's strengths:

• Completely free forever with no feature restrictions
• Opens virtually any document format from the last 30 years
• Extensive customization through extensions and templates

LibreOffice's limitations:

• Interface feels dated compared to modern Mac apps
• A major inconvenience is limited and less convenient annotation — text highlighting, underlining, or precise markup often requires manual workarounds (e.g., callouts, speech bubbles, or drawn overlays), which can clutter the layout compared to dedicated PDF tools.

Using LibreOffice in your workflow

LibreOffice works offline and saves locally, perfect for sensitive documents. While it lacks cloud sync, combine it with iCloud Drive for backup. For better PDF annotation after creating documents, export to Preview or Nitro PDF Pro.

Pricing info on LibreOffice

100% free and open source. No premium versions, no ads, no data collection. Donations accepted but not required.

ABBYY FineReader for Mac for OCR excellence

After testing numerous OCR tools, ABBYY consistently delivers the highest accuracy and language support I've encountered. After digitizing thousands of pages for various projects, ABBYY remains unmatched for accuracy and language support.

ABBYY FineReader is best for: Mac-based lawyers digitizing case files, researchers working with historical documents, multilingual businesses, and anyone converting paper archives to searchable digital formats.

Problems ABBYY FineReader solved

• Paper document chaos: Transform filing cabinets into searchable digital archives with close to 100% accuracy.
• Multilingual recognition: Process documents in 190+ languages, including Gothic fonts from 1800-1920.
• Mobile scanning workflow: Scan with iPhone camera and process directly on Mac — no scanner needed.

ABBYY FineReader’s feature benefits

ABBYY FineReader Pro recognizes texts in natural, artificial (such as Esperanto, Ido), and formal (C/C++, Pascal, chemical and mathematical formulas, etc.) languages. It works with multilingual files and even understands documents printed in Gothic (Fractur) between 1800 and 1920. 

The iPhone scanning integration sends camera images directly to your Mac for immediate processing. Batch processing handles hundreds of pages automatically with customizable output formats.

ABBYY FineReader’s strengths:

• Industry-leading accuracy even with poor quality scans
• Recognizes tables and maintains formatting almost perfectly
• Processes handwritten notes with high accuracy

 A Redditor says, “On pure ocr (not text to speech), the one that is considered the best is Abbyy finereader I would say.”

ABBYY FineReader’s limitations:

• Limited PDF editing beyond OCR functions
• Trial recognizes only 100 pages within 7 days

Using ABBYY FineReader Pro in your workflow

My friend recently digitized a client's 20-year paper archive: connected an iPhone, photographed 500+ pages, sent to Mac via ABBYY, batch-processed overnight with automatic language detection, and exported as searchable PDFs organized by date. What would take weeks to finish manually was finished in two days.

ABBYY exports to multiple formats (PDF, Word, Excel, ePub), maintaining original formatting. Combine with PDF Pals to chat with your newly searchable documents — ask questions and get AI-powered summaries of content. Imagine your PDF can talk — and chat with it!

Pricing info on ABBYY FineReader for Mac

$69/year. No monthly plan for Mac users.

SmallPDF for cloud-based processing

SmallPDF isn't really an editor but rather a collection of specialized tools for working with PDFs. In the online app, you select one of dozens of options, upload a file, and complete the task. Recently, they also added a desktop app, but many still perceive SmallPDF as an online service.

SmallPDF is best for: Remote Mac users needing access from any device, teams collaborating across platforms, and users who prefer cloud storage over local files. 

SmallPDF’s feature benefits

The platform offers 30 specialized tools: compress, merge, split, rotate, convert (to/from Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), e-sign with legal validity, password-protect with 256-bit encryption, and more. 

OCR that supports 25+ languages makes scanned PDFs searchable and editable.

When scrolling through Reddit, I noticed a few comments regarding a free trial that isn't truly free. One Redditor shared their experience: “I used it, and the software itself worked as it should. I will say if you do the 'free' 7-day trial, don't be shocked if they charge you, even if you cancel within the 7-day window. The good news is, it's only $12, but still annoying.”

SmallPDF strengths:

• Process files from any device with internet
• No software installation required for basic tasks
• Automatic file deletion after 1 hour for privacy

SmallPDF limitations:

• Multiple tasks require downloading and re-uploading files repeatedly
• Must be online to work

Using SmallPDF in your workflow

The pros? You get your particular job done quickly. Cons? If you have two or more tasks (for example, splitting pages and OCR), editing becomes a mess. You do the first stage of editing, save the file, and then move on to the next stage.

Pricing info on SmallPDF

$12/month or $108/year. Free tier allows 2 tasks per day. Be cautious with free trial — users report charges even after canceling within 7 days.

Skim for academic annotation

Skim is a basic Mac PDF reader, and it probably wouldn't be on this list without its excellent annotation capabilities that make it indispensable for academic work.

Skim is best for: Mac-based students reviewing course materials, professors grading papers, researchers organizing literature reviews, and legal professionals reviewing case documents.

Problems Skim solved

• Annotation chaos: All notes display in a sidebar for instant navigation without page scrolling.
• Note organization: Export annotations as separate text files for reference documents.
• Academic workflow: Integration with LaTeX and BibTeX for citation management.

Skim’s feature benefits

Every change you make to a file and every note you add, is displayed in the right pane. You can quickly jump through notes without searching through pages. 

Skim supports a wide range of annotation types: highlights, underlines, strikethroughs, text notes, anchored notes, circles, boxes, and freehand drawings. The reading bar helps track your position in lengthy documents. Presentation mode turns PDFs into slideshows with transitions.

If you're checking student work, reviewing articles, drafting legal agreements, etc., this tool may become one of your favorites.

Skim’s strengths:

• Exceptional note organization and navigation
• Lightweight app that launches instantly
• AppleScript support for automation

Skim’s limitations:

• No OCR capabilities for scanned documents
• Cannot edit PDF text or structure

Using Skim in your workflow

For complex tasks, like research, you need to open 10+ papers simultaneously in tabs. Skim can manage it. Highlight key findings in different colors (let’s say, for research, methodology in green, results in yellow), add anchored notes with your analysis, then export all annotations to a single text file for your research notes.

Pricing info on Skim

Completely free and open source. No premium version exists.

Read also:

Problems Adobe Acrobat Pro solved

• Compliance requirements: Meet industry standards for legal, medical, and government documents.
• Complex form creation: Build interactive PDFs with calculations, validations, and database connections.
• AI-powered efficiency: AI assistant summarizes documents and answers questions in chat format, and assists with tasks — with expanded access and features in paid plans.

Adobe Acrobat Pro’s feature benefits

Acrobat Reader does it all: recognizes, edits, merges, splits, encrypts, e-signs, redacts, and more. An AI assistant can summarize content, answer questions about a file in a chat format, and perform tasks based on the file. 

Advanced security includes certificate-based signatures, encryption standards compliance, and detailed permission controls. The preflight tool checks documents against industry standards before printing.

For professionals who need comprehensive features and can justify the $24 monthly cost, Acrobat Reader remains the industry standard. If you want roughly the same functionality but at a lower price and with a simpler interface, check out Nitro PDF Pro.

Adobe Acrobat Reader Pro’s strengths:

• Most comprehensive feature set available
• Industry-wide compatibility guaranteed
• Regular updates with cutting-edge features

Adobe Acrobat Pro’s limitations:

• Expensive at $24/month for individual users
• Recent performance issues — One user remarked, “The latest update is TERRIBLE, making Acrobat almost unusable due to performance issues. Don't put AI into your software without proper testing; this app is bogging ass.” And yes, this was just one of the milder comments.

Using Adobe Acrobat Pro in your workflow

Deep integration with Creative Cloud apps means seamless workflows from InDesign to PDF. Document Cloud provides version control and collaboration. Mobile apps sync across all devices with full functionality.

Pricing info on Adobe Acrobat Pro

• Basic Reader is free but severely limited. 
• Acrobat Standard: $12.99/mo (annual, billed monthly) for simple PDF tools for editing and converting documents. 
• Acrobat Pro: $19.99/mo (annual, billed monthly) for a highly secure PDF & e-signature solution with advanced tools to edit, convert, protect, and sign documents.
• Acrobat Studio: $24.99/mo (annual, billed monthly) and includes a complete set of PDF tools, PDF Spaces, Acrobat AI Assistant, and Adobe Express Premium.

iLovePDF for occasional online editing

iLovePDF is an online service for those who need to edit PDF files once in a blue moon. The website includes several individual tools for specific tasks.

iLovePDF is best for: Casual Mac users with infrequent PDF needs, people on shared computers without admin rights, and quick one-off tasks with non-sensitive documents.

Problems iLovePDF solved

• Software installation barriers: Edit PDFs on any computer without downloads or IT approval.
• Occasional use waste: Avoid paying for software you use twice a year.
• Cross-platform needs: Works identically on Mac, PC, Linux, or Chromebook.

iLovePDF’s feature benefits

The platform offers 25+ tools: merge, split, compress, convert, rotate, unlock, watermark, page numbers, repair corrupted files, and more. No registration required for basic tasks. Batch processing handles multiple files simultaneously. The mobile app provides core functionality on the go. Files process quickly — most tasks complete in under 30 seconds.

But remember that every time you use this service, you upload files to the internet. This makes it unsuitable for sensitive documents like insurance records, banking information, or employment contracts. This is definitely not a place for sensitive documents.

iLovePDF’s strengths:

• Completely free (though limited) for basic tasks
• No software installation or updates needed
• Simple interface anyone can use immediately

iLovePDF’s limitations:

• Privacy concerns with uploading documents online
• Has a file size cap on the free tier

Using iLovePDF in your workflow

iLovePDF works great for public documents like resumes, flyers, or presentations. Upload travel itinerary PDF, merge with hotel confirmations, compress for email, download combined file — all in 2 minutes without installing anything. 

For anything confidential, use local tools like Preview or Nitro PDF Pro instead. 

Pricing info on iLovePDF

Free tier: limited number of tasks per day and limited file size. Premium: $9/month or $60/year for unlimited tasks.

Additional PDF tools to enhance your workflow

PDF Search for finding information across files

When you have hundreds of PDFs scattered across your Mac, finding specific information becomes a nightmare. PDF Search solves this by searching all your PDFs simultaneously, using AI to find related terms, predict typos, and understand context. It's saved me hours when searching through research papers and contracts. 

PDF Squeezer for file compression

Email attachments limited to 25MB? PDF Squeezer reduces file sizes by up to 90% while maintaining readability. Perfect for sharing large documents without cloud storage. I use it daily for client deliverables. 

PDF Pals for AI-powered analysis

PDF Pals lets you chat with your PDFs. Ask questions, get summaries, or extract specific information — it's like having an assistant who's read every document. Invaluable for research and document review. 

Key takeaways: choosing your PDF solution

After extensive testing, here's what matters most:

1. Start with your actual needs: Don't pay for features you won't use. Preview handles 70% of typical PDF tasks for free.
2. Consider your workflow: If you're all-in on Apple ecosystem, Preview plus specialized tools might beat one expensive app.
3. Security matters: For sensitive documents, avoid online tools. Local processing with Nitro PDF Pro or Adobe ensures privacy.
4. OCR is specialized: If you need it, get ABBYY or ensure your chosen editor includes it (like Nitro).
5. Subscription fatigue is real: Mac users increasingly prefer one-time purchases or bundles like Setapp over individual subscriptions.

The best PDF editor isn't necessarily the most expensive or feature-rich — it's the one that fits seamlessly into your Mac workflow. Start with Preview for basics, add specialized tools as needed, and consider Setapp for accessing multiple PDF tools without subscription chaos.

Ready to transform your PDF workflow? Try Nitro PDF Pro through Setapp's 7-day free trial, together with 260+ other apps, including PDF Search, PDF Squeezer, and PDF Pals.

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