〉17+ Best Mac PDF Editors Compared (2024)

Best free PDF editing software for Mac

Let's start with the free Mac PDF editing software that you can use to edit PDF documents.

1) Soda PDF.

Soda PDF is one of the best PDF editing software for Mac. It works well on other operating systems as well. You can use the tool on the website or download the application to edit PDF documents. It allows you to edit, delete, or add existing text. You can also use it to fill out a PDF form and sign the PDF document.

Follow the steps below:

Go to the Soda PDF website
Create an account or log in
Click on Online Tools
Select the PDF editor
Click on Choose File
Upload the PDF file you want to edit
Click on Edit
Start editing your document

2) Preview.

Preview is an application built into the Mac that allows you to perform numerous functions without having to download an external application. Without a doubt, it is the best PDF editor for Mac.

Follow the steps below:

Go to the overview.
Click on the pen tip icon to launch the markup toolbar.
To permanently remove text from your view, use the Redact Selection option - the blackened square icon.
To add a shape with a single stroke, use the sketch option. If your drawing corresponds to a standard shape, this shape will replace it.
Use shapes to add a shape to your PDF.
To add text, select the T icon. Type your text and drag the text box to where you want it.
Tap Sign to add your signature to a PDF document.
Save your document

3) QuickLook.

When macOS was updated to Mojave in 2018, it gave users the ability to edit PDFs on QuickLook.

For editing, follow these steps:

Select the PDF you want to edit.
Press the space bar to start previewing the file.
At the top right of the preview, click the pencil icon.
This will launch the editing tool. Click on the text tool marked T to get the text box.
Place the text box where you want to add the text.
Select formatting options by clicking on the dropdown list next to the letter A.
To sign the document, click on the Signature menu.

Click Done to save changes

4) Inkscape.

Inkscape allows you to easily edit the text in a PDF.

Follow the steps below:

Start Inkscape
Go to the files.
Select Open.
Click on the PDF file you want to edit.
Click on open.
Check the box next to the Import text as text option.

The texts will be in an editable box
Double-click where you want to edit the PDF.
Make the changes
Go to Files and save your document.

5) Skim.

Skim extends the capabilities of Mac's Preview. Originally, it was intended for displaying and scoring scientific articles and that is what it does best. You can edit PDFs on Mac easily with Skim.

Follow the steps below to edit the PDF:

Download and install Skim
Start the application
Go to files
Select Open
Go to the PDF file you want to edit
Click on Open
Click on the pencil icon to add text to the PDF.
Add text to the text box
Move the text box to where you want the note to be placed.
Save the file

You can also highlight a section or underline it using the Skim tool.

6) LibreOffice.

The LibreOffice suite has an option called LibreOffice Draw that you can use to edit PDFs on Mac.

Refer to the steps below:

Start LibreOffice Draw
Go to file
Select Open
Select the document you want to edit
Click on Open
Click where you want to add text and start typing.
To add a new page, right-click in the left panel and select New Page.
To add content, go to Insert and select the type of content you want to insert.
To save the document, click File, select Export As, click Export as PDF.

7) PDF Expert.

PDF Expert is considered to be one of the best PDF editing software for Mac because it can automatically detect the font, opacity, and size of the original text.

Here's how you can edit PDFs with PDF Expert:

Start PDF Expert
Open the file you want to edit
Go to the Edit option
Select text

Tap where you want to add the text or highlight the fragment you want to edit.
In the edit option, choose Redact to hide the information you want to hide.
To add a link to your PDF, click the link icon, highlight the part of the text you want to add a link to, select the destination of the link to the web or to the page, and add the link.

Paid PDF editor for Mac

1) Adobe Acrobat DC.

Price:

Acrobat Pro DC: $14.99/mo
Acrobat Standard DC: $12.99/mo

Where there is PDF, there is Adobe Acrobat. You should talk about Acrobat as soon as you talk about PDFs. It is one of the best free PDF editing software for Mac.

Follow the steps below:

Select the file in the finder.
Control-click on the file.
Go to the Open with option.
Select Adobe Acrobat DC.
Click on Edit PDF.
Use the tools to add text or images, edit text or images, change fonts, resize images, add a watermark, or annotate.
Save your document

2) FineReader Pro.

Price:

FineReader PDF 15 Standard: $199 one-time payment
FineReader PDF 15 Corporate: $299 one-time payment
FineReader PDF for Mac: $129.99 in a single payment

FineReader Pro allows you to edit any PDF on Mac, including scanned documents, as easily as with a text editor.

Right-click on the PDF file you want to edit.
Click Open with.
Select FineReader Pro
Go to PDF Tools.
Click Edit

Fine Reader will prepare your PDF for editing.
Select the text in the paragraph or table cell that you want to change.
To adjust the formatting, select the text you want to format and click the text formatting tools.
To resize or rotate a paragraph, image, or table, adjust the square marks on the border or corners of the paragraph, image, or table.
Once you're done, you can save or share the document.

3) PDFpen Pro.

Price: $129.95

You can add texts, signatures, and images to the PDF document on Mac with pdfPen Pro.

The steps are:

Go to files
Select Open
Navigate to the PDF you want to edit
Select it and click Open
Go to the view
Click on Show edit bar

Click on the selection tool and click and drag your mouse over the words you want to select.
Choose your layout in the edit bar.
To write, go to the menu, select the format, click on Write text.
You can delete or darken the text.
To replace text, you can use the Find and Replace option.
To edit the text, go to the toolbar, click the arrow next to the Annotate button, select the Text tool, click anywhere on the PDF to add a text box, type your text, move the box to where you want to put the text.
To insert shapes, select the Drawing Tools option in the toolbar.
To add an image, select the Insert button in the toolbar.
When finished, you can save the document by clicking Shift+Command+S.

4) Mac Pro PDF Editor.

Price: Single license: $29.95

PDF Editor Mac Pro is a software that allows Mac users to edit PDFs, such as adding text, images, watermarks, etc.

The steps include:

Open the PDF on PDF Editor Mac Pro.
To delete text, click on the eraser.
To add text, click Add Text and draw a text field.
To format text, go to Fonts and select Color to change the font color.
Select Add Image to insert an image into the PDF and create the image field to insert the image, then select the image you want to insert.
Click Save PDF to save the changes.

Online PDF editor for Mac

If you're not a fan of apps, online PDF editing software for Mac is your best bet. Here are a handful ofonline tools for editing PDFs on Mac.

1) Smallpdf.

Price: Free

Smallpdf is one of the best online tools for editing PDFs across platforms.

Follow the steps below:

You can drag and drop your file onto the SmallPDF or go to the website and select the file you want to edit.
To add text, click the Text icon and click where you want to add text.
To highlight, select the highlight icon, that is, the thicker pencil with a dropdown menu.
To add a drawing, select the thinner pencil icon.
Click on the Image icon to add the image to the PDF.
When you're done, click on the Download option.

2) Sejda.

Price:

Web week pass: $5 for 7 days
Web Monthly: $7.50 per month
Desktop+Web Yearly: $5.25 per month billed annually

Sejda is the most effective tool for working with PDFs. There are lots of things you can do with PDFs on Sejda, including editing.

Follow the steps below:

Go to the website and download the PDF you want to edit.
Click Text and click where you want to add the text. You can also access the formatting tools while adding text.
To insert links, click on the Links option and select the area where you want to insert the link.
Select Forms to fill out non-interactive forms.
Click the Images icon to add new images to the PDF file.
To add a signature, select the Sign option.
To redact a set of texts, click on “whiteout.”
You can use the Annotate option to highlight, cross out, underline, etc.
When you're done, click Apply Changes at the bottom of the page.
Download or share the PDF.

3) EasePDF.

EasePDF is a versatile online PDF editor that meets all of your PDF editing requirements. It is highly compatible with all browsers, allowing you to meet your PDF editing needs anytime and anywhere.

Follow the steps below to edit the PDF:

Go to EasePDF.
Move your mouse over “Tools” and it will show the entire menu of tools it supports, including Convert to/from PDF, Edit PDF, Organize PDF, and PDF Security.
Click on “Edit PDF” You can upload files from the computer, GoogleDrive, Dropbox, onedrive and URL. It also supports the drag and drop function.
Tap the area you want to add text to, or click to move the text box. You can make words bold and italicized, underline them, and change the size or color of the text.
Add images to enrich the content.
Add shapes to highlight relevant text.
Create your own signature and place it in an appropriate location.
Save your document

Conclusion

Editing PDFs is no longer an impossible task on Mac. There are lots of tools that you can use, whether paid or free. There are also websites that allow you to edit PDF documents.

However, the best solution is to use the Mac's built-in applications. However, if they don't do the trick, try using online tools. They save you the time and space needed to download and install applications. And yet you get a flawless job.

FAQs

How do I edit a PDF on Mac for free?

You can use Mac's built-in apps, like Preview and Quicklook, to edit text free of charge any PDF on Mac. You can add text, images, a signature, or remove information from the PDF using these applications. Additionally, you can also use websites like Sejda and Small PDF or opt for free applications like Inkscape, LibreOffice, etc. to edit PDFs on macOS for free.

Can I make a PDF editable?

Yes, you can easily use Adobe Acrobat or other PDF editing tools to make the necessary changes to your PDF. These applications are particularly useful if you need to fill out a PDF form that cannot be edited.

Can I make a PDF editable without Acrobat?

You can do that. There are several online tools and sites that allow you to easily edit a PDF document without Acrobat. You can use Inkscape, PDF Expert, FineReader Pro, etc. Or you can use a Small PDF to make your PDF editable online.

Can I convert PDF to Word for free ?

In general, the programs you use to edit the PDF allow you to save the document in any file format. However, you can also use Google Drive to save your PDF in Word.

Launch Google Drive, click on the plus sign, select download file. Upload the PDF file you want to convert. It will open in Google Doc format. Now go to File and select download. Select the.docx format.

Can I convert a PDF into an online form for free?

You can use JotForm to convert a PDF into a fillable form for free. Go to the website and sign in using your Google account or email address. Go to the fillable PDF forms and select Convert PDF to a fillable form. Upload the PDF file you want to convert and personalize it. When you're done, click publish and then click the PDF button to download the file.