12 Best PDF Editor For Mac In 2024 [PAID And FREE]

Complete stepwise instructions on how to use the best paid and free PDF Editor for Mac to help you edit PDF documents effortlessly:

PDF is a widely used file format and being able to work with them efficiently is important. For editing PDF on Mac, you can either use an online conversion service or use a Mac PDF Editor.

Although online PDF editors Mac have a distinct advantage and they are free, you can’t always rely on them because of poor connection or no network.

So, if you need to edit PDF on your Mac, we have a handful of options for you here. This tutorial enlists free and paid PDF editors for Mac.

PDF Editor Mac Review

We have reviewed free, paid as well as online PDF Editors for Mac in detail along with stepwise directions on how to use them-

Free PDF Editor Mac

Let’s start with the free Mac PDF editors that you can use to edit PDF documents.

#1) Qoppa PDF Studio

Best for A plethora of advanced features for PDF editing.

PDF Studio supports most operating systems, including macOS. Users can download its trial version for free (with limited features) or purchase its complete version, which is a lot more affordable than its competitors.

Qoppa Software’s PDF Studio is an advanced PDF editor with great features such as the ability to create PDFs, scan documents to PDFs, convert PDFs from multiple file formats such as Word & Excel, add markups or annotations to documents, digitally sign documents, automate PDF tasks, and much more!

Follow the steps below:

• Launch PDF Studio on your Mac Device.
• On the “Welcome Screen”, select whether to upload a new document, open a recent file, create a new PDF document, etc.

• Once opened, go to the Toolbar situated at the top of your PDF Studio Window.
• Here, you’ll see options to Select Text, Select-Object, Highlight Text, Edit Text, Images, Edit Content, etc.

• Choose your preferred action and start editing.

Features:

• Scan-to-PDF
• Create PDF
• Advanced PDF Splitting and Merging
• Annotate PDFs
• Create Watermarks, Footers, and Headers

Pros:

• Works with Windows, Mac, and Linux systems.
• Reasonable one-time fee
• User-friendly interface
• Substantial PDF creation and editing features.

Cons:

• The user guide is difficult to navigate.

Verdict: If you are looking for an easy-to-use PDF editor that’s jam-packed with features, then you’ll find plenty to admire in Qoppa’s PDF Studio. It has a simple UI and can be purchased for a reasonable one-time fee.

Price:

• PDF Studio Standard: $99 as a one-time fee
• PDF Studio Pro: $139 as a one-time fee
• Free trial with limited features.

#2) UPDF

Best for AI-integrated full suite of PDF managing features.

UPDF is the one-stop PDF editing solution you will ever need for Mac, also available for iOS, Windows, and Android. It is a full-featured PDF Editor that supports viewing, annotating, editing, converting, signing, protecting, and organizing PDFs. Additionally, UPDF allows you to create PDFs, fill PDF forms with form field recognition, convert scanned PDFs with OCR, and much more.

What sets UPDF apart is its AI integration, which lets you directly interact with PDFs, condense lengthy documents, translate PDFs in any language, and explain intricate data.

How to use UPDF for Mac:

• Launch UPDF on your Mac.
• Now, click “Open Files” to open your PDF document. You can also create PDF from other file formats or start with a blank page by clicking on the “File” menu.

• Once your file is opened, you can access all the PDF editing tools from the left and right toolbars.
• Select your desired tool and start editing your PDF.

Features:

• Read, edit, and annotate PDF
• Convert PDF to and from various Office and image file formats.
• OCR-based conversion of scanned PDF.
• Built-in AI assistance
• Compress PDF
• Fill and sign PDF forms
• Redact and protect PDF

Pros:

• User-friendly interface
• Cross-platform support
• Cloud storage for sharing and accessing files
• Direct PDF interactions with AI assistance
• Batch processing multiple files

Cons:

• Limited features with the free version.

Verdict: UPDF offers one-stop management of PDF files without requiring any tech expertise. Additionally, you can use a single license to access it on 4 devices at once, making it a cost-effective PDF solution.

Price:

• UPDF Pro Yearly Plan: $29.99 billed annually
• UPDF Pro Perpetual Plan: $49.99 one-time fee

#3) pdfFiller

Best for All-in-one PDF Processing.

With pdfFiller, you get an all-in-one cloud-based PDF processing solution that comes with a ton of built-in PDF editing features. This basically means you’ll be able to convert any PDF document into an editable file in three simple steps.

The solution also facilitates seamless collaboration, which essentially means that you and your team will be able to collaborate on a particular PDF file remotely. You can easily turn a PDF file into a fillable form as well. Besides this, pdfFiller also support custom branding. You can add a digital signature, your own company’s logo, etc. to personalize a particular PDF file.

How to Use pdfFiller to Edit PDF Files

1. Upload a PDF Files from your computer or create one from scratch in pdfFiller.

2. Once done, you’ll be directed to an editing interface with access to a ton of tools to edit the PDF file. Here, you can add text, highlight elements, annotate the file, and do a lot more.

3. Once done, simply download your edited PDF File or share it with your colleagues

Features:

• Built-in editing tool
• E-sign PDF File
• Securely collaborate on documents
• Document Management
• PDF File personalization

Pros:

• Great interface
• Easy to use
• Cross-platform solution
• Feature-rich

Cons:

• Customer support isn’t as responsive as we would like it to be, especially if you are subscribed to the basic plan.

Verdict: pdfFiller is affordable and easy to use. You don’t need to be technically adept to use this tool for PDF editing. That is its biggest USP. Besides PDF editing, you can use the tool to perform other imperative PDF processing tasks as well.

Price: There are three subscription packages offered by  pdfFiller (all billed annually). They are as follows:

• Basic Plan: $8/month
• Plus Plan: $12/month
• Premium: $15/month

#4) Soda PDF Online

Soda PDF is one of the outstanding PDF editors for Mac. It works equally well across other Operating Systems. You can use its website tool or download the app to edit PDF documents. It allows you to edit existing text, redact, delete, or add 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 sign in
• Click on Online Tools
• Select PDF editor
• Click on Choose File
• Upload the PDF file you want to edit
• Click on Edit
• Start Editing your Document

#5) LightPDF

Best for Comprehensive Suite of Basic and Advanced editing features.

With LightPDF, you get a cross-platform PDF editor that works just as well on Mac as it would on any other operating system. It comes loaded with features that make editing considerably simple. Everything from adding text and images to annotating and highlighting content on a PDF document can be done with a single click using LightPDF.

Besides editing, LightPDF also comes with other very crucial PDF processing features. You can use this software to convert a PDF file into multiple formats within minutes. Plus, the software also facilitates high-quality PDF compression.

Follow the steps below:

• Launch LightPDF on your Mac System.
• On the blank Interface, click “Upload”.

• After uploading the document onto LightPDFs dashboard, Double click on it to open the editing interface.

• You now have access to a ton of editing tools that you can use to add texts, images, rotate a PDF file, highly content, remove content, annotate, comment, etc.

• Once done, simply hit the ‘Download’ icon available on the top right-hand side corner of the interface.

Features:

• Compress PDF
• Scan PDF with OCR
• Annotate PDF
• Convert PDF Files

Pros:

• Clean and user-friendly interface
• Supports file recognition in 20 languages
• Multi-platform support

Cons:

• You can only use the tool for free via its web version.

Verdict: LightPDF is an all-in-one PDF editor that we would recommend not just for Mac but also for Windows, iOS, and Android devices. It is easy to use, incredibly fast, and secure in its ability to process and store your PDF documents.

Price:

• Free Web App Edition
• Personal: $19.90 per month and $ 59.90 per year
• Business: $79.95 per year and $129.90 per year

#6) DocHub

Best for Web-based PDF Editing.

DocHub is an online platform that allows you to edit and annotate a PDF file in a couple of simple steps. You’ll be able to add text, comments, highlights, and more to your PDF file without hassle with this software. You are also provided with fillable templates, which you can use to create a PDF file from scratch. 

Besides this, the software serves as a great e-signature tool. You can use the tool to type, draw, or upload your signature onto a document. Sharing and collaboration is another area where the software shines. You’ll be able to set roles and permission, which allow and restrict who get to view or edit the document. 

Follow the steps below:

• To get started, simply upload your PDF documents. 
• The document will open in the DocHub editor.

• From the toolbar present above, you can now add texts, signature, comments, and more to your PDF document. 
• Once done editing, you can save, share, or export the file.

Features:

• Annotate PDF File
• E-Sign PDF
• Add fillable fields
• Merge Documents
• Add comments

Pros:

• Free to use
• Industry leading compliance assurance
• Google Integrations

Cons:

• The support needs to be more responsive

Verdict: Easy to use and brimming with advanced features, DocHub is a powerful web-based PDF editor that can be used anywhere and from any device to edit, sign, comment, or create a PDF document. 

Price: The software is free to use. The pro version costs $14/month. You also get a 30 day free trial.

#7) Jotform

Best for Automatic PDF Document creation.

Jotform is a platform you can use to easily create custom PDF files online. The platform takes any form responses you feed it and instantly converts it into a professional secure PDF document. The platform also offers you numerous PDF templates so you can customize your documents as per your wishes.

How to use Jotform:

• Upload Document to Jotform
• If the document is not PDF, Jotform will automatically convert it into that format
• Finally, you’ll be able to share, print, download and edit the resulting PDF online.

Features:

• Online form creator
• PDF templates
• Automatic PDF form creation
• Easy file sharing

Pros:

• High customization
• Free to use
• Readymade template library

Cons:

• Functionality not meant for PDF editing

Verdict: If you want a simple online platform that you can convert your forms into PDF files and then allow you to edit them online, then Jotform is for you.

Price:

• Forever Free Plan available
• Bronze: $39/month
• Silver: $49/month
• Gold: $129/month

#8) Preview

Preview is an in-built app on Mac that allows you to carry out a lot of functions without having to download an external app. It is without a doubt the best pdf editor for Mac.

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Follow the steps below:

• Go to Preview.
• Click on the Pen tip icon to launch the Markup toolbar.
• To remove a text permanently from your view, use Redact Selection option- the blackened square icon.
• To add shape in a single stroke, use the sketch option. If your drawing matches a standard shape, that shape will replace it.
• Use shapes for adding a shape to your PDF.
• For adding text, select the T icon. Type your text and drag the text box where you want it.
• Tap on Sign to add your signature to a PDF document.
• Save your document.

#9) QuickLook

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

For editing, follow these steps:

• Select the PDF you want to edit.
• Press the spacebar to launch the preview of the file.
• In the top right section of the preview, screen click on the Pencil icon.

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• It will launch the editing tool. Click on the text tool marked T to get the text box.
• Arrange the text box where you want to add the text.
• Select formatting options by clicking the drop-down box beside the A.
• To sign the document, click on the Signature menu.

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• Click on Done to save the changes

Further Reading => A Detailed Review of UPDF – TOP PDF Editor

#10) Inkscape

Inkscape allows you to easily modify text in a PDF.

Follow the steps below:

• Launch Inkscape.
• Go to Files.
• Select Open.
• Click on the PDF file you want to edit.
• Click open.
• Check the box beside Import text as text option.

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• 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.

#11) Skim

Skim extends the capabilities of Mac’s Preview. Originally, it was meant for viewing and notating scientific papers and that’s what it does best. You can edit PDFs on Mac easily with Skim.

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Follow the steps below to edit PDF:

• Download and install Skim
• Launch the app
• Go to Files
• Select Open
• Go to the PDF file you want to edit
• Click Open
• Click on the Pencil icon to add text to the PDF
• Add text to the text box
• Move the text box where you want the note to be.
• Save the file

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

#12) LibreOffice

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

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Refer to the below steps:

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

#13) PDF Expert

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

Here’s how you can edit PDF with PDF Expert:

• Launch PDF Expert
• Open the file you want to edit
• Go to the Edit option
• Select Text

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

#14) Setapp

Best for Access to a Comprehensive suite of Mac-exclusive PDF editing tools.

Imagine getting access to multiple PDF processing tools for your Mac on a monthly subscription of only $9.99/month. Well, that’s what you get with Setapp. Setapp provides you with a plethora of options when it comes to Mac and iPhone-exclusive PDF editing tools.

You have a PDF squeezer that allows you to compress PDF files in just a few steps. You also have tools like Nitro PDF Pro that come jam-packed with features to offer a complete PDF editing experience to users. You can highlight text, annotate a PDF file, redact content in PDF files, and do a lot more with these apps in your arsenal.

For editing, follow the steps below:

• Sign up and Subscribe to Setapp’s monthly subscription plan.
• Once done, go to its App gallery and search for PDF editors.
• You’ll be greeted with certain interest options.
• Download and install the app of your choosing.
• Open that app on your Mac device and start editing with the tools granted to you by the app.

#15) PDFLiner

Best for Quick and Easy PDF Editing.

PDFLiner is a fantastic web-based PDF editor that anyone can use… be it a casual user or technical professional. The software comes with a user-friendly editing interface that’s loaded with features. You are immediately presented with a toolbar that allows you to add text, images, highlight content, redact text, and sign a PDF document with just a single click.

Besides editing, you can also use this software to convert a PDF file into an image format. Moreover, the software is also exceptional at password encrypting a PDF file. Its flexible pricing is also a very compelling aspect. You can buy and start using this software with almost all of its features for a price that is as low as $9/month.

Further Reading => List of the BEST Must Have Mac Apps

How to Edit PDF on Mac using PDFLiner:

• Open PDFLiner on your Mac’s Browser
• On the home page itself, upload a PDF file that you wish to edit.

• This will take you to the editing interface
• Here, you can perform a plethora of editing functions by simply clicking on the designated icons available to you on the top toolbar.

• After editing is done, simply hit the ‘Done’ button and choose to either download the file or share it online via email.

Features:

• Advanced PDF Editing Features
• PDF Conversion into JPG and PNG
• PDF Splitting
• Annotate PDF

Pros:

• Very easy to use
• Flexible pricing
• Stores your files in a secure cloud database

Cons:

• Can only convert PDF into JPG or PNG format.
• Need to pay to download a file onto your system

Verdict: PDFLiner does what a user-friendly PDF editor for Mac should. In just a few easy steps, you can edit your PDF file in multiple ways. Besides editing, you can also rely on PDFLiner for other useful PDF processing functions.

Price:

• Free 5 days Trial
• Basic plan costs $9/month
•  Pro plan costs $19/month
•  Premium plan costs $29/month

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. We have to talk about Acrobat whenever we are talking about PDF. It is one of the best free Mac PDF editors.

Follow the below steps:

• 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 watermark, or annotate.
• Save your document.

#2) FineReader Pro

Price:

• FineReader PDF 15 Standard: $199 onetime payment
• FineReader PDF 15 Corporate: $299 onetime payment
• FineReader PDF for Mac: $129.99 onetime payment

FineReader Pro allows you to edit any PDF on Mac, including scanned documents as easy as editing in a text editor.

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

• Fine Reader will prepare your PDF for editing.
• Select the Paragraph or Table Cell Text to start editing.
• To adjust the formatting, select the text you want to format and click on the text formatting tools.
• To resize or rotate a paragraph, image, or table, adjust the square marks at their border or corners.
• After you are 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.

Steps are:

• Go to Files
• Select Open
• Navigate to the PDF you want to edit
• Select it and click on Open
• Go to View
• Click Show Editing Bar

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• Click on Select Tool and click and drag your mouse over the words you want to select.
• Choose your formatting from the editing bar.
• To redact, go to Menu, Select Format, click on Redact Text.
• You can delete or blacken out the text.
• To replace a text, you can use the Find and Replace option.
• To edit text, Go to the Toolbar, click on the arrow beside the Annotate button, select Text Tool, click anywhere on the PDF to add a text box, type your text, move the box where you want to put the text.
• To insert shapes, select the Draw tools option from the Toolbar.
• To add an image, select the Insert button in the Toolbar.
• When you are done, you can save the document by clicking Shift+Command+S.

#4) PDF Editor Mac Pro

Price: Single License: $29.95

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

Steps include:

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

Online PDF Editor for Mac

If you are not an app person, online PDF editors for Mac are your best option. Here are a handful of online tools for editing PDF on Mac.

#1) Smallpdf

Price: Free

Smallpdf is one of the best online tools to edit PDFs across all platforms.

Follow the steps below:

• You can drag and drop your file on the SmallPDF or go to the website and select the file you want to edit.
• To add the Text, click on the Text icon and click where you want to add the text.
• To highlight, select the Highlight icon, i.e, the thicker pencil with a dropdown menu.
• For adding a drawing, select the thinner pencil icon.
• Click on the Image icon to add the image to the PDF.
• When you are done, click on the Download option.

#2) Sejda

Price:

• Web Week Pass: $5 for 7 days
• Web Monthly: $7.50 per month
• Desktop+Web Annual: $5.25 per month billed annually

Sejda is the most efficient tool for working with PDF. There’s a lot you can do with PDFs on Sejda, including editing.

Follow the steps below:

• Go to the website and upload the PDF file you want to edit.
• Click on Text and click where you want to add the text. You can also access the formatting tools while adding the text.
• To insert links, click on the Links option and select the area where you want to insert the link.
• Select Forms for filling out the non-interactive forms.
• Click on the Images icon to add new images to the PDF file.
• For adding signature, select the Sign option.
• To redact a bunch of texts, click on whiteout.
• You can use the Annotate option for highlights, strikeout, underline, etc.
• When you are done, click on Apply Changes at the bottom.
• Download or share the PDF.

#3) EasePDF

EasePDF is an all-around online PDF editor that meets all your requirements for PDF editing. It’s highly compatible with all browsers so that you can solve your PDF editing needs at any time and anywhere.

Follow the steps below to edit the PDF:

• Go to EasePDF.
• Move your mouse to “Tools” and it will display the entire tool menu that 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 feature.
• Tap the area you want to add text to or click to move the textbox. You can make the words bold and italic, underline them and change the size or color of the texts.
• Add images somewhere to enrich the content.
• Add shapes to highlight relevant texts.
• Create your own signature and put it in a proper position.
• Save your document.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Editing PDFs is no more an impossible task on Mac. There are numerous tools you can use, both paid and free. There are some websites that also allow you to edit PDF documents.

However, using Mac’s inbuilt apps is the best option. However, if they don’t do the job, try using online tools. These save you the time and space of downloading and installing the apps. And you get the work done flawlessly nonetheless.