By Jenefey Aaron

Updated on 2024-12-28

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PDF Editor Tips

10 Best Free PDF Editors for Mac: Our Top Recommendations 2025

By Jenefey Aaron

2024-12-28 / PDF Editor

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Looking for a free PDF editor for Mac? You've come to the right place. We’ve tested and reviewed the top free PDF editor software for Mac to find the ones that offer the best features and performance while remaining completely free to use.

Our selection includes apps with essential features like document annotation, editing, and form filling, as well as advanced tools like OCR and document conversion. Whether you're looking for simple editing tools or best PDF editor for Mac, we've got you covered with a variety of free options to suit your needs.

Top Picks

Best Overall: PDNob PDF Editor

PDNob PDF Editor is an AI-powered tool that simplifies PDF editing, organization, and collaboration.

Best for Online Editing: Smallpdf

Smallpdf provides a user-friendly online platform for quick and easy PDF editing tasks.

Best for Annotations: PDFescape

PDFescape offers robust annotation tools, making it ideal for collaborative document reviews.

Best Built-in Option: Preview

Preview is a versatile Mac application that allows basic PDF editing without additional downloads.

Part 1. 10 Best Free PDF Editor for Mac

1. Tenorshare PDNob PDF EditorHOT
2. PDFescape
3. Sejda PDF
4. Smallpdf
5. Preview
6. DocFly
7. ILovePDF
8. PDF24 Tools
9. Hipdf
10. Master PDF Editor

Part 2. FAQs of PDF Editor for Mac

Part 1: 10 Best Free PDF Editor for Mac

1. Tenorshare PDNob PDF Editor

Rating: 4.7/5
Website: PDNob PDF Editor
Platform: Windows/Mac
Price: Free (limited-time offer)

PDNob PDF Editor is an all-in-one free PDF editor for Mac and Windows designed to simplify your document management. With powerful features like OCR for 99% accurate text recognition, eSign functionality, and PDF conversion across 30+ formats, it makes sure precision and speed. Its intuitive interface allows users to edit text, images, watermarks, and more without hassle, making it ideal for professional and personal use.

Key Features of Tenorshare PDNob PDF Editor:

AI-Powered Summarization: Quickly summarize and analyze PDF content using advanced AI technology.
OCR Technology: Convert scanned documents into editable text for easy modifications.
Comprehensive Editing Tools: Edit text, images, layouts, and annotate PDFs with highlights and comments.
Format Conversion: Convert PDFs to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other formats seamlessly.
Enhanced Security: Protect PDFs with password encryption and add watermarks for confidentiality.

Steps to Edit PDFs with Tenorshare PDNob PDF Editor

Open PDNob PDF Editor, then load your PDF by clicking “Open PDF” or dragging the file into the workspace.

Click the “Edit” button on the top toolbar, then select the text you want to modify. A text box will appear, allowing you to change the text, font, style, size, and color.

To add new text, click “Add Text” under the “Edit” section and place it where needed.
To insert images, click the “Add Image” button and choose the image file to add.

Once you have made all the necessary edits, click on the "Save" button in the top left corner.

Pros

AI-powered OCR with high accuracy.
User-friendly interface.
Fast, efficient batch processing.
Completely free (limited-time offer).

Cons

Advanced tools may require a subscription after the trial.
Limited functionality for large-scale editing projects.

2. PDFescape

Website: PDFescape
Platform: Online (Browser-based) and Windows
Price: Free (Online & Desktop Basic), Premium: $3/month, Ultimate: $6/month

PDFescape is a flexible tool offering both online and desktop versions to cater to different user needs. The free online version provides basic PDF editing, form filling, and annotation capabilities directly through your browser.

For more advanced tasks, the desktop versions—available in Free, Premium, and Ultimate editions—offer features such as redaction, password protection, and electronic signatures.

Pros

Free online PDF editor for basic tasks.
Allows PDF creation from various file types.
User-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality.
Desktop versions support advanced features like redaction and bates numbering.

Cons

Free version has ads and limited file size (10MB or 100 pages).
Text editing not supported in free online version.
Premium and Ultimate plans require subscriptions.
Cheaper alternatives are available.

3. Sejda PDF

Rating: 4.2/5
Website: Sejda PDF
Platform: Online (Browser-based), Windows, Mac, and Linux
Price: Free (Limited Usage), Weekly: $5, Monthly: $7.50, Yearly: $63

Sejda PDF offers a polished best free PDF writer for Mac to edit PDFs both online and offline, making it a go-to choice for individuals seeking flexibility and ease of use. It stands out for its security-conscious desktop version, which ensures all processing is done locally on your device.

Whether you need to edit, merge, or sign PDFs, Sejda provides a suite of tools for free and paid users, although its free version comes with notable restrictions.

Pros

Available as both online and desktop versions.
Strong integration with cloud storage services like Dropbox and Google Drive.
Easy-to-use interface with a decent range of editing tools.
Local processing in desktop versions ensures enhanced security.

Cons

Text editing can be inconsistent.
Free version limits you to three tasks per day and files under 50MB or 200 pages.
OCR capability restricted to ten pages in the free version.
Paid plans are subscription-based.

4. Smallpdf

Rating: 4.3/5
Website: smallPDF.com
Platform: Online, Android, iOS, Windows
Price: Free, Paid plans starting from $9/month

SmallPDF is a versatile PDF editor Mac free online that offers a variety of tools for editing, converting, signing, and compressing PDF files. It also provides mobile apps for iOS and Android and a desktop app for Windows. SmallPDF is ideal for users who need quick and simple solutions for PDF tasks, though it might show limitations for complex editing.

Pros

Cloud-based, accessible from any device.
Easy-to-use interface.
7-day free trial.
Fast processing for PDF tasks.
Variety of conversion options.
OCR support.

Cons

No Mac support.
Difficult navigation between tools.
Free plan has limited features.
Customer service issues.
Occasional errors in conversion, especially with complex documents.

5. Preview

Rating: 4.5/5
Website: Apple Preview Guide
Platform: MacOS
Price: Free (Included with MacOS)

Apple Preview is a built-in best PDF editor for Mac. It offers a comprehensive set of tools for PDF markup, form filling, and document protection. While not designed as a full-featured PDF editor for heavy business use, it’s an excellent free tool for most personal and basic business needs, especially for Mac users.

Pros

Free for MacOS users.
Full PDF markup tools (redact, annotate, add signatures).
Password protect and encrypt PDFs.
Easy to combine and reorder pages.
Supports form filling and digital signatures.
Efficient for everyday PDF editing.

Cons

Only available on MacOS.
Limited sharing options.
Lacks advanced features for business-heavy PDF tasks.
No trial for additional features.

6. DocFly

Rating: 4.3/5
Website: www.docfly.com
Platform: Web-based
Price: Annual and monthly subscriptions (recurring)

DocFly (formerly PDF Pro) is a powerful PDF editor Mac free online that provides a comprehensive suite for creating, editing, and converting PDF files. Whether you need to highlight text, add signatures, merge, split, or rotate PDFs, DocFly offers all the essential features.

Additionally, it supports creating PDFs from Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other formats, as well as converting PDFs to Word or images.

Pros

Comprehensive features like PDF editing, conversion, and creation.
Accessible on multiple devices.
No hassle cancellation process for subscriptions.
Fast and user-friendly, even on older machines.

Cons

Slight sluggishness when scanning multiple documents at once.
No negative reviews regarding functionality, but user interface suggestions (like reducing menu size) have been ignored.

7. ILovePDF

Rating: 4.5/5
Website: www.ilovePDF.com
Platform: Web-based, Mobile, Desktop (PC, Mac, Android, iOS)
Price: Free with premium options at $4/month or $48/year

I Love PDF is a versatile, multi-platform online service designed to handle a wide range of PDF manipulation tasks. It offers tools for merging, splitting, converting, editing, and compressing PDFs.

You can also convert PDF files to and from Microsoft Office formats, sign and redact documents, and more. Advanced tools, such as batch processing, offline capabilities, and OCR functionality, are unlocked with a premium subscription.

Pros

Available on web, mobile apps, and desktop.
Simple interface with large icons for easy navigation.
Most features are available at no cost.
Over 25 tools for editing, converting, and merging PDFs.
Premium version offers offline software for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.

Cons

Some features, like batch processing, are locked behind a paywall.
Premium-only tools include OCR and advanced compression.
Ads appear for free users.

8. PDF24 Tools

Rating: 4.7/5
Website: PDF24 Tools
Platform: Web-based, Windows, MacOS, Linux
Price: Free

For a versatile PDF editor for MacBook Air or other platforms? PDF24 Tools is a comprehensive solution offering both online and offline capabilities. With PDF24 Creator for offline use, this tool provides an extensive range of features to handle PDF documents efficiently.

From merging and compressing to signing and editing, PDF24 Tools ensures that your PDF management tasks are effortless. The best part? It’s 100% free with no hidden restrictions, making it accessible to all users.

Pros

Supports online and offline functionalities with PDF24 Creator.
Compatible with multiple platforms, including MacOS, Windows, and Linux.
Secure processing with encrypted file transfers.
No installation required for online use.
Offers a wide range of tools for comprehensive PDF editing and management.

Cons

Relies on internet connection for online tools.
Lacks advanced editing features compared to premium PDF editors.
Offline version (PDF24 Creator) is primarily Windows-focused.

9. Hipdf

Rating: 4.8/5
Website: hiPDF.com
Platform: Web
Price: Free (Premium plans available)

Looking for the best free PDF writer for Mac? HiPDF is an AI-powered online PDF solution tailored to simplify your PDF management tasks. This versatile tool allows users to effortlessly edit, convert, and organize their PDF files.

HiPDF’s robust set of features includes options to summarize, rewrite, merge, split, and compress PDFs. Its integration of AI capabilities makes it a standout choice for those seeking innovative and efficient PDF tools.

Pros

User-friendly interface and intuitive workflow.
Offers a free version with basic features for users.
Includes AI-powered features like PDF summarization and rewriting.
Works across web, mobile, and desktop.

Cons

Optical Character Recognition is available only in the paid plans.
Some tasks require uploading and re-uploading files multiple times.
The AI tools consume tokens, which may require users to subscribe for additional access.

10. Master PDF Editor

Rating: 3.5/5
Website: Master PDF Editor
Platform: Windows, MacOS, Linux
Price: $69.95 (One-time license)

Master PDF Editor, developed by Code Industry, is a versatile and powerful tool for managing PDF documents across Windows, MacOS, and Linux platforms. It offers comprehensive features for editing PDFs, making it an ideal choice for professionals and casual users alike.

For those searching for a free PDF editor Mac OS X, Master PDF Editor provides a trial version to explore its functionalities before committing to its perpetual license.

Pros

Cross-platform support (Windows, MacOS, Linux)
Comprehensive set of editing and annotation tools
Advanced features like OCR and form creation
Trial version available for evaluation
Perpetual license ensures no recurring subscription

Cons

Interface may feel complex for beginners
No cloud-based collaboration options
Lacks native sharing tools

FAQs of PDF Editor for Mac

Does Mac come with a built-in PDF editor?

Yes, macOS includes the Preview app for basic PDF editing tasks.

What is the best free online PDF editor for Mac?

Smallpdf and DocFly are popular choices for free online PDF editing.

What features should I look for in a PDF editor for Mac?

Look for text editing, image manipulation, annotation tools, and OCR capabilities.

Does a PDF editor for Mac support cloud storage?

Many PDF editors support cloud storage integration, allowing you to save and access PDFs from services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud. PDNob PDF Editor and PDF Expert offer seamless cloud syncing features.

Conclusion

Finding a free PDF editor for Mac can significantly simplify your document management tasks. There are several options available, each offering different features to cater to various needs. If you're looking for more advanced editing options, PDNob PDF Editor stands out as a top recommendation.

This tool offers a user-friendly interface, powerful editing features, and seamless performance on Mac, making it an excellent choice. Whether you're a casual user or need more advanced capabilities, PDNob PDF Editor is worth considering.

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