User-friendly interface Extensive editing options. Cloud integration. Available to download directly from the Mac App Store, PDF Reader Premium from Kdan Software is one of the most powerful and popular PDF management tools for Apple computers. It functions as a file manager, file converter and page editor. Available to download directly from the Mac App Store, PDF Reader Premium from Kdan Software is one of the most powerful and popular PDF management tools for Apple computers. It functions as a file manager, file converter and page editor. The best PDF reader apps do more then just open files, providing a variety of navigation, annotation, and cloud storage functions to provide a full spectrum of document features. Voted the best PDF reader in a previous Hive Five, PDF-XChange is a lightweight, fast PDF reader with a long feature list, including page markup, exporting the document or pages to images, text.
The PDF Reader for the Connected World. Foxit Reader is the PDF Reader which enables you to become part of the connected world. Provide authors with comments on documents, be notified when new document versions become available, discuss interesting topics right in the document, or securely open protected documents.
Best PDF reader for Mac
Read on for our detailed analysis of each app
While it's easy to open PDF's these days, with most browsers and even office suites offering some form of built-in PDF reader, often it's not enough to simply be able to read a PDF.
The Portable Document Forum (PDF) was originally developed by Adobe in the early 1990's, as a way to share documents between users with different operating systems. Additionally, because it couldn't be edited, that meant the document's integrity could be preserved.
The problem for users nowadays is that PDF's now commonly form user agreements which require signing. On top of this, collaborative working means that having to convert PDF files into native documents for editing and then back again just isn't practical.
Therefore it helps to have a PDF reader that has extended features for editing and e-signing.
However, the prevalence of Windows PCs means that sometimes Apple Macs can seem left behind, especially with the continued development of macOS as an app platform.
We've therefore highlighted the best in PDF readers for the Mac, not least where additional features will allow macOS users to do more with the PDF files they have.
- We’ve also highlighted the best free PDF readers
- Want your company or services to be added to this buyer’s guide? Please email your request to [email protected] with the URL of the buying guide in the subject line.
1. PDF Reader Premium
PDF Reader Premium
User-friendly interface
Cloud integration
Available to download directly from the Mac App Store, PDF Reader Premium from Kdan Software is one of the most powerful and popular PDF management tools for Apple computers. It functions as a file manager, file converter and page editor.
With the software, you can easily edit PDF files by adding freehand writing, text boxes, sticky notes, hyperlinks and annotations. And to ensure that important documents don’t get mixed up, you’re able to label them by adding tags and color-coding. What’s more, to keep track of all your saved files, you can make use of an import history feature.
The app works with iCloud, too, meaning you can back up and access saved documents on an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. There’s even compatibility with Dropbox, so you can easily import documents from devices that run on other operating systems.
Overall, you should find the app smooth and quick to use. It’s powered by a proprietary rendering engine, which aims to ensure that large files are processed and loaded without any lag. Currently, the app costs $59.99 (£42), although there is a free version that you can try before you purchase.
2. Apple Books
Apple Books
Free to use
Organize PDFs into collections
Apple Books is more than just an app for reading novels-at the heart of Apple Books is the ability to read and organize PDF files. The only stipulations is that they must be DRM-free, which makes it somewhat limited by comparison to some of the more dedicated readers featured here.
However, as a simple PDF reader Apple Books-formerly iBooks-does the job exactly as it needs to. Better still, it's bundled for free with iOS 12 so if you're already up to date with the upgrade cycle then the chances are you already have it but perhaps didn't know it can be used to read PDFs as well as novels and a range of document formats.
The one limitation Apple Books has that some of the other apps here don't have is that it can't be used for editing, anotating, or creating PDF files. However, as we're only focused on PDF readers in this piece Apple Books is still a wworthy and necessary inclusion. Even still, there are other apps available in the App Store that can provide expanded functions for manipulating PDF files, if required.
3. Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
Adobe’s own heavyweight offering
Acrobat Standard DC$12.99
Acrobat Pro DC$14.99
Many powerful features
Track changes to a PDF
Adobe not only invented the trusty PDF document in the first place, but the company has also created some top-notch apps to manage them. Acrobat Pro DC is a great example, and it supports both Windows and Mac devices. The software allows you to create, edit and convert PDF files with ease.
Whether you happen to be using a desktop PC, laptop or tablet, Acrobat lets you turn any paper document into a PDF file. You just have to snap a photo of the piece of paper and upload it to Adobe’s platform, then you can subsequently edit it. Acrobat also lets you convert PDFs into any Microsoft Office file format, preserving all fonts and formatting.
Thanks to integration with Excel, you can even edit data in scanned tables, making it easier to edit and analyze financial data. Just like Kdan Software’s PDF Reader Premium, you can keep track of the changes you and your colleagues make to PDF documents.
Acrobat is capable of detecting the differences between two versions of the same PDF, too. You can sign up for a business plan for £15.17 a month, which gives you the option to add more team members in the future.
4. PDF Expert
PDF Expert
Easy-to-use dashboard
Works with iPad Pro and Apple Pencil
PDF Expert is a robust and easy-to-use solution for managing business documents. And with a four-and-a-half star rating in the Mac App Store, it seems to be one of the most popular options out there for Mac users. The software gives you the ability to read, edit and annotate PDF documents from a central dashboard.
One of the great things about PDF Expert is that it’s fast and slick to use. Thanks to smooth scrolling and a fast search function, you can quickly find what you’re looking for across multiple PDF files.
This app lets you edit images, text and links, plus the software can automatically detect fonts, size and opacity of writing. Plus, if you happen to own an iPad Pro and Apple Pencil, you can add annotations and notes to documents on-the-go. Like most PDF apps out there, PDF Expert comes with a free download option, but the app for iPad/iPhone costs $9.99 and includes in-app purchases, while the version for Mac costs around $100 for 3 Macs.
5. PDFelement
PDFelement 6 for Mac
Multiple editing options
Extensive fonts
Wondershare has developed a Mac version of the popular PDFelement app, which is positioned as an easy way to edit PDF documents. It gives you the tools to add text, images, links, backgrounds, watermarks, headers and footers to PDF documents.
The software provides an extensive selection of PDF editing options. Not only can you add text to documents, but you can also tweak the font type, size and style. There’s the ability to rotate, extract, replace and crop images too.
PDFelement is a great option for teams in particular, with powerful collaborative capabilities, letting you add sticky notes, comments, text boxes and more. And you can use the tool to fill out business documents such as contracts and tax forms. PDFelement retails at $49.95 for the standard package, but for all features you will need the Professional package priced at $79.99.
Reading documents and viewing text files become so easy and usually, our web browser fills the needs to open a PDF file. This is the reason that PDF readers have made a less impact today, but you need to know that there are features and quality which are not possessed by web browsers but by such PDF viewers, such as form filling, digital signature and annotation and so on. One might require the best PDF viewer or Best PDF Reader Softwares to be able to view and use the files with more efficiency.
Page Contents
- 1 Top 10 Best Free PDF Reader For Windows 7/8/10 & Mac 2018
Top 10 Best Free PDF Reader For Windows 7/8/10 & Mac 2018
Sumatra PDF
SUMANTRA PDF is an open source and light software for your PDF files. Its edge includes that it supports formats other than PDF too.
As we mentioned the application is lightweight, so it carries just 5 MB of weight and is pretty simple to use as well.
It has all the basic features and quick performance, and as a result, it will provide you a great experience of reading. The limitations of this software are just that it lacks on a few advanced features like annotations, form filling and signing documents.
You can also run Sumatra PDF in restricted mode too.
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC
Mac Os Pdf Reader
On the lookout for the best PDF reader, this is very powerful. There might be files which demand the use of an advanced PDF reader. This is the reason that this PDF viewer is a bit heavier as compared to the earlier light weighted one.
There are numerous modes which you can read your text through. You can take help of features like filling forms, adding notes and stamps, digital signing, highlighting text and so on.
Acrobat reader also allows tab view which will help you to view multiple PDF files in one go.
You can opt for the most suitable and best free PDF reader if your needs are not much simple.
Your Web Browsers
In case, you are not looking for any particular features or additions in viewing or maintaining your PDF files; you might probably not need a specific and dedicated application. In such a case, you can take help of your web browser.
Web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge and so on allow reading PDF as they have integrated PDF readers.
They come along the web browser and are updated with it as well. Basic features like adjustment of text size, rotation, printing and downloading are already present.
So, in case you are not using any specific PDF viewer, you can take help of your regular web browser too.
Nitro Reader
This is also a powerful and well known best free PDF software in the market. It will help you with both aspects – usage and features. The interface is very slick, and there are no such unnecessary features added.
Also, digital signing of PDF documents has become simple with its use as it provides you a handy “QuickSign” feature for it.
It will also help you in keeping your documents much secure.
NITRO READER is one of the PDF readers who will eliminate the use of waste features and has a great user interface performance.
Foxit Reader
Foxit is a great name in the market just like the others and is pretty lightweight as well. Also, you will be certainly provided a trial period of 14 days before you could make it your primary viewer.
It has a connected PDF online management system for documents as well.
The best part would be that it does not involve any tough or complex formatting and will allow you to view the text in its most simpler form.
You can also work online and share your PDF files via networking.
As told earlier, it is an advanced and best PDF reader for windows and consists of all such basic features too.
Slim PDF
This could be considered the smallest and best PDF reader in the market. You could easily download it even for the needs of your old device as its size is almost around 1.43 MB.
It could be considered as basic and facile software for the purpose as it will aid you with viewing, reading as well as printing your PDF document.
This will help you complete your job in the least time possible.
Pdf Reader On Mac
It also has a few limitations, like it won’t provide you highlighting of text or numerous keyboard shortcuts.
It is a good and portable PDF viewer in the market.
Expert PDF Reader
This is also sort of a similar application for the purpose and will help you to view files with much ease and provides all basic and competent features.
You can easily highlight your text, add a text box or even create customized notes and so on. You will be allowed to create customized stamps and manage them further.
It also includes the digital signature feature.
All these reasons make it a good choice as best free PDF reader.
Javelin PDF Reader
Just like the other best PDF document readers, this will provide you the basic and the most required functions at its best too. It is easy to use software for the purpose and is very considerate of your daily basic needs as well.
Best Pdf Viewer Reddit
The interface is also clean and friendly and facile to use.
There will be numerous reading modes as per your requirement and adjustments like side by side, continuous or even full screen and so on.
It is not much advanced or something so you could consider it lightweight.
PDF X-Change Reader
This is a perfectly suitable option for users who seek for simplifications. It is available for Windows 10, and the version is super easy.
It will not take much efforts and time in installation or use and is a great lightweight deal for your basic needs including printing, reading/ viewing, annotation, saving and so on.
The earlier version of this PDF viewer just acted like a mere file viewer and did not provide any specific editing functions or so.
It is a good deal in the market if you are looking for easy, basic as well as occupied and best PDF viewer.
Evince
The last but not the least one could be considered as an all-rounder as it not only supports PDF files but other formats too. It supports Postscript, DVI, XPS, and TILL and so on. It is available for Windows ten as well.
The interface is very clean and sort of friendly as well.
The user gets the availability of customization of the toolbar too.
Sounds better, right?
It is.
So, these were the top best free PDF reader for windows available for windows, and you can sue them for a more efficient and effective viewing, editing and highlighting of your PDF files as per your need.