The Best 7 PDF Viewers for Mac – Read Your PDFs with Ease!

PDFs have become the standard for document exchange in the digital world. However, Mac users frequently face problems while opening and viewing PDFs. This is where PDF viewers for Mac come into play. These viewers allow you to open and view PDF files with ease, without having to install any additional software on your Mac. In this article, we will be discussing the top 7 PDF viewers for Mac.

Video Tutorial:

What is a PDF Viewer?

A PDF viewer is an application or software that allows you to open, view, and read PDF files. PDF viewers are important because not all devices can open and read PDF files natively. PDFs typically include images, text, audio, and video, which makes it necessary to have a dedicated PDF viewer that can display all of these elements.

Top 7 Best PDF Viewers for Mac

1. Adobe Acrobat Reader DC

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC is one of the most popular PDF viewers for Mac. It is available for free and offers a range of features like document signing, annotation, and commenting. Adobe Acrobat Reader DC also provides the capability to read and interact with PDFs that contain multimedia elements.

Pros:

• It is free and easy to use.
• It is available for both Mac and Windows.
• It offers features like document signing and annotation.

Cons:

• Limited editing capabilities.
• The interface can be confusing for new users.

2. Preview

Preview is a built-in PDF viewer for Mac. It allows you to open and view PDFs, as well as other image files like BMP, GIF, and JPEG. Preview also provides a range of editing tools like crop, rotate, and adjust color.

Pros:

• It is free and built-in to MacOS.
• It offers a range of editing tools.

Cons:

• It has limited features compared to other PDF viewers.
• It can sometimes have compatibility issues with certain PDF files.

3. PDFelement

PDFelement is a complete solution for PDF management on Mac. It is a paid software that offers advanced features like OCR, form creation, and document merging. PDFelement also provides the capability to add annotations and comments to PDFs.

Pros:

• It offers advanced features like OCR and form creation.
• It provides a range of editing and annotation tools.

Cons:

• It is expensive compared to other PDF viewers.
• The interface can be confusing for new users.

4. Foxit Reader

Foxit Reader is a free PDF viewer that offers a range of features like document signing and commenting. It also provides advanced editing tools like OCR and form creation.

Pros:

• It offers advanced features like OCR and form creation.
• It is fast and lightweight compared to other PDF viewers.

Cons:

• It can sometimes have compatibility issues with certain PDF files.
• The interface can be confusing for new users.

5. Skim

Skim is a free PDF viewer that provides a range of annotation and markup tools. It also supports AppleScript and provides the capability to export notes in various formats like HTML and RTF.

Pros:

• It offers advanced annotation and markup tools.
• It is free and lightweight.

Cons:

• It has limited editing capabilities.
• The interface can be confusing for new users.

6. Nitro Pro

Nitro Pro is a complete PDF solution that offers advanced features like OCR, form creation, and document merging. It also provides the capability to add annotations and comments to PDFs.

Pros:

• It offers advanced features like OCR and form creation.
• It provides a range of editing and annotation tools.

Cons:

• It is expensive compared to other PDF viewers.
• The interface can be confusing for new users.

7. PDF Expert

PDF Expert is a complete PDF solution that is designed to provide a range of features like editing, annotating, and signing PDF documents. It also provides the capability to merge and split PDF documents.

Pros:

• It offers advanced features like form creation and document merging.
• It provides a range of editing and annotation tools.

Cons:

• It is expensive compared to other PDF viewers.
• The interface can be confusing for new users.

Comprehensive Comparison of Each Software

To make it easier for you to compare the different PDF viewers, we have created a comparison table that lists the most important features of each viewer.

Our Thoughts on PDF Viewers for Mac

After researching and analyzing these PDF viewers, we believe that the best PDF viewer for Mac is Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. It is not only free but also easy to use and offers a range of features like document signing and annotation. If you are looking for advanced features like OCR and form creation, then PDFelement and Nitro Pro are good alternatives, but they come at a premium price.

FAQs about PDF Viewers for Mac

Q1: Can I edit PDF files with these viewers?

A: Yes, some of these viewers like PDFelement, Nitro Pro, and PDF Expert offer advanced editing capabilities.

Q2: Are there any free PDF viewers for Mac?

A: Yes, Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, Preview, and Foxit Reader are all free PDF viewers for Mac.

Q3: Can I sign documents with these viewers?

A: Yes, most of these viewers including Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, PDF Expert, and Nitro Pro offer document signing capabilities.

Q4: Can I annotate PDF files with these viewers?

A: Yes, most of these viewers including Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, PDF Expert, and Skim offer annotation capabilities.

Q5: Are these PDF viewers compatible with all versions of MacOS?

A: Yes, these PDF viewers are compatible with the latest version of MacOS as well as previous versions.

Final Thoughts

PDF viewers have become a necessity for Mac users, especially those who frequently exchange PDF documents. Although there are many PDF viewers available for Mac, Adobe Acrobat Reader DC stands out as the best free viewer, with its easy-to-use interface and essential features. For those who require advanced features, PDFelement and Nitro Pro are great options albeit at a higher price point. Ultimately, the choice of which PDF viewer to use depends on individual needs and preferences.