Best Free PDF Reader for Mac 1. Adobe Reader DC for Mac. Adobe Reader DC for Mac is a widely used PDF reader since the creation of the PDF itself.What are the features of Adobe Reader?
Aug 28,2019 • Filed to: Mac Tutorials
'Is there a reliable PDF reader for Mac?'
Mac users have a number of PDF reader programs to choose from, including Adobe Reader for Mac and Preview. But if you want a better PDF reading experience, you might want to use a more robust and powerful PDF program. In this article, we’ve compiled the top 12 free PDF reader for Mac tools including PDFelement Pro, which offers more features than a simple PDF reader.
Part 1: Top 12 Best PDF Reader Tools for Mac
1. PDFelement Pro - The Best Alternative PDF Reader to Adobe Acrobat for Mac
As high-quality as Adobe Reader is due to its constant updates and improvements, you can also look into alternative programs that can perform many of the same tasks. PDFelement Pro for Mac, as the best alternative PDF Reader to Adobe Acrobat for Mac, acts as both a PDF editor and reader that provides you full functions for PDF editing and a better experience reading PDF on Mac. This tool lets you add text, images, bookmarks, and more to your PDF. In addition, a user can also highlight text, underline, use strike-through features on the text and crop PDF pages on Mac. Watermarks can also be used to protect your PDF files on Mac. You can even edit and convert scanned PDF files with PDFelement Pro.
Key Features of this PDF Reader:
- Add, delete or edit text, images, graphics, links, watermarks, and more.
- Convert PDF to Word and other formats, or create PDFs from Webpages, images, and text files.
- Quickly mark up and annotate PDFs with various annotation tools.
- Combine or split PDFs, organize pages, and easily fill out PDF forms.
- Edit and convert scanned or image-based PDFs using the OCR feature.
- Easily add watermarks, passwords, and signature to PDF documents.
2. Skim - A Popular and Well-developed PDF Reader for Mac
Skim is a popular PDF Reader on Mac that is tailored towards scientific purposes, although it can also be used to view other types of documents as well. This free PDF reader software is designed to be customizable for individual use, and is handy for notes and previews. The reason why Skim is one of the most popular options is because it includes easy-to-use and visually impressive reading modes.
Key Features:
- Single swipe highlight mode for easy use
- AppleScript support
- Ability to preview internal links
3. Adobe Reader for Mac - A Widely Used Free PDF Reader
You can download Adobe Reader on Mac for free and set it as your default PDF reader. Adobe Reader for Mac is considered the industry standard. Adobe is still a very well respected product on the market, as they are constantly making improvements and upgrades to the program, but there are other options that offer many of the same features at a lower price and without without complicated licensing agreements.
Key Features:
- Fast and easy to use
- Established platform worldwide
- Considered industry standard
- Well developed and supported
4. Free PDF Reader - A Simple to Use Mac PDF Rreader
This is another very popular Free PDF Reader for Mac. It includes many excellent features, and is designed to be easy to navigate and simple to use. The software claims to have 150million users, which indicates a tried and tested package, and offers some impressive features including:
Key Features:
- Multi document viewing feature
- Rotate and Zoom facility
- Exporting and conversion capabilities
- Advanced printing options
5. Haihaisoft Reader for Mac - A Small Size Free PDF Reader for Mac
A prominent feature of Haihaisoft for Mac is its small size at only 3MB ; this compact PDF Reader for Mac takes up much less space than other programs like Adobe Reader (see below). The package covers a wide range of languages and is designed for ease of use, while it is also well supported and has been developed for use on a number of platforms. Interesting features include:
Key Features:
- Instant launch time
- No background net connection for added security
- Opens all PDF documents
- Protection with DRM-X
6. PDFSam - A New Free PDF Reader for Mac
PDFSam is a relatively new release that has been met with mixed reviews. This free PDF reader for Mac is designed for splitting and merging documents, hence why it is called 'SAM'. Some users report problems while using the application, though generally it is reported to be user-friendly and quick for the average user.
Key Features:
- Split and Merge – (SAM)
- Extract sections as separate PDFs
- Reorder pages when needed
- Compose documents by dragging and dropping
7. PDF Info - An Easy-to-use Free PDF Reader
PDF Info is specifically designed for viewing information stored in PDF documents, rather than actually creating new ones. While it is limited in its operation, it is easy to use and designed in a basic and uncluttered style.
Key Features:
- Easy to install and use
- Quick operation
- View info in PDF
- Very small download size
8. Read Right - A Flexible Free PDF Reader
Read Right is a clever product, designed to tackle the increasing numbers of smaller notebook type laptops. It’s most beneficial feature is that it automatically rotates the screen to fit – book style – on a handheld device, making it much more convenient to use.
Key Features:
- Multiple navigation options
- Zoom control for expansion
- Possible white on black text option for readers
- Returns to the same page after interruption
9. Open Office 3 - A Versatile Free PDF Reader
The latest version of this popular and very versatile Open Office PDF reader is designed for business and personal users to read PDF files on Mac. It includes an impressive new array of features that have been improved and refined. It continues to be one of the leading free PDF readers for Mac on the market.
Key Features Includes:
- Abilityt to import Microsoft Office file types
- Advanced features for note taking
- Chart creation tools
- The ability to export and share spreadsheets
10. PDF Lab - A Well-developed Free PDF Reader
Designed to facilitate the manipulation of documents, PDF Lab is a well-developed and tested platform that is popular with a variety of users. A simple and user-friendly interface lets you use this tool as a PDF viewer. It can be updated through a regular software update, although at times you may have to do manual step-by-step updates.
Key Features:
- Insert images and blank pages
- Create new PDFs
- Split documents into several different files
- Encrypt documents for security
11. Formulate Pro - A Simple Free PDF Reader
This is an easy-to-use and popular program, Formulate Pro does not have a ton of features, but it is a basic and effective tool for amending documents. This tool is not designed for creation of PDFs, but it is certainly an effective reader.
Key Features:
- Open and edit existing PDFs
- Add graphics and other images
- Write using the cursor
- Print out PDFs
12. PDFView - An Impressive Free PDF Reader
PDFView offers a range of impressive features within a compact and easy to use package. It comes highly recommended by many users, and is a great way to read PDF documents. However, one issues is that it is no longer being developed, which means it might not be the best choice for a full-time PDF reader.
Key Features:
- Has many customizable settings
- Fit document to maximum screen size
- Zoom in and out on PDFs
- More features than Preview
Part 2: Troubleshooting on Opening and Reading PDFs in macOS
Many people experience problems when trying to open or read PDFs on Mac. This is due to a variety of reasons, but luckily this problem is usually quite an easy one to solve in just a matter of minutes. Here are the three main reasons why you may have a problem reading a PDF on Mac, and what you can do to solve the problem.
Question 1. Your Web Browser needs Updating
Solution: This is one of the most common problemsthat can prevent you from being able to read a PDF. Not all not all browsers update automatically, and it could be that yours needs a manual update. You can usually run a regular software update, but other times you may be required to update manually through the menu. An outdated browser may be the issue, in which case you may need to update your browser to resolve the issue. You can then make annotations and markups within your document.
Question 2. Your Browser is not Compatible
Solution: This issue depends on your operating system. If you are running OS 10.5 x, as many are, you will find that the later versions of Safari, for example, are non-compatible with your operating system. This will lead to you being unable to open PDFs, as well as a number of other problems. It is recommended that users with this operating system try using Firefox instead, as that may solve the problem.
Question 3. Check the Adobe Reader Plug-in
Solution: This problem also affects many users. If you are opening your PDF with Adobe Reader, the Adobe Reader Plug-in can be problematic, especially if it is an automatic launch when you enter your browser. The trick is to delete the plug-in (just the plug in, not Adobe Reader itself). Try using Adobe Reader as a stand-alone program rather than having it run within your browser, and the problem should be solved. You can also re-install the plug-in if necessary.
0 Comment(s)
Are you looking forward to a PDF reader for your Mac? Well! A PDF reader is something very essential if you are looking forward to sending any important document quickly and easily. PDF or Portable Document Format, the name itself suggest the work it does! Adobe in the year 1993, came up with this great tool that allows users to send important files & documents such as invoice, contracts, policies etc; in an easier way. However, to view the data in the PDF format you will need a PDF reader. Now here are the top 5 Best PDF reader for Mac of 2018.
Top 5 Best PDF Reader for Mac of 2018: Must check
#1. PDFelement for Mac- Best PDF reader for Mac :
Are you a Mac user? Well! If yes, then to do all your files and documents related works you will only need PDFelement. It helps to store, secure and manipulate documents and information. It can also change and edit text and images and also fill out the important form. This tool is very much user-friendly.
Pros:
- Has advanced OCR technology.
- Easy to use interface.
- High security of files.
Cons:
- It is a little expensive.
#2. Skim- Mac PDF Reader :
A great option for professionals as well as beginners is none other than Skim. It is an open-source PDF app which was developed with Objective C. This tool helps to create, edit, bookmark and ask view any documents or files. It is very much user-friendly and can come handy while viewing notes and previews. One of the main reason to love skim among all other favourites is the impressive interface it provides.
Pros:
- User-friendly interface.
- Single Swipe highlight mode.
- Internal Links can be previewed.
- Supports AppleScript.
- It allows the addition of circles.
Cons:
- Have some basic features.
- No OCR.
#3. iSkysoft Mac PDF Editor:
Are you looking for a PDF reader for your business purpose? Well! If yes, then iSkysoft PDF Editor is the best suitable pdf viewer for you. It includes features such as editing, signing and pacing watermarks, converting and also editing. This tool is used by companies like IBM, Nike etc to upload and edit several documents at the same time. The iSkysoft PDF Editor can literally convert and watermark any documents possible. It also has a password protecting facility to make your work safe.
Pros:
- It helps to add, edit or delete any images, texts, watermarks and even links etc; in PDF.
- This tool can combine or split any PDF and can fill out forms easily.
- Provides very high-level security.
Cons:
- It is not in the affordable side and hence can be a problem to avail for few.
- There are compression issues.
#4. Preview- PDF Reader:
One of my personal favourite that serves 2-in1 facilities of viewing image and as well as PDF is none other than Preview. If you are using Mac and want a great tool to do all your office works, then Preview is the one you should look for. It lets you share, view and also print images and files. This tool also lets you open files and documents in PowerPoint or PPT, JPEG, PDF, Bitmap Files or BMP, GIF or Graphics Interchange Format and Adobe Illustrator files.
Pros:
- You can preview lost data.
- Easy looping of lost animated gifs.
Cons:
- Sometimes it can destroy the PDF files without giving any warning.
- It doesn’t support the ISO Standardised PDF system.
- You can’ edit an encrypted PDF while the original version is lost.
#5. Adobe Reader For Mac:
If you are looking for an affordable PDF reader that works great on your Mac devices, then you must not think about anything else than the Adobe Reader for Mac. You can easily download this Adobe PDF reader anytime and set it as your default pdf reader. It is as per the industry standard and can be chosen over all others. Without any further doubt, you can opt for this pdf reader.
Pros:
- It is free.
- Easy to use and works fast.
- Matches the industry standard.
- Documents look clear and same as mailed.
Cons:
- Documents can’t be edited, neither forms can be filled.
#6. Adobe Acrobat Pro DC for Mac:
Another great option for previewing and editing PDF files especially if you are using macOS 10.14 is none other than Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. This tool lets you edit, manage and print PDF documents. Now, what is the full form of DC? Well! It is Document Cloud which allows PDF files to be uploaded to the cloud storage system and is accessible on any of your devices.
Adobe Acrobat Pro DC for Mac
Pros:
- It is great in the case of archiving.
- You can view the exact file and no format change occurs.
- Has a Dropbox feature.
- E-signature available.
- Quite handy and easy to use and share files in PDF format.
Cons:
- You need to convert files manually to PDF before sending it.
- Files and documents can’t be edited and you won’t be able to fill forms.
- It is a little expensive.
Adobe Acrobat Free Download
#7. PDFpen:
If you are looking for a user-friendly app that lets you convert files to the PDF version, then look no further than PDFpen. This app allows its users to design, embed and fill out forms on any of the existing documents. It has an e-signature feature and several other ways to format and compress documents and export them. This app called PDFpen basically lets you manage annotations, images, texts, and almost everything and anything that comes with the files.
Pros:
- It can export any documents in any kind of format.
- Integration of OCR or the Optical Character Recognition.
Cons:
- Icons and tool selections aren’t transparent enough.
#8. Foxit Reader:
Foxit Reader is another great app for macOS that offers users to use it in different languages and to be specific forty-two languages that include English, Hindi etc. It offers the users to create, edit, view all kind of PDF documents.
Pros:
- Large files are easily supported.
- It has the feature to let blind people read the screen. The Job Access With Speech or JAWS is available.
- This app is great for presentations.
Cons:
- It is integrated into unwanted programs which are not needed.
#9. PDF Expert:
If you are using macOS 10.14, then one of the most useful PDF editors is none other than the PDF Expert. This app allows you to read, edit and manage, fill up forms, sign contracts electronically making it a great choice for the users. The PDF Expert app also has the merging and splitting functions.
Pros:
- The PDF Expert app has an automatic detection of fonts which is greatly useful.
- It also has a quick search option to make the searching easy for the users.
- This app also has an easy-to-use interface and hence very much user-friendly.
Cons:
- The PDF Expert doesn’t have any OCR feature available.
#10. PDF Reader Premium:
Another great app for PDF editing and reading on your Mac devices is none other than the PDF Reader Premium. This software enables its users to edit texts, images, freehand writing, sticky notes, and also manipulation of PDF documents. To ensure it doesn’t get difficult to find documents, you can easily tag and label them on your workspace. This app also supports the input of multiple or large files at the same time without lag.
Pros:
- Easy-to-use interface.
- It offers advanced editing options as it is the premium version.
- Integration to the cloud is a great feature.
Cons:
- It can be a little slow.
- It has no OCR feature.
Conclusion for Best PDF Reader for Mac:
Free Reader For Mac
So these are the Top 10 Best PDF reader for Mac of 2018 which can come handy while you want to send some of the vital documents quickly and safely. Don’t forget to let us know which one you prefer and if you have any another PDF reader in mind.