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EmersonGrove's avatar
EmersonGrove
Iron Contributor
Feb 02, 2026

What is the best pdf editor software on mac?

I am a long time Windows 10 user and recently switched to Mac. My client sent me a couple of PDF files and I want to edit them on my mac. These are pretty sensitive content and I don't want to use th...
HoltSawye's avatar
HoltSawye
Iron Contributor
Feb 02, 2026

Apple Preview is a free tool included with Mac, serving as a lightweight yet practical PDF editor for mac. Without requiring additional downloads or installations, it fulfils everyday needs such as basic PDF annotation, signing, and page management. It stands as the preferred free solution for Mac users handling simple PDF tasks.

  1. Double-click any PDF file to open it in Preview. Use the thumbnail sidebar to swiftly navigate between pages.

  2. Click the annotation icon in the toolbar to add text, shapes, arrows, highlights, underlines, or strikethroughs

  3. Navigate to Markup → Sign → Create Signature. You may draw directly on the trackpad or scan a handwritten signature via the camera, then position it anywhere within the PDF.

  4. Within the thumbnail sidebar:

    Drag pages to reorder them

    Select pages and press Delete to remove them

    Use the rotation button to flip pages

  5. Tap directly into form fields to input text. For signature fields, insert a saved signature.

  6. Press Cmd + S to save changes, or navigate to File → Export to save a copy or set a password.

As a free PDF editor for Mac, Preview covers everyday PDF essentials. Annotations, signatures, page adjustments, and simple form filling are effortlessly accomplished. Fully compatible with the native Mac system, it runs smoothly without lag.

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