Adobe Acrobat Pro Alternative For Mac

PDFelement Pro for Mac - The Best Adobe Acrobat Alternative In case you are in need of an incredible program which concentrates on PDF editing, PDFelement Pro an provide you all the features in one place. With it, you can add, delete or edit texts, images, graphics, links, and watermarks in a PDF document. If you want a basic alternative to Adobe Acrobat for macOS 10.15 Catalina, and you do not want to spend a dime, PDF Studio is the tool for you. With PDF Studio, you get almost all of the file management functionalities of Adobe Acrobat, but for a price of zero dollars.

2020-11-07 14:44:58 • Filed to: macOS 10.15 • Proven solutions

Adobe Acrobat has been round for so many years, that we instinctively think of it when we think of PDF documents. But that mindset has been slowly, but steadily changing in the past few years. The reality is that there is more than one Adobe Acrobat alternative for macOS 10.15.

Dealing with PDF can be a pain at times. And before we get to the best alternative to acrobat for macOS 10.15, we have to stress the fact that PDF has become a necessity. You need PDF to create, share, and edit portable documents. Almost every native Mac operating system application allows you to export content into PDF. As such, PDF is a vital part of your Mac experience.

10 Alternatives to Adobe Acrobat for macOS 10.15

Given that Adobe Acrobat is becoming too pricey and expensive, people are always looking for another alternative. Not to mention, Acrobat is becoming slower, and nowadays, there is even free Adobe Acrobat Pro for macOS 10.15 alternative. With that in mind, we will look at some of the best alternatives you can use, talking about their features, price, and system support.

1. PDFelement for macOS 10.15

One of the more comprehensive tools you will find on the market is PDFelement. You get everything you need for manipulating and using PDF files and documents. With PDFelement, you get control over your PDF documents like never before.

Features:

  • Viewing PDF files with 5 comfortable modes.
  • Create/convert PDF files from from/to any format.
  • Create and fill fillable forms.
  • Edit documents like on a Word processor, including photos and text.
  • Add annotations to PDF, including notes, strikethrough, stamps, freehand drawing etc.

With the Pro version, you also get the ability to:

  • Batch process files
  • Archive PDF files
  • Add signature
  • Support XFA forms
  • Bates numbering
  • The star of the show, which is the top of the world OCR technology for turning any digital image into fully searchable and fillable PDF document.

Price: $69 yearly for the Standard version, $99 for the Pro version

System support: Windows, iOS, macOS, Android

2. PDF Expert

The two main characteristics of PDF expert are fast and robust PDF editor. The star of the PDF expert is the viewing experience. You can read PDF files better than in a book, thanks to the advanced settings like Day or Night mood that please your eyes.

Features:

Adobe Acrobat Pro Alternative For Mac Osx

  • Search indexing for best PDF search.
  • Annotations and notes to documents, compatible with Apple Pencil.
  • Edit text, images, links, and even reduce file size.
  • Manage pages by merging files or adding page numbering.

All of these features make PDF Expert one of the top rated paid apps in the App store. If you need a PDF tool for reading, there are few that offer more features than PDF Expert.

Price: $79.99

System support: iOS, macOS

3. Foxit PhantomPDF for Mac

Looking for a reliable Adobe Acrobat alternative? Foxit PhantomPDF is a software solution many users praise for its highly-efficient editor. There are multiple tools that allow users to take complete control over the PDF document. One of the best things about Foxit PhantomPDF is the interface, which is easy on the eye, easy to use, simple to navigate, and loaded with intuitive commands. If you have ever used Microsoft Office before, Foxit Phantom will look very familiar. Here are some of the main features:

Features:

  • Add headers footers, and watermarks to organize your PDF document.
  • Create files by converting any file format or exporting images and HTML to PDF.
  • Compress images and clear our objects or user data to reduce file size.
  • Insert and merge PDF documents together, or split PDF documents for better organization.
  • Fill in PDF forms, or import/export form data for data collection.
  • Fill XFA forms.
  • Navigate through the document using bookmarks.

Price: $129 one time purchase

System support: Windows, macOS, Linux

4. PDF Studio for Mac

If you want a basic alternative to Adobe Acrobat for macOS 10.15 Catalina, and you do not want to spend a dime, PDF Studio is the tool for you. With PDF Studio, you get almost all of the file management functionalities of Adobe Acrobat, but for a price of zero dollars. The best part about the tool is that you retain the standardized outlay of edited PDF files.

Features:

  • Numerous annotation functions.
  • Form filling functions.
  • Versatile file converter.
  • Cloud support for files thanks to the integrated Google SharePoint.

If you are satisfied with the free trial version, we strongly recommend buying the standard or Pro version, and enjoy even more features.

Price: $89 for Standard version, $129 for the Pro version

System support: macOS, Linux, Windows

Adobe Acrobat Pro Alternative For Mac

5. Infix PDF Editor for macOS 10.15

The moment you start the tool, you will notice the attention to details. Everything is where it is supposed to be, and you can easily maneuver your way through the tool. Working like a normal word processor, it is quite easy to use, not to mention, quick. There are no interface gimmicks, making it one of the great alternatives to Adobe Acrobat. You get a huge range of editing tools, and it costs significantly less than the Acrobat. There are many functionalities and features, but simplicity is at the heart of the design. Simply put, it was made to ensure even the most novice user can handle it.

Features:

  • Easy text editing, including fonts, size, color.
  • Find and replace text, including words and phrases, search through multiple PDF documents.
  • Spell checker in 15 different languages.
  • Turn any document into a PDF thanks to the Infix printer.
  • Create interactive PDF forms.
  • Free use of translation facilities from transPDF.com.
  • Add notes, marks, shapes, comments, text highlights, and more annotation tools.

Price: $99 one-off payment per user, or $9.99 per month

Adobe Acrobat Pro Alternative For Mac

System support: macOS, Windows

6. PDFpenPro

PDFpenPro comes with a wide range of features, and it is designed to suit professionals. The interface is optimized for professional usage. Once you open the tool, the first thing you see is a black screen. From there, you can insert content, and it can be anything you like. There are different viewing options available, including multi-tab. Simply said, this tool is much more comprehensive, and is designed for more experienced users. Novice users will have a harder time navigating through the tool and finding all of the features they need.

When it comes to editing and managing PDF files, PDFpenPro checks all of the boxes. Here is a quick overview of the features:

Features:

  • Edit text and images, all of the editing options are in the same toolbar for easier navigation.
  • Precision tool, recognizing parts of the page that needs to be removed.
  • Turn websites into PDF files with a single click.
  • Export PDF files into Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, and PowerPoint.
  • Form field recognition tool that scans your document to check if there are any pages you need to add information.
  • One of the most advanced OCR technology on the market, with a batch OCR available.

Price: $74.95 Standard single user, $124.95 Pro single user

Adobe Acrobat Pro Alternative For Mac Shortcut

System support: macOS

Adobe Acrobat Free For Mac

7. ABBYY FineReader Pro for Mac

If the only thing you need is OCR technology, then you should consider the ABBYY FineReader. The tool has been made specifically for OCR users. The program will convert any scanned image into a fully editable text, and fully searchable document. Simply put, it is the best PDF tool for OCR technology.

With that in mind, you should not expect any advanced PDF tools. The standard tools are basically non-existent.

However, you can use OCR even on the lowest quality images. Of course, the result will be better with a higher-quality image. If you want a PDF tool for standard editing and conversion needs, however, look for another one. This is not the tool for that.

Price: $119

Adobe Acrobat Pro Alternative For Mac Osx

System support: macOS

8. Preview

If you need just the basic PDF features, and you are not willing to spend any money, you can try using Preview. This is the default and pre-built PDF tool in your macOS. Preview was designed to allow user view and annotate PDF documents. The downside however, is that you cannot edit PDF documents.

Features:

  • Add text and shapes to the document.
  • Export files to PDF.
  • View PDF documents.

Therefore, if you just need to add some annotations to your PDF file, Preview will do just fine. But if you need any edits, you will need another and more comprehensive PDF tool.

Price: Free

System support: macOS

Alternative To Adobe Acrobat

Conclusion

We suggested a couple of options for an alternative to Adobe Acrobat in the latest macOS, Catalina. But which is the best one? We strongly believe that PDFelement is your best choice. Why? Because it provides all of the features of Adobe Acrobat, but at a lower cost. And works faster, and more efficient.

The intuitive interface, bugs-free operation, and efficient workflow, will ensure you have peace of mind while managing your PDF documents. If you like, you can try the trial version, which is free, and see if it suits your needs. Praised among users worldwide, PDFelement brings much better value for money than Adobe Acrobat. In addition to all of the editing tools, you also get the ability to add watermarks and digital signatures.

Let’s revisit some of the main features of PDFelement.

Adobe Acrobat Pro Alternative For Mac Pro

  • Edit documents with a full-featured word processor.
  • Convert PDF to other file formats, all while retaining layout and formatting.
  • Add comments, sticky notes, and text boxes to files to make them look more professionally.
  • Easily create and distribute fillable forms through the PDF file.
  • Redact confidential parts of the document.
  • Use OCR technology to make any digital image fully searchable and editable document.

Free Download or Buy PDFelement right now!

For

Free Download or Buy PDFelement right now!

Buy PDFelement right now!

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Changes to Adobe Acrobat Pro DC Licensing

The Adobe Acrobat Pro DC licensing model has changed to a subscription-based model, which means University of Waterloo departments/units will now have to purchase a subscription for Acrobat Pro DC directly from the Adobe online store or the reseller Softchoice, and they will be paying a higher yearly cost for use of this software.

Do I still need Adobe Acrobat Pro DC?

Many commonly used features of Adobe Acrobat Pro DC are available in other applications Waterloo employees already have access to (e.g. Microsoft Office, Preview). Alternate, less expensive applications may also be available for purchase. Please see the list of alternatives below.

You may still require Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, if you:

  • create and/or edit fillable PDF forms
  • make remediations for accessibility (i.e. adjust tags or reading order)
  • need to edit content directly in a PDF document (Note: edits can be made to some files using Microsoft Word)

Alternatives to Acrobat Pro DC

RequirementAlternativeInstruction
Creating PDF documentsMicrosoft Office
  • Create your file in a Microsoft Office program (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and then save the file as a PDF.
  • Save a copy of your file as the appropriate Microsoft Office file type (e.g. .docx, .xlsx, .pptx) as it will be useful when you need to edit your PDF in future.

Preview
  • You can convert an image file to PDF using the macOS default image and PDF viewer.
Editing content in PDF documentsMicrosoft Office (with original file)
  • If you have the original Microsoft Office file, open the file in the appropriate Microsoft Office program, make your changes, and then save the file as a PDF again.

Microsoft Office (without original file)
  • Open the PDF in Word, make your changes, and then save the file as a PDF again.
  • Works best for files that are short, mostly text, with simple layouts.
  • You will need to re-apply heading styles, re-add alt text to your images and tables, and re-set the header row(s) for your tables.
  • You may need to reformat other aspects of your file as well; the more complex the file, the more reformatting you will need to do.

Adobe Acrobat Export PDF(purchase required)
  • An Adobe Acrobat Export PDF subscription will grant you access to the Export PDF tool in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC and your browser through Adobe's Document Cloud.
  • Export the PDF file to Word or Excel, make your changes and save the file as a PDF again.
  • Exporting a PDF produces a Word document that retains more formatting than simply opening the PDF in Word.
  • This is a better option for files that are long or complex, of if you have many PDFs to edit.
  • You will need to re-apply heading styles, re-add alt text to your images and tables, and re-set the header row(s) for your tables.
  • You may need to reformat other aspects of your file as well; the more complex the file, the more reformatting you will need to do.


Adding comments and marking up text in PDF documentsPreview
  • Annotate a PDF using the editing tools in the markup toolbar. You can sketch/draw or insert shapes, add loupes, text, and notes and speech bubbles.
  • You can also mark up text in a PDF: highlight, underline, and strikeout text.
Filling and signing PDF formsPreview
  • In the Preview app, you can fill out and sign PDF forms.
  • To fill in a form, simply click on the fields to enter text, select radio buttons or checkboxes, or pick from a set of options.
  • To sign a form, you can draw or insert an image of your handwritten signature.
  • If the form does not have interactive fields, you can annotate a PDF to fill it in, by using tools like Sketch and Text, instead of printing and filling out by hand.
Adding, deleting and rearranging pages in a PDF documentPreview
  • In the Preview app, you can add, delete, or move PDF pages.
Combining multiple PDF documents into a single PDF documentPreview
  • In the Preview app, you can combine multiple PDFs, in whole or part, into a single PDF.
Replacing a signature page in a PDF documentPreview
  1. Open the original PDF document and signed page (PDF or image file).
  2. Delete the blank signature page from the original PDF document. See add, delete, or move PDF pages.
  3. Combine the original PDF document (minus the signature page) with the signed page (PDF). See combine multiple PDFs.
  4. If necessary, move the signed page to the correct location by dragging and dropping the thumbnails.

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