How to Edit a PDF on Mac - Preview/Free/Without Adobe

by Rachel Jones 2026-02-10

How do I edit a PDF on Mac for free? I tried Preview, but it won't let me change text in my school essay.

Editing PDFs on a Mac can be tricky if you don't want to spend money. Many people wonder how to edit a PDF on Mac, especially when they need to update a resume, fix a school assignment, or adjust a work report.

While Preview, the built-in Mac app, can help with simple edits like adding text boxes or signing documents, it has limits. In this guide, we'll show what you can do for free and explore smarter ways to edit PDFs on Mac safely and easily.

Part 1. Can You Edit a PDF on Mac for Free?

Part 2: How to Edit a PDF on Mac Preview -- Free & Built-In

Part 3: How to Edit a PDF on Mac with Full Control -- Smarter PDF Editor

Part 4: How to Edit a PDF on Mac with Adobe Acrobat

Part 5: How to Edit a PDF on Mac Using Apple Pages

Part 6: FAQs

Quick Overview

Basic Edits: Preview is perfect for text boxes, highlights, comments, and signatures.
Full & Advanced Editing: PDNob handles complete text editing, image replacement, OCR for scanned PDFs, and safe file conversion. Adobe Acrobat can do the same but is more expensive.

Simple Conversion/Minor Edits: Apple Pages can add text or rearrange pages, but may change formatting and isn't suitable for full PDF editing.

Part 1. Can You Edit a PDF on Mac for Free?

Many Mac users wonder if they can edit a PDF on Mac for free, especially when they need to make quick changes without installing paid software. The truth is, you can---but it depends on what kind of edits you need.

For simple adjustments like adding annotations, signing documents, highlighting text, or inserting notes, your Mac already has a built-in solution: Preview. It's free, easy to use, and works for most basic tasks.

However, if your PDF contains existing text you want to change, images that need editing, or scanned content, free tools have limits. In those cases, you'll need a more capable editor to fully control your PDF without breaking the formatting.

Part 2: How to Edit a PDF on Mac Preview -- Free & Built-In

Preview is the default PDF app on Mac, and it's free, fast, and easy to use. It's perfect if you want to edit a PDF on Mac for free without installing extra software. Let's break down what you can and cannot do with Preview.

What You Can Do in Preview (Basic Edits)

Add text boxes to annotate or insert notes.
Highlight important sections or underline text.
Add comments or shapes like arrows, circles, and lines.
Insert signatures for forms or official documents.
Rearrange, rotate, or delete pages.

What You Cannot Do in Preview

You cannot edit existing text in the PDF.
You cannot replace images or adjust formatting.
Scanned PDFs or image-based PDFs cannot be edited directly.

Steps to Edit a PDF on Mac Preview

Open the PDF: Double-click your PDF to open it in Preview, or right-click and choose Open With > Preview.
Access Markup Tools: Click the Markup Toolbar button (pencil tip inside a circle) in the top-right corner to show the toolbar.

Add or Edit Text: Click the Text button ("T" inside a box) to insert a text box. Move it to the desired spot, type your text, and use the "Aa" button to adjust font, size, or color.
Markup and Annotate:

Highlight: Use the highlight tool to mark text.
Shapes: Add lines, squares, or circles with the shapes tool.
Sign: Insert a digital signature using the Signature tool.

Remove or Redact Text: Select the Redact tool (black box in the top-left) to permanently hide text.
Rearrange or Delete Pages: Go to View > Thumbnails, then drag pages to reorder or press Delete to remove them.

Save Changes: Click File > Save or press Command + S.

Who Should Use Preview for PDF Editing:

Preview is ideal for casual users, students, office staff, and remote workers who need quick PDF annotations, basic edits, or page management---without paying for extra software.

Part 3: How to Edit a PDF on Mac with Full Control -- Smarter PDF Editor

Once you move beyond basic markup, free tools start to feel restrictive. Many users need to edit existing text, fix formatting issues, or work with scanned PDFs. At this stage, Preview is no longer enough, and relying on online tools can raise privacy concerns.

This is where PDNob fits naturally. It's a lightweight yet full-featured PDF editor for Mac, designed for users who want Adobe-level control without the high price or complexity. PDNob runs locally on your Mac, keeps files secure, and focuses on the editing features people actually use.

PDNob Key Features That Give You Full Control

Edit Existing PDF Text : Change text directly in the PDF without converting the file or breaking the layout.
Image & Layout Editing : Replace, resize, or reposition images while keeping spacing and alignment intact.
OCR for Scanned PDFs : Turn scanned or image-based PDFs into editable text, ideal for contracts and printed documents.
Accurate PDF Conversion : Convert PDFs to Word, Excel, or PowerPoint while preserving formatting.
Offline & Secure Editing : All edits happen locally on your Mac, keeping sensitive files private and secure.

Steps to Edit a PDF on Mac with PDNob PDF Editor

Step 1: Open Your PDF: Launch PDNob and click “Open PDF” to load your file. Use the zoom controls for a clearer view if needed.

Step 2: Edit Content: Go to the “Edit” tab to modify text, images, fonts, or backgrounds with the built-in tools.

Step 3: Add Comments: Switch to the “Comments” tab to highlight text, add notes, or mark up your PDF.

Step 4: OCR Scanned Files: On the Home tab, click “OCR”, choose the language and page range, then let PDNob process the file automatically.

Step 5: AI Summarizer: Use the AI Summarizer to ask questions or quickly understand key points in your document.

My Experience Editing PDFs on Mac with PDNob:

From my own use, PDNob feels much closer to a document editor than a viewer. I opened a downloaded PDF and edited the text directly without converting it first. The layout stayed stable, and images didn't shift when I made changes.

I also tested a scanned file, and the OCR picked up the text accurately enough to edit paragraphs instead of retyping everything. The whole process felt simple and fast, without the clutter or learning curve you usually get with Adobe tools.

Who Should Use PDNob for PDF Editing:

PDNob is ideal for cost-conscious users, professionals, and anyone needing comprehensive PDF editing, AI-powered document tools, and secure offline processing.

Part 4: How to Edit a PDF on Mac with Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Acrobat is the industry standard for PDF editing, so many Mac users wonder if it's the best choice. The short answer: it can do almost everything, but it comes with a learning curve and a higher cost.

Adobe is powerful, but it can feel heavy and complex for everyday tasks like quick resume edits or school assignments. It's also subscription-based, which makes it less appealing for users who only occasionally need full editing features.

Steps to Edit a PDF on Mac with Adobe Acrobat

Open the PDF: Launch Adobe Acrobat Pro, go to File > Open, and select your document.
Access the Edit Tool: Click Edit PDF in the right-hand pane.

Edit Text: Click any text block to modify, add, or delete text. Use the formatting options to change font, size, or color.
Edit Images: Select an image to move, resize, or replace it using the objects list.
Add Content: Use Add Text or Add Image to insert new elements.
Save Changes: Go to File > Save or Save As to preserve your edits.

My Experience Editing PDFs on Mac with Adobe Acrobat:

When I tried Adobe Acrobat, I found it extremely capable but a bit overwhelming at first. Opening a PDF and editing text works perfectly, and the formatting stays intact. However, I noticed the interface felt crowded, and finding specific tools took a few clicks. It's excellent for professional work, but not always the fastest for simple edits.

Who Should Use Adobe Acrobat for PDF Editing:

Adobe Acrobat is best for professionals, businesses, legal teams, students, and power users who need advanced PDF editing, OCR, form creation, signing, and secure document management.

Part 5: How to Edit a PDF on Mac Using Apple Pages

Apple Pages is another built-in option for Mac users who want to edit a PDF without additional software. While Pages wasn't designed specifically for PDFs, it can handle basic edits and is free for anyone with a Mac.

What You Can Do in Pages

Open a PDF and add new text anywhere on the page.
Insert images or shapes for simple visual adjustments.
Rearrange pages by exporting the PDF as a Pages document first.
Annotate documents with basic highlights or text boxes.

What You Cannot Do in Pages

You cannot edit existing text without retyping it.
Formatting may change when importing a PDF.
It doesn't support scanned PDFs or OCR.

Steps to Edit a PDF on Mac Using Apple Pages

Method 1: Copy and Paste Text (Best for Editing Content)

Open the PDF: Double-click the PDF to open it in Preview.
Copy Text: Press Cmd + A to select all text, then Cmd + C to copy.
Paste into Pages: Open Pages, create a new document, and press Cmd + V to paste.
Edit and Export: Make your edits, adjust fonts or layout, then go to File > Export To > PDF to save.

Method 2: Drag and Drop (Best for Layout/Image Editing)

Open Pages: Launch Pages and select a document template.
Drag PDF: Drag the PDF from Finder into the Pages document.
Adjust: Resize, crop, or rotate the PDF image. Note: text cannot be edited directly.
Export: Go to File > Export To > PDF to save your changes.

My Experience Editing PDFs on Mac with Pages:

When I tried Pages, I was able to open a PDF and add notes or extra text easily. It worked well for small updates, like filling in forms or adding a comment to a report. However, the layout shifted a little when the PDF had complex formatting, so I wouldn't use it for official documents or detailed edits.

Who Should Use Pages for PDF Editing:

Pages is best for Mac users who need to add, remove, or rearrange pages, or use a PDF as a template for layout-focused edits, but it cannot directly edit existing text.

Part 6: FAQs

Q1. Can I edit a PDF on Mac for free?

A1: Yes. You can use Preview, the built-in Mac app, to add text boxes, highlights, comments, or signatures. This works well for small edits and simple documents.

Q2. Is Preview enough for editing PDFs?

A2: Preview works well for quick notes, highlights, and signing forms, but it cannot edit existing text, replace images, or handle scanned PDFs. It's ideal for students or casual users who only need small adjustments.

Q3. Can I edit scanned PDFs on Mac?

A3: Scanned PDFs are image-based, so free tools like Preview or Apple Pages cannot edit them directly. You need OCR support, which PDNob provides, allowing you to convert scanned documents into editable text.

Q4. Can I edit PDF on Mac online?

A4: Yes, tools like iLovePDF let you add text, images, or convert PDFs online. Just keep in mind that files are uploaded to the cloud, which may raise privacy concerns.

Q5. How to edit a PDF on Mac without Adobe?

A5: For basic edits, you can use Preview to add text boxes, highlights, or signatures. For full control---like editing existing text, replacing images, or handling scanned PDFs---you can try PDNob PDF Editor, a lightweight alternative that gives most Adobe features.

Conclusion

Editing PDFs on a Mac depends on your needs:

Quick edits or signing forms: Use Preview for highlights, text boxes, or signatures.
Minor text additions: Apple Pages works for small changes, but layout may shift.
Full editing control: PDNob PDF Editor lets you change text, replace images, and edit scanned PDFs---almost all Adobe features without the high cost.
Professional or complex PDFs: Adobe Acrobat handles every detail but can be heavy and costly.

Choose the tool that fits your workflow and document type, from simple tweaks to full control over PDFs.

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