Alternatives to PDF Expert

Polished PDF reader and editor for macOS and iOS. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as PDF Expert.

  • Adobe Acrobat

    Adobe's PDF software: the free Acrobat Reader for viewing and commenting, and paid Acrobat plans for editing and conversion.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSWebAndroidiOS

    Adobe Acrobat extends to Windows, web and Android, with a free Reader for comments and Fill & Sign; editing and conversion need a Standard or Pro subscription.

  • Nitro PDF Pro

    Commercial Acrobat alternative for editing, converting and signing.

    PaidProprietaryWindowsmacOS

    Nitro PDF Pro runs on Windows and macOS with an Office-style interface and strong Word and Excel conversion, sold as a paid licence with no iOS app.

  • KDAN PDF

    PDF reader and editor across Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSAndroidiOS

    KDAN PDF covers Windows, macOS, Android and iOS with cloud sync of documents and annotations, and editing and conversion need a paid subscription.

  • Master PDF Editor

    Cross-platform PDF editor with a Linux build that people actually use.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinux

    Master PDF Editor runs on Windows, macOS and Linux with forms, signatures and OCR, but has no iOS app and its unregistered version is non-commercial only.

  • Sejda PDF

    PDF editor available both online and as a desktop application.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinuxWeb

    Sejda PDF works online and on Windows, macOS and Linux desktops, processing files locally on desktop, with free use limited to a few tasks per hour.

  • Xodo

    PDF reader and editor across web, desktop and mobile.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsAndroidiOSWeb

    Xodo offers the same annotation and signing tools on web, Windows and mobile and works with cloud drives, but has no macOS app and limits advanced editing without payment.

  • Foxit PDF Reader

    Free PDF reader with annotation, form filling and signing.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOS

    Foxit PDF Reader gives free annotation, form filling and signing on all major platforms, but editing page content needs the paid Foxit PDF Editor.

  • ABBYY FineReader PDF

    Commercial OCR and PDF editor with very high recognition accuracy.

    PaidProprietaryWindowsmacOS

    ABBYY FineReader PDF targets high-accuracy OCR and cross-format document comparison on Windows and macOS, with an expensive subscription or licence and no iOS app.

Also worth comparing

These listings name PDF Expert as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • Drawboard PDF

    A pen-friendly PDF markup app with live-synced annotations across desktop, mobile and web.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSAndroidiOSWeb

    PDF Expert is limited to macOS and iOS, adding real text and image editing behind a paid subscription, without team review features for design firms.

  • Highlights

    A PDF reader for Mac, iPad and iPhone that turns annotations into exportable notes.

    FreemiumProprietarymacOSiOS

    PDF Expert also runs on macOS and iOS and adds real text and image editing, but lacks Markdown note export and DOI citation lookup.

  • PDF Reader Pro

    A commercial PDF reader and editor for annotating, converting, signing and organizing PDFs on desktop and mobile.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSAndroidiOS

    PDF Expert is limited to macOS and iOS with a polished Apple-native interface, and editing, OCR and conversion require a paid subscription or licence.

  • PDFelement

    A commercial PDF editor for creating, converting, editing, annotating, protecting and signing PDF files.

    PaidProprietaryWindowsmacOSAndroidiOSWeb

    PDF Expert is limited to macOS and iOS, offering a polished Apple-native interface with genuine text and image editing that requires a paid subscription or licence.

  • Preview

    Apple's built-in macOS app for viewing, annotating, merging and signing PDFs and images.

    FreeProprietarymacOS

    PDF Expert adds genuine text and image editing and runs on iOS as well as macOS, but editing, OCR and conversion need a paid subscription or licence.

  • Skim

    macOS PDF reader and annotator built for reading papers.

    FreeOpen sourcemacOS

    PDF Expert adds an iOS version and genuine text and image editing, but it is closed source and editing, OCR and conversion require a paid subscription or licence.

  • UPDF

    A cross-platform PDF editor with annotation, OCR, conversion, redaction and built-in AI tools.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSAndroidiOSWeb

    PDF Expert limits you to macOS and iOS with a polished native interface and genuine editing, where editing, OCR and conversion require payment.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.