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About Preview
Preview is the viewer that comes with every Mac for opening PDF documents and image files. Beyond viewing, it can annotate and sign PDFs, combine and rearrange pages, and make basic changes to images.
Because it is part of macOS there is nothing to install or pay for, which makes it the first tool to try for everyday PDF tasks on a Mac before reaching for a dedicated editor.
Strengths
- Already installed on every Mac
- Handles both PDFs and images
- Covers annotating, signing and merging
Limitations
- macOS only
- No advanced editing of PDF text or OCR tools like dedicated editors
Details
- Pricing
- FreeIncluded with macOS at no extra cost.
- License
- Proprietary (Proprietary)
- Developer
- Apple
- Platforms
- macOS
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Works offline
- Yes
- Best suited for
- Mac users handling everyday PDF and image tasks
- Categories
- PDF tools, Photo tools
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to Preview
Compare allSoftware that can replace Preview for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
PDF Expert
Polished PDF reader and editor for macOS and iOS.
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.
Adobe Acrobat
Adobe's PDF software: the free Acrobat Reader for viewing and commenting, and paid Acrobat plans for editing and conversion.
Adobe Acrobat adds a free Reader on Windows, mobile and web, while text editing, PDF creation and conversion require a paid Standard or Pro subscription.
Skim
macOS PDF reader and annotator built for reading papers.
Skim is a free open-source macOS reader focused on papers and LaTeX via SyncTeX, but it does not handle images and stores notes in its own format.
PDFgear
A free PDF reader, editor and converter for desktop and mobile, with online tools and an AI assistant.
PDFgear is a free editor and converter for macOS, Windows and mobile with no sign-up, adding PDF editing, though its AI features send content online.
Highlights
A PDF reader for Mac, iPad and iPhone that turns annotations into exportable notes.
Highlights focuses on annotating PDFs and exporting notes to Markdown on Mac, iPad and iPhone, with advanced features behind a subscription and no image handling.
UPDF
A cross-platform PDF editor with annotation, OCR, conversion, redaction and built-in AI tools.
UPDF adds text editing, OCR, conversion and redaction across desktop and mobile, but full features need a paid plan and AI tools use an online service.
PDF Reader Pro
A commercial PDF reader and editor for annotating, converting, signing and organizing PDFs on desktop and mobile.
PDF Reader Pro adds editing, conversion, OCR and forms on Windows, macOS and mobile, though many features and AI tools require payment.
Foxit PDF Reader
Free PDF reader with annotation, form filling and signing.
Foxit PDF Reader provides free annotation, form filling and signing on every major platform, but page content editing requires the paid Foxit PDF Editor.
Preview as an alternative
Listings that name Preview as an alternative.
Lyn
A lightweight macOS image browser and viewer with non-destructive editing, geotagging and sharing.
Preview is already installed on every Mac and free, handling images and PDFs with annotation and signing, but it lacks Lyn's curves, levels and geotagging.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
PDF Squeezer
A Mac app that shrinks large PDF files by dragging them onto its window.
Keep It
A notebook and document organizer for Mac, iPhone and iPad that integrates with the Finder.
MarginNote
A study app for Mac and iPad that links PDF highlights, mind maps and flashcards.
LiquidText
An active-reading app for annotating PDFs and pulling excerpts into a flexible workspace.
Noteshelf
A handwriting notebook app for iPad, iPhone and Mac with PDF annotation and audio recording.
