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Preview vs PDF Expert: catalog facts
Preview	PDF Expert
Free Included with macOS at no extra cost.	Freemium Reading and basic annotation are free. Editing features require a paid plan.
macOS	macOS, iOS
Already installed on every Mac Handles both PDFs and images	Genuine text and image editing inside the PDF, not just annotation Very fast on large documents, with a polished Apple-native interface
macOS only No advanced editing of PDF text or OCR tools like dedicated editors	macOS and iOS only Editing, OCR and conversion require a paid subscription or licence
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Closed source	Closed source
License: Proprietary	License not stated
No account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 24, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 22, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.