Compare software

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

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