There are many times we need to convert PDF file to other formats on Mac or Windows, which makes PDF converter a great assistant for productivity boost.
Generally speaking, there are 4 categories of PDF converters: Native PDF Converter (working on native PDFs), PDF Converter with OCR feature (working on all PDF & images), PDF Converter with Editing Feature (also allowing editing PDF), and online PDF Converter. However, to convert both native and scanned PDF, users are often recommended to pick a PDF Converter with OCR feature.
Here we list 18 best PDF converters for both Mac and Windows, you can decide which one is the best in 2023.
Cisdem PDF Converter OCR
Free Download macOS 10.13 or later 
Free Download Windows 11/10/8/7
Unlike Word, Excel or Pages, PDF is a format that is uneditable. To edit and reuse information in a PDF file, we need to have PDF Converter. PDF Converter is software that can convert document files created with Word (DOC / DOCX), Excel (XLS / XLSX), Pages(.pages), PowerPoint (PPT / PPTX), etc. into PDF format.
One of the other important tasks of a PDF Converter is converting files to PDF format. As technology advances, Modern operating systems usually have a virtual printer that can output files to PDF instead of printed paper page. So, we don't recommend you getting a PDF Converter just for this reason.
①Convert PDF to Other Formats
For a PDF Converter, the ability to convert PDF to common files like word, excel, PPT, is a must and you will find almost all of the tools support this kind of format. But, As a Mac user, you may need a PDF Converter that can convert PDF files to iWork formats such as Pages, Keynote, Numbers. By directly converting, you avoid the need to convert PDF to word and then from word to Pages, this also greatly reduce the need to make major corrections. Also useful is the ability to output in image formats such as PNG, JPG, and TIFF.
②Creating PDF Files
We Know, Word, Excel, Pages also have the ability to convert files to PDF. And, you can also selects a PDFPrinter that outputs to PDF. However, you may need tools that combine images files into a single PDF, or a PDF Creator that keep all fonts and links during conversion. In addition, the paid version of the software also has the ability to convert multiple files in different formats into PDF files at once.
③ Important! Preserve Layout, Fonts, Hyperlinks, Images, etc.
This is the point that distinguishes a good PDF Converter and a bad one. You don't want to convert a PDF and doing the editing all day. When converting a PDF file to other formats, the extent to which elements, like layout, fonts, hyper links can be preserved varies greatly depending on the software.
In particular, it is difficult to for PDF to excel conversion while at the same time keep cell merging and calculation formulas in Excel files, you will expect to get garbled text and layout collapse. But, a good PDF Converter like Cisdem PDF Converter OCR can keep all the layout, font images, and links, etc.
① Text Recognition Function (OCR)
OCR means Optical Character Recognition - A function that reads text in images as text data. This function is a must if you want to convert image files or paper documents sent by fax. Scanned documents are converted into text that the user can edit and search. A good PDF Converter has a very low error rate in recognition and manages to largely transfer the layout of the original to the digital document. However, the font will usually replaced by a similar system font.
② OCR Multilingual Support
If you scan PDF files in languages other than English, you need to choose a PDF Converter that supports multiple languages like Chinese (simplified/traditional), Korean, Japanese, etc.
③ Batch Processing
This is what a offline PDF Converter excels, most online PDF Converters have limit on file size and pages. If you have a lot of PDF files to convert, this feature will greatly improve your work efficiency.
As we mentioned in the beginning, on PDF conversion, a PDF Converter with OCR feature would be the best choice, while on our recommended list, Cisdem PDF Converter OCR is worth a try.
Quality: It converts all imported files into high quality output, the formatting, layout, graphic and all the contents will be preserved as that in the original file.
Features: It supports working on all PDFs, native, scanned even protected. Still, it supports to creating PDFs from other documents.
Simplicity: It is extremely easy to use and the PDF conversion can be done with ease.
Affordability: The price is competitive to get its lifetime update and support.
PDF Converter OCR is designed with an intuitive interface, users can convert files to and from PDFs quite easily. Here I will show you how PDF Converter OCR works excellently for you on PDF conversion.
Free Download macOS 10.13 or later Free Download Windows 11/10/8/7 
Adobe brings PDF to us and it’s no wonder it ranks at the top of the PDF Converter list. Its latest version, Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, that covers a large number of PDF users, allows users to create, edit, convert PDFs on PC or mobile device, and also perform Adobe OCR.
Pros: Edit native and scanned PDFs, accurate conversion result.
SupportedSystem: macOS 10.15 or later; Win 7/8/10/11
Supported Input: Native and scanned PDFs, Microsoft Office, Text, HTML, Clipboard Content, PSD, AI, INDD, PostScript, EPS, 3D
Supported Output: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, HTML, JPEG, TIFF, PNG, RTF, Encapsulated Postscript, Postscript, Text, XML 1.0
Price: $239.88/yr
Nuance PDF Converter also enables Mac and Windows users to easily and accurately convert PDFs or images into editable formats. In addition, users can directly view, edit and create PDFs within the program. This program is also deemed as a competent alternative to Adobe Acrobat DC.
Pros: Edit, convert and manage PDF files easily
Supported System: macOS 10.12 or later; Win 7/8/10/11
Supported Input: Native and scanned PDF, Image
Supported Output: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, RTF, Text, Corel WordPerfect
Price: $129/lifetime
Cisdem PDFMaster is a program allowing Mac and Windows users to export native PDF as 15 formats and helping extract images from the PDF. Also, users can create PDF from some popular file format (DOCX, PPTX, Excel, Images, etc.), even annotate, protect, unlock, compress and edit PDFs with ease. In addition, batch process files also work.
Pros: Best alternative to Adobe Acrobat. Edit PDF, create and convert PDFs in high-quality, supports batch conversion
Supported System: macOS 10.13 or later; Win 7/8/10/11
Supported Input:
For Its PDF Converter: Native PDF, scanned PDF, BMP, GIF, ICO, JPEG, PNG
For Its PDF Creator: MS Office, iWork, Images, PDF
Supported Output:
For Its PDF Converter: MS Office, XOD, XPS, PDF/A, Text, RTF, HTML, Pages, Keynote, Numbers, Images
For Its PDF Creator: PDF
Price: $59.99/yr; 89.99/one-time
It is a PDF editor helping users to edit, organize, create, convert, protect, sign, even perform OCR on scanned and image files. The straightforward interface and clear guides are suitable for beginners or office workers.
Pros: Edit and manage PDF files as easily as working on Word files in Microsoft Office
Supported System: macOS 10.10 or later; Win 10/11
Supported Input: Native and scanned PDF, Image, Word, Text
Supported Output: Word, PowerPoint, Excel, RTF, HTML, Text, PNG, JPG, TIFF, BMP
Price: $129 - 159/yr
It is a beautiful and easy-to-use PDF tool to edit PDF text, create PDF, OCR, annotate, sign and fill PDFs. It is quite similar to PDFExpert and it brings a convenience, especially when creating PDF forms.
Pros: A powerful yet affordable PDF editor
Supported System: macOS 10.14 -11; Win 7/8/10
Supported Input: Native and scanned PDF, Image, Text, RTF
Supported Output: Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Pages, Image, EPUB, HTML, RTF
Price: 79.99/yr; 129.99/one-time
Readiris Pro 17 is developed by Iris, the leading developer to offer high quality OCR solutions and PDF kits. It allows users to convert any PDFs into searchable PDF, to Word, Excel, ODT, EPUB, HTML, Text, RTF, Audio and image formats.
Pros: Create PDF from other documents, convert PDF in high quality, convert paper files to digital copy, edit text in image with OCR
Supported System: macOS 10.12 or later; Win 7/8/10
Supported Input: Native PDF, Scanned PDF, Image, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, HTML, EPUB, paper files
Supported Output: Searchable PDF, Word, Excel, ODT, EPUB, HTML, Text, RTF, Audio and image
Price: $99/one-time
It can also convert any PDF to Word, EPUB, PowerPoint, Text, Excel, HTML and image formats. Even it can customize output settings, such as setting the pixel size, image color, or adjusting the layout in documents.
Pros: Convert all PDFs into 15 formats and allow customizing output files
Supported System: macOS 10.7 or higher; Win 7/8/10/11
Supported Input: Native and scanned PDF
Supported Output: Text, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, RTF, EPUB, HTML, TIFF, JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TGA, PPM, JPEG2000
Price: $49.95/one-time
A Mac and Windows PDF Converter to save native and scanned PDFs into 6 formats. It is light in weight and easy to use. Also, it provides other services such as batch conversion, partial conversion, customization for output files.
Pros: Convert PDFs in high quality, allow configuring preference before conversion
Supported System: macOS 10.15 or higher; Win 7/8/10
Supported Input: Native PDF and scanned PDF
Supported Output: EPUB, HTML, Text, JPG, SWF, Word
Price: $39.95/lifetime
It allows users to convert both native and scanned PDFs into 8 formats, also users can edit the preference to get preferred output files.
Pros: Convert PDFs in high quality, allow customizing output
Supported System: macOS 10.13 - 11; Win 7/8/10/11
Supported Input: Native and Scanned PDF
Supported Output: RTF, Word, Text, HTML, PowerPoint, Excel
Price: $99.95/lifetime
This Mac and Windows PDF Converter helps to save PDFs as 14 formats. About the OCR feature, it supports to recognizing 30+ languages.
Pros: Convert PDFs in high quality and support 30+ languages
Supported System: macOS 10.5 - 12; Win 7/8/10/11
Supported Input: Native and Scanned PDF
Supported Output: Word, RTF, Excel, PowerPoint, EPUB, HTML, Text, JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TIFF
Price: $49/yr; 69/one-time
Another Mac and Windows PDF Converter to export PDF files as 16 document formats. Also it can work as a PDF reader to open and view PDF files.
Pros: Convert PDFs in high quality, batch convert, mark image area, edit table area, add horizontal or vertical line
Supported MacOS: 10.9~12
Supported Input: Native PDF
Supported Output: Docx, Doc, XLSX, PPTX, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, ePub, RTD, Text, JPG, PNG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, CSV
Price: $34.99
An easy-to-use Mac PDF converter to convert PDFs as several popular document formats. Users are allowed to preview the PDF files within the program.
Pros: Easy to convert PDFs
Supported MacOS: MacOS 10.6 and later
Supported Input: Native PDF
Supported Output: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, ePub, HTML, Text, JPG, TIF, PNG, GIF, BMP
Price: $65.95
Recosoft PDF2Office 2017, as its name indicates, helps users to change PDFs to Microsoft Office files: Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Text. Also, the PDF file can be previewed within the program and users are allowed to customize the output.
Pros: Convert PDF to Microsoft Office formats and customize the output
Supported system: macOS 10.9 and higher
Supported Input: Native PDF
Supported Output: Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Text
Price: $59.99/one-time
Preview is the best free PDF converter that comes with macOS. It can open and view PDFs, images, even Microsoft office documents. But you can only convert PDF files to image formats, not editable formats.
Pros: Free and easy to use
Supported macOS: All
Supported Input: Native and scanned PDF, image, Microsoft office, Pages, Keynote, Numbers
Supported Output: PDF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF
Google Docs under Google Drive, is a free online PDF converter for any device to manage documents online. Users can convert both native and scanned PDFs, then edit the file as needed.
Pros: Easy to work and collaborate anytime anywhere, also allows editing in the program, simpe OCR support.
Supported macOS: All
Supported Input: Native and scanned PDF
Supported Output: DOCX, ODT, RTF, PDF, TXT, HTML, EPUB
It is more like an online PDF kit allowing users to edit, compress, unlock, protect and convert PDFs, both native and image-based PDFs are supported.
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Pros: Support OCR and allow customizing output
Supported macOS: All
Supported Input: Native and scanned PDF, Image
Supported Output:PDF, DOCX, ODT, XLSX, PPTX, TXT, RTF, ODS, Image
It virtually covers all the services you will need to manage a PDF, such as PDF creation, conversion, compression, encryption, merging, splitting, signing, editing, etc. But it doesn’t support doing OCR on scanned PDF or images.
Pros: Convert PDF files from Google Drive or DropBox directly
Supported macOS: All
Supported Input: Native PDF, Word, Excel, Image
Supported Output: PDF, Word, Excel, Image
If you are looking for a program to serve your work on all conversion jobs of PDF, PDF Converter OCR is absolutely the best PDF converter for Mac. If you are looking for a powerful PDF tool to edit and manage your PDFs, other 17 alternatives are also worth a try.
Jose specializes in reviews, how-to guides, top lists, etc. on PDF, data recovery and multi-media. On his spare time, he likes to travel or challenge some extreme sports.
Arma
This is really a long list, appreciate your hard work on this. And I agree with you, a pdf converter with OCR feature would be better.
Nate2009
Really, that's not hard to do though, the best one has to magically do whatever we want it to do, I guess that's the reason why you tell about Cisdem.
Riliewu
It's the first time I commented here and I shloud say that you provide us genuine, and quality information for bloggers! Good job.p.s. You have an awesome template for your blog. Where did you find it?
Ronald
Useful ariticle with detailed steps. Cisdem PDFConverter is useful for me. That is worth trying.