The Best PDF Converter for Mac: A List of 18 Tools 2022-2023 (Free Incl.)

PDF, a format for content-rich documents, is widely used to save and circulate information. However, there are so many times we need to convert the PDF file to other file formats in different occasions on Mac, which makes PDF Converter a great assistant for productivity boost.

The best PDF converter for mac is capable of saving your time on retyping the document/data, even allowing users to create, OCR, protect or compress PDF files easily. Generally speaking, there are 4 categories of PDF converters: Native PDF Converter for Mac (working on native PDFs), PDF Converter with OCR for Mac (working on all PDF & images), PDF Converter with Editing Feature Mac (also allowing editing PDF), and Free Mac 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 converters, so you can decide which one is the best PDF converter for mac 2022-2023.

List of the 18 Best PDF Converter for Mac

What is the Best PDF Converter for Mac 2023?

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 worth a try.

Where Cisdem PDF Converter OCR Excel?

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 create PDFs from other documents

Affordability: The price is competitive to get its lifetime update and support 

Simplicity: It is extremely easy to use and the PDF conversion can be done with ease.

Main Features of Cisdem

• Convert native PDF to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Pages, Keynote, ePub, HTML, Text, JPG and so on
• Unlock PDFs with password and convert
• Convert scanned PDF and image to searchable PDF, to editable Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Keynote/Pages/Text/ePub/HTML
• Convert multiple PDFs
• Create PDF from Word, PowerPoint, Keynote, Pages, ePub, images and so on
• Compress and protect PDFs

Utilize the Best PDF Converter for Mac

PDF Converter OCR is designed with an intuitive interface, users can convert or create PDFs quite easily. Here I will show you how PDF Converter OCR works excellently for you on PDF conversion.

• Step 1. Download and install Cisdem PDF Converter OCR to your Mac.
  Free Download
• Step 2. Add PDF Files to PDF Converter for Mac.
  Click the "+" button or drag-and-drop directly an array of PDF files to the interface. You can import as many as 150 PDF files one time as this program supports batch conversion.

• Step 3. Adjust the Setting.
  You can adjust the setting to customize the PDF conversion. Select All Pages or fill in Page Range to do partial conversion.
  Remember to turn the OCR function ON when you are working on scanned PDF;
  Input PDF password before conversion if you are working on a locked PDF;
  Click the setting icon to customize your PDF when you create PDFs within the program, you can rename, merge, protect or compress your PDF.

• Step 4. Convert PDFs on Mac.
  Click the "Convert" button on the main interface, start converting PDF to any supported output on Mac.
  You will get the converted files in the selected output folder once the conversion status bar indicates a successful conversion.

The Alternatives (17 Tools)

#2 Adobe Acrobat DC (PDF Converter with Editing Feature)

Adobe brings PDF to us and that’s no wonder it ranks the top of the PDF Converter list. Its latest version Adobe Acrobat DC that covers a large amount of PDF users, allows users to create, edit, convert PDFs on computer or mobile device, also perform Adobe OCR.

Pros: Edit native and scanned PDFs

Supported MacOS: 10.11~12

Supported Input: Native and scanned PDFs, Microsoft Office, Text, HTML, Clipboard Content, PSD, AI, INDD, PostScript, EPS, 3D

Supported Output: Docx, xlsx, pptx, HTML, JPEG, TIFF, PNG, RTF, Encapsulated Postscript, Postscript, Text, XML 1.0

Price: US12.99~14.99/month

#3 Nuance Power PDF (PDF Converter with Editing Feature)

Nuance PDF Converter for Mac also enables users to easily and accurately convert PDFs or images into editable formats, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, RTF, and Corel WordPerfect documents. 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 MacOS: 10.12~12

Supported Input: Native and scaned PDF, Image

Supported Output: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, RTF, Corel WordPerfect

Price: $129

#4 Foxit PhantomPDF Mac (PDF Converter with Editing Feature)

It is a PDF editor helping users to edit, organize, create, convert, protect, sign, even perform OCR on scanned and image files. 

Pros: Edit and manage PDF files as easily as that working on Word files in Microsoft Office.

Supported MacOS: 10.10~10.13

Supported Input: Native and scaned PDF, Image, Word, Text

Supported Output: Word, PowerPoint, Excel, RTF, HTML, Text, PNG, JPG, TIFF, BMP

Price: $149~$159

#5 PDFElement (PDF Converter with Editing Feature)

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 much convenience especially when creating PDF forms.

Pros: Best alternative to Adobe Acrobat if want a powerful yet affordable PDF editor.

Supported MacOS: 10.10~12

Supported Input: Native and scanned PDF, Image, Text, RTF

Supported Output: Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Image

Price: $79.99

#6 Readiris 17 Pro for Mac (PDF Converter with OCR for Mac)

Readiris Pro 17 for Mac 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 document, convert PDF in high quality, convert paper files to digital copy, edit text in image with OCR

Supported MacOS: 10.11~12

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~$129

#7 Aiseesoft PDF Converter Ultimate (PDF Converter with OCR for Mac)

It can also convert any PDF to Word, ePub, PowerPoint, Text, Excel, HTML and image formats. Even it can customize output settings, such as set the pixel size, image color, or adjust the layout in documents.

Pros: Convert all PDFs into 15 formats and allow customizing output files

Supported MacOS: 10.7 or later

Supported Input: Native and scanned PDF

Supported Output: Text, Docx, RTF, XLSX, PPTX, ePub, HTML, TIFF, JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TGA, PPM, JPEG2000

Price: $55

#8 PDFMate PDF Converter for Mac (PDF Converter with OCR for Mac)

A Mac PDF Converter to save native and scanned PDFs into 6 formats. It is light in weight and easy to use. 

Pros: Convert PDFs in high quality, allow configuring preference before conversion

Supported MacOS: 10.6~10.15

Supported Input: Native PDF and scanned PDF

Supported Output: ePub, HTML, TXT, Image, SWF, Word

Price: $39.95

#9 Solid Converter Mac (PDF Converter with OCR for Mac)

It allows users to convert both native and scaned 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 MacOS: 10.13~11

Supported Input: Native and Scanned PDF

Supported Output: RTF, Docx, Txt, HTM, XLSX, CSV, PPTX, Pages

Price: $99.95

#10 Tipard PDF Converter for Mac (PDF Converter with OCR for Mac)

This Mac PDF Converter helps to save PDFs as 14 formats. About the OCR feature, it supports to recognize 30+ languages.

Pros: Convert PDFs in high quality and support 30+ languages.

Supported MacOS: 10.5~12

Supported Input: Native and Scanned PDF

Supported Output: Docx, RTF, XLSX, PPTX, ePub, HTML, Txt, JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TGA, PPM, TIFF

Price: $49

#11 Cisdem PDF Master for Mac (Native PDF Converter for Mac)

Cisdem PDFMaster for Mac is a program allowing users to export native PDF as 13 formats and helping extract images from the PDF. Also, users can create PDF from some popular file format (ePub, Docx, PPTX, etc), even split, merge, protect, compress, unsecure and edit PDFs with ease.

Pros: Create and convert PDFs in high-quality, batch convert

Supported MacOS: 10.13 and later

Supported Input:
For Its PDF Converter: Native PDF
For Its PDF Creator: ePub, Docx, PPTX, RTF, RTFD, CHM, Text, HTML;

Supported Output:
For Its PDF Converter: Docx, PPTX, Text, RTFD, ePub, HTML, Pages, Keynote, BMP, PNG, TIFF, JPG, GIF
For Its PDF Creator: PDF

Price: $69.99

#12 Lighten PDF Converter Master for Mac (Native PDF Converter for Mac)

Another mac 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

#13 Coolmuster PDF Converter Pro for Mac (Native PDF Converter for Mac)

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

#14 Recosoft PDF2Office 2017 (Native PDF Converter for Mac)

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 MacOS: 10.9 and higher

Supported Input: Native PDF

Supported Output: Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Text

Price: $59.99

#15 Mac Preview (Free Mac PDF Converter)

Preview is the free application 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

#16 Google Docs (Free Mac PDF Converter)

Google Docs under Google Drive, is an online free platform 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 allow editing in the program.

Supported MacOS: All

Supported Input: Native and scanned PDF 

Supported Output: Docx, ODT, RTF, PDF, TXT, HTML, ePub.

#17 Online2pdf (Free Mac PDF Converter)

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.

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

#18 Smallpdf (Free Mac PDF Converter)

It virtually covers all the service you will need to manage a PDF, such as PDF creation, conversion, compression, encryption, merging, splitting, signing, editng, 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

Final Thoughts

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, those alternatives worth a try.