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Printing documents is one of the most crucial tasks of any business or individual. It allows you to get a hard copy of your documents that you can store or share with others. However, every time you need to print a document, you have to connect it to a printer or a network of printers. But, what if you could save time and print your documents just by having a virtual printer on your Mac? This is when the PDF Printers for Mac come in handy.
Video Tutorial:
What is a PDF Printer?
A PDF printer is a program that allows you to create a PDF document from any file that can be printed. It converts the document into a electronic format that can be viewed and printed by people who don’t have the original program the document was created in. Therefore, PDF printers are extremely useful when you have to share a document with someone else who doesn’t have the same program as you. There are many PDF printers available for Mac that allow you to easily create, manage, and print PDF documents.
Top 6 PDF Printers for Mac
Best 1: PDFelement for Mac
PDFelement is one of the best PDF printers for Mac. It comes with a wide range of features that enable you to create, edit, and print PDF documents. It offers an easy-to-use interface for managing your PDF documents and is specifically designed for Mac users. It supports all the standard PDF printing features, including print, copy, paste, and search, and more advanced features like password protection, form creation, and OCR technology which can turn scanned PDFs into editable text documents. Priced affordably, PDFelement is a great value for money.
Pros:
- User-friendly interface
- Wide range of features
- OCR technology included
Cons:
- No automatic update
- OCR technology is not always accurate
Best 2: Adobe Acrobat DC
Adobe Acrobat DC for Mac is one of the most popular PDF printers used by businesses and individuals. It provides high-quality PDF documents with advanced security and encryption features. The software makes it easy to share and collaborate on documents, and it is compatible with macOS. Among its features are document scanning, editing, and conversion to other formats such as Word and Excel. It has a monthly/annual subscription fee based on different editions, making it more expensive than other PDF printers.
Pros:
- Popular and versatile software
- Available on Windows and Mac
- Advanced security features
Cons:
- Expensive monthly subscriptions
- Adobe Creative Cloud account required
Best 3: PDFpen for Mac
PDFpen for Mac is a powerful PDF printer that comes with a range of advanced features, including OCR technology, document annotation, and form creation. It also allows you to sign and fill out PDF forms electronically, and it can integrate with cloud services such as Dropbox and iCloud. PDFpen for Mac may not be the most user-friendly option available on the market, but its features make it ideal for people who require more than the basic PDF printing functionality. Priced at a moderate category, it offers good value for money.
Pros:
- Advanced features
- Cloud integration
- OCR technology included
Cons:
- May not be very user-friendly compared to other options
- PDFs created may not be compatible with all PDF viewers
Best 4: PrimoPDF for Mac
PrimoPDF for Mac is a free PDF printer that allows you to create high-quality PDF documents from any file that can be printed. It provides a simple, easy-to-use interface that makes PDF creation a breeze. It also allows you to customize the PDF settings and features, such as password protection and document encryption. This software is free to use and can serve the purpose of basic PDF printing. However, it doesn’t offer many advanced features that you may find in other PDF printers.
Pros:
- Free to use
- Simple, user-friendly interface
Cons:
- No advanced features
- May not be compatible with all PDF viewers
Best 5: Foxit PhantomPDF for Mac
Foxit PhantomPDF for Mac is a powerful PDF printer that comes with a wide range of advanced features such as OCR technology, form creation, and annotation tools. It also offers document conversion to and from a variety of file formats. The software is user-friendly and easy to navigate, making it a popular choice for businesses and individuals alike. It does come with a moderate price point that is more expensive than some other competitors. However, it is a great value for money for businesses or individuals who need advanced features.
Pros:
- Advanced features included
- User-friendly interface
- OCR technology included
Cons:
- Expensive compared to other PDF printers
- Not compatible with all types of PDF documents.
Best 6: Nitro Pro for Mac
Nitro Pro for Mac is another popular PDF printing software available for Mac users. This software offers advanced security features such as password protection and digital signatures, and also supports a range of editing tools such as form creation and annotation. Nitro PDF Creator is quite convenient to use suit but, it is available in Windows version only. Therefore, if you are planning to use Nitro Pro on MacOS, you need to run it in a virtual machine or use a hybrid of MacOS and Windows. Nitro Pro is priced at a relatively high price point. However, considering the advanced features that are included in the software, it is a great value for money.
Pros:
- Advanced security features
- Support for a range of editing and annotation tools
- OCR technology included with the software in Windows version.
Cons:
- Expensive compared to other PDF printers
- Not available for MacOS
Comparative Analysis
| PDF Printer | Free Trial | Price | Ease of Use | Value for Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PDFelement for Mac | Yes | $79/year | Easy to use | Good |
| Adobe Acrobat DC | 7-Day Free Trial, Subscription-based | $14.99/month or $179.88/year | Advanced users | Premium |
| PDFpen for Mac | Yes | $79.95/year | Intermediate users | Good value for money |
| PrimoPDF for Mac | Free to use (ad-supported) | Free | Basic users | Good |
| Foxit PhantomPDF for Mac | 30-Day Free Trial, Subscription-based | $9.99/month or $119.88/year | Intermediate to Advanced users | Great value for money |
| Nitro Pro for Mac | No | $159.99/year(Unavailable in MacOS) | Intermediate to Advanced users | Great value for money |
Our Thoughts on PDF Printers for Mac
Choosing the best PDF printer for your Mac can be a challenging task, but it doesn’t have to be so. In our opinion, PDFelement for Mac offers the best value for money for most users. It offers a wide range of features at a competitive price. However, if you need more advanced features, such as digital signatures and security options, Adobe Acrobat DC may be the best option. For those who require basic PDF printing functionality, PrimoPDF for Mac is a great free option to consider. Nevertheless, all the other options listed above offer great functionality and cater to a range of user requirements.
FAQs
Q1: Why do I need a PDF Printer for Mac?
A: A PDF printer for Mac allows you to create electronic files of your documents that can be viewed and printed by anyone without the original program that was used to create the document. It makes sharing and collaboration on documents much easier and is crucial in many business settings.
Q2: What is OCR technology and why is it important?
A: OCR technology stands for Optical Character Recognition. It is important because it allows for scanned documents to be converted into editable text documents. This technology is helpful for businesses that need to digitize paper documents without having to manually retype the content of the documents.
Q3: Can I use a PDF printer to edit PDF documents?
A: Yes, most PDF printers come with a range of editing tools such as form creation, annotation, and page organization. However, the level of functionality varies between each software, and some software are more advanced than others when it comes to editing PDF documents.
Q4: Are there any free options for PDF printing on Mac?
A: Yes, PrimoPDF for Mac is a great free option if you only need basic PDF printing functionality. However, it is important to note that free software often comes with ads or lacks some of the more advanced features that can be found in paid software.
Q5: Can I use a PDF printer on both Mac and Windows?
A: Most PDF printers are platform-dependent. This means that some are only available for Windows users or Mac users specifically. However, some software like Adobe Acrobat DC and Foxit PhantomPDF have both Mac and Windows versions available.
In Conclusion
Choosing the best PDF printer for your Mac requires careful considerations of your needs and budget. Our selection of top 6 PDF printers for Mac covers a range of options with unique features to cater to varying needs. Whether you need OCR technology to convert scanned documents or simply basic functions for creating PDF documents, there is always a software that is right for you.