PDFelement-Powerful and Simple PDF Editor
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Truth be told, the competition between PDF Expert and PDFpen has been a tough one in the past years, and it's no surprise to see many folks finding it difficult to make a choice between both tools.
That said, perhaps you're contemplating acquiring PDF Expert or PDFpen for Mac, you don't have to worry. Instead, read this PDF Expert vs PDFpen for Mac guide and discover what these PDF editors have to offer. From their features to their pros and cons, and more, including a perfect alternative. Let's dive in without further ado.
Part 1. PDF Expert and PDFpen – Powerful Mac PDF Editors
1. PDF Expert
PDF Expert is a fast and robust tool that is very efficient for managing large or small PDF files on Mac computers. It offers users a smooth experience in how they read, edit, sign, convert, and do lots more on PDF files. And unlike many other Mac-compatible PDF editing software, it is also supported on iPhone and iPad devices, thus making it easy for users to move their PDF files across different Apple devices without stress.
Also, PDF Expert is fully-featured with many helpful tools that allow users to change the theme of PDF documents, add annotations, merge PDFs, fill forms, and execute many other tasks seamlessly. You can even use it to handle scanned documents.
Pros
It can be used across various Apple devices.
The app is easy to operate.
Good customer support.
Support both full and partial document processing.
It's fast in loading and processing huge or small PDF documents.
Cons
The Lifetime premium plan of the PDF Expert tool can't be used across iPhones, iPad, and Mac.
Only standard image files can be converted to PDF, and it's supported only in the Pro version.
No free trial version.
Supported Systems: Mac, iOS
Plans & Price: $6.67/month (Billed Yearly); $139.99 (Lifetime one-time payment)
2. PDFpen by nitro
PDFpen, on the other hand, is a great tool that can be utilized in creating and editing PDF documents. However, unlike PDF Experts, it's supported on only Mac computers. This tool is very popularly known for the simplicity it offers users in how they manage PDF documents. With PDFpen, you can add new texts, images, and signatures to existing PDF documents. It allows users to handle PDF files like a pro. From annotating to signing & filling, merging, and doing lots more, you don't necessarily need technical knowledge to navigate your way around this excellent PDF editing software.
Pros
Great Customer support
It's easy to use.
It's light-weight, and tasks up just a little space in the computer's storage,
Great customer support.
Supports OCR.
Cons
Some users report that it usually crashes when they're using it.
Document text does not usually display in the correct font.
It does not support a free trial.
Supported Systems: Mac, iOS
Pricing & Plan: $129.95 (PDF Pro Essentials 13)
$179.95 (PDF Pro 13)
Part 2. A Full Comparison Between PDF Expert and PDFpen
From all that is said above, you could tell that PDF Expert and PDFpen are powerful for handling PDF files on Mac. However, as surprising as it might sound, both tools differ in terms of their characteristics. Although the differences are quite thin, that is what makes one tool better than the other. So, keep reading to find out what these differences are.
#1. PDF Expert vs PDFpen: Main Features
PDF Experts and PDFpen boast excellent features that make them unique. However, one has more functions to offer compared to the other. You should read on to find out which of both PDF editors it is.
PDF Expert
- If you're looking for a PDF tool with great speed in processing and opening PDFs, PDF Experts is a reliable option, as it will allow you to open large files, read articles, and compare two documents easily. Besides you can even search particular words in your document using a specialized search feature.
- You can find advanced editing options for Mac to modify PDF files by changing texts, adding links, and inserting images quickly.
- Highlight important texts, add comments, and even add stamps to documents with simple PDF annotation tools.
- Get your PDF file into any preferred file format, including word, excel, ppt, text, etc.
- Easily delete, rotate, arrange, and do many more PDF organizational tasks faster.
- You can fill out an application or tax forms, add your signature, redact PDF files, and add passwords in just a few clicks.
- It recognizes texts in scanned documents, making it for users to search, highlight, and copy them.
PDFpen:
- Easily create and edit cross-platform fillable forms conveniently.
- Export edited PDF files in different formats, including .docx, .xlsx, . and .pptx.
- Combine related PDF files in just one click.
- Create a self-signed certificate and digitally sign PDF files using AATL.
- Supports editing of PDF files using iCloud or dropbox to allow it to save on iOS.
- Create password-protected PDF documents with up to 256-bit AES encryption.
- Easily add page numbers, headers, bookmarks, footers, line numbers, and watermarks.
From the features mentioned above, it's obvious that PDFpen wins in terms of the features offered.
# 2. PDF Expert vs PDFpen: Supported Systems
PDF Experts and PDFpen are compatible with Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
PDF Expert: Mac, iPhone, iPad
PDFpen: Mac, iPhone, iPad
# 3. PDF Expert vs PDFpen: Pros and Cons
PDF Expert
Pros
It can be used across various Apple devices.
The app is easy to operate.
Good customer support.
Support both full and partial document processing.
It's fast in loading and processing huge or small PDF documents.
Cons
The Lifetime premium plan of the PDF Expert tool can't be used across iPhones, iPad, and Mac.
Only standard image files can be converted to PDF, and it's supported only in the Pro version.
PDFpen
Pros
Great Customer support
It's easy to use.
It's light-weight, and tasks up just a little space in the computer's storage.
Great customer support.
Supports OCR.
Cons
Some users report that it usually crashes when they're using it.
Document text does not usually display in the correct font.
It does not support a free trial.
# 4. PDF Expert vs PDFpen: Plans & Price
PDF Expert and PDFpen have two different plans & prices. For PDF Expert, the tool gives you the option to make payments monthly or pay lifetime. However, the lifetime payment limits you from using the tool across various Apple devices.
PDFpen, on the other hand, also have two plans & price namely PDF Pro Essentials and PDF Pro 13, and they are billed as a one-time payment. The PDF Pro Essentials is billed for $129.95 while the PDF Pro 13 is billed for $179.95.
PDF Expert: $6.67/month (Billed Yearly); $139.99 (Lifetime one-time payment)
PDFpen: $129.95 (PDF Pro Essentials 13); $179.95 (PDF Pro 13)
# 5. PDF Expert vs PDFpen: Awards & Certificate:
Unfortunately, only PDF Expert is an award-winning tool in this case. Yes, the tool was given App of the year runner-up and Editors' choice by Apple. Plus, it boasts up to 30 million users globally.
PDF Expert: App of the year runner-up and Editors' choice by Apple
PDFpen: NONE!
# 6. PDF Expert vs PDFpen: Authoritative Media Reviews
PDF Expert:
PDF Expert is highly known for its productivity and even popular tech news/reviews platforms MacStories, MacWorld, iMore, Techradar, Cult Of Mac, AppleInsider, ZDNet, and The Sweet Setup recommend them. Below are what these media reviews sites are saying about the PDF Expert software;
Techradar - "PDF Expert is a robust and easy-to-use solution for managing business documents."
MacStories- "You'll find value in what Readdle has developed in PDF Expert."
MacWorld - "Goodbye Preview, hello affordable PDF editing on Mac."
AppleInsider - "PDF Expert is the most Mac-like and straightforward to use of the major PDF apps."
iMore - "When people ask for an all-purpose PDF markup and annotation app, I tend to send them to Readdle and PDF Expert."
Cult of Mac - "PDF Expert is the lightweight, powerful viewer your Mac needs."
ZDNet - "If you deal with a lot of PDF files, then PDF Expert is the way to go."
PDFpen:
Unfortunately, there's no proof of any authoritative media review on PDFpen. However, just one we found on their platform from S. Rivest, Montreal, Canada, and it reads;
"I PREFER YOUR APP FOR ITS SIMPLICITY, EFFICIENCY, AND OCR."
Want an alternative to all the other PDF editors? Click the link given below and learn about the best PDF editor for Mac.
Part 3. Great Alternative to PDF Expert and PDFpen – PDFelement for Mac
Having read the brief review on PDF Experts vs PDFpen, if you still feel both tools are not capable enough to satisfy your needs, then you should turn to a more efficient PDF editor like Wondershare PDFelement - PDF Editor.
PDFelement is an all-in-one PDF editor that is compatible with both Mac and Windows systems, and it allows both tech-savvy and non-tech-savvy to perform basic or advanced PDF editing operations seamlessly. From creating PDF files to converting them, merging, comparing, and many more, PDFelement offers a wide range of functionality that ticks boxes around.
Also, PDFelement supports batch processing of large PDF documents, and unlike PDF Experts and PDFpen, it allows the translation of document text into various languages, and its OCR function works really smoothly.
Key Features
- Add bates numbers, watermarks, links, images, and more to PDF documents without compromising their quality.
- Batch compress, merge, convert, print, OCR PDF, etc, in just one click.
- Supports advanced OCR that allows users to edit and search scanned documents.
- It's compatible with both PCs and mobile phones.
- Translate document texts to different languages without error.
- Efficiently redact and extract data from PDF handily.
Supported Systems: Mac, Windows, Android, iOS
especially unique functions of this product to distinguish between other products,
Awards & Certificate: PDFelement is one superb PDF editing software that has been doing wonders in the industry, and because of that, the tool has bagged popular awards ranging from G2 Crowd Report 2022 Summer Leader - Leader of Document Generation, Leader of PDF Editor, Best Software Awards 2022 - Top 50 Office Products, 2022 Software Advice FrontRunners list - Best Contract Management Software awards!
Authoritative Media Reviews:
Many top tech media news platforms like Techradar, iMore, and Pocket-linit recommend PDFelement because of its high efficiency. See what they say about the tool;
- Pocket-linit - "Wondershare PDFelement comes to the rescue like a breath of fresh air, offering rich and advanced features on an intuitive interface without the high price tag that many premium PDF editors command. "
- Techradar -"PDFelement has all of the same superb features and functions that the competition offers - and in some cases, even more - while also running smoother and costing less. For this reason, it's arguably the best software you can get if you need to work with PDFs."
- iMore - "From signing to creating and editing, PDFelement has taken what was once an impossible task with PDFs and made it simple and easy to use. "
Conclusion
At this point, you should already have a choice to choose between PDF Expert and PDFpen Mac PDF editing software. As you can see from the above article, we've covered the essential information that you must know about PDF Experts and PDFpen before you purchase either. However, if you don't seem to find either PDF Expert or PDFpen to be efficient for your needs, PDFelement is a great alternative that can come in handy for you, as it offers more functions compared to the other tools.