PDF Expert review covering Readdle's Mac and iOS PDF editor, AI features, pricing plans, pros, cons, and top alternatives for 2026.
PDF Expert is a PDF editing and annotation app made by Readdle, a Ukrainian software company founded in 2007 in Odesa. The app is built primarily for Mac, iPad, and iPhone, offering a native Apple experience with support for Apple Pencil and touch-based editing.
PDF Expert combines core PDF tools such as annotation, editing, and form filling with newer AI-assisted features through PDF Copilot, positioning it as a faster and more affordable alternative to Adobe Acrobat for Apple-centric users.
Users can annotate, edit text and images, merge and split files, fill and design forms, add digital signatures, redact sensitive content, and run OCR on scanned documents directly within PDF Expert.
PDF Copilot, Readdle's AI assistant built into the app, can summarize documents, answer questions about their content, and assist with translation and conversion to formats like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
PDF Expert can be downloaded for free with basic viewing and limited editing. Full functionality requires a Premium subscription priced at roughly EUR 5.99 per week or about EUR 84.99 per year, with a student discount available on the annual plan.
A one-time Lifetime license priced around EUR 149.99 is also available, though it is restricted to the Mac version only; new feature releases after purchase may cost extra.
A free version is available with limited editing; full features require a Premium subscription or Lifetime license.
PDF Expert is developed by Readdle, a software company founded in 2007 in Odesa, Ukraine.
PDF Expert is primarily built for Mac, iPad, and iPhone; it does not have a native Windows app.
PDF Copilot is Readdle's AI assistant built into PDF Expert that can summarize and answer questions about document content.
Yes, a one-time Lifetime license is available, but only for the Mac version.
Yes, users can add and request legally binding digital signatures.
Yes, Readdle offers a discount on the annual plan for verified students and educators.
PDF Expert is a lighter, more affordable, Apple-focused alternative, while Acrobat is a more feature-heavy, cross-platform, long-established industry standard.