If you want an app that not only reads but also creates and edits PDF documents, you’ll need to fork over a good chunk of cash to get one that’s actually worth using. Finally, it’s worth pointing out that these browsers have a rich ecosystem of extensions, and third-party utilities can improve their default PDF viewing experience. But Firefox’s feature set impresses us the most. You’re likely to choose whichever browser is your default anyway. Its thumbnail browser is also the nicest of the three, displaying pages in a useful 2D grid rather than a vertical list.ĭownload: Mozilla Firefox on macOS (Free)įor the most basic PDF viewing, web browsers now do a very good job as an alternative to a standalone app. It allows you to view the entire PDF horizontally, rather than vertically, should you feel the need. It also allows you to toggle any annotations present in the PDF you’re viewing, although you won’t be able to add your own.įirefox has an extra few minor features again. Google Chrome does present a thumbnail view, alongside standard zoom and layout options. This is probably because Apple encourages you to use Preview, and Safari provides a shortcut to open the current PDF with it. In particular, Safari does not show page thumbnails.
