A Free PDF Expert Alternative for Mac and Windows
PDF Expert is a polished editor. If you mostly merge, sign, annotate and compress, you may not need to pay for it, and Windows users need another option anyway.
Quick Answer
- ✓PDF Expert is paid and Apple only. Readdle says no Windows version is planned.
- ✓FileHop is free on Mac and Windows, for merging, splitting, annotating, signing, redacting, filling forms, protecting and compressing PDFs.
- ✓Stay with PDF Expert if you edit existing PDF text, need OCR, or work on iPhone or iPad. FileHop doesn't do those.
Why look for a PDF Expert alternative?
PDF Expert is one of the best-designed PDF apps on Mac. The usual reasons to look elsewhere are price and platform. The Mac App Store listed $139.99 in October 2026, Readdle sells a subscription too, and there's a 7-day trial. Readdle also notes that new features may cost extra for lifetime buyers, so read the plan details before buying.
Readdle says there's no Windows version planned, which leaves anyone who moves between a Mac and a PC without one shared app. Many people also pay for a full editor but only use a handful of everyday tools. If that's you, a free app may do the job.
How to work with PDFs in FileHop
FileHop keeps your PDF tools next to your files.
Open your folder
Open FileHop and go to your PDFs. Preview them right away.
Select your files
Select one PDF, or several to merge or compress as a batch.
Use the PDF tools
Merge, split, reorder, rotate, add page numbers, watermark, protect, unlock or compress.
Mark it up
Annotate, sign, fill forms and redact in the built-in viewer.
FileHop can add text to a PDF, but we didn't find a way to edit a PDF's existing text. It has no OCR, so scanned pages stay as images, and there's no iPhone or iPad app.
Other options
Depending on what you need, one of these may fit better.
PDFgear
A free PDF suite for Windows, Mac and mobile, with OCR and text editing. If those matter and you want free, it's stronger than FileHop for PDFs.
Preview (Mac)
Already on your Mac. It handles signing, annotation and basic merging well.
Adobe Acrobat
The most complete option, for complex documents and accessibility work, on a subscription.
PDF Expert vs FileHop
A direct comparison as of October 2026.
| What matters | PDF Expert | FileHop |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $139.99 on the App Store | Free |
| Windows | No | Yes |
| Merge, sign, redact | Yes | Yes |
| Edit existing text | Yes | No |
| OCR | Yes | No |
| iPhone and iPad | Yes | No |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a free alternative to PDF Expert?
Yes. FileHop and PDFgear are free, and Preview is included with every Mac.
Is PDF Expert available for Windows?
No. Readdle says no Windows version is planned.
Can FileHop edit PDF text?
It can add text, but we found no way to change a PDF's existing text.
Does FileHop have OCR?
No. Scanned pages with no text layer stay as images.
Can FileHop redact PDFs?
Yes.
Can I sign and fill forms?
Yes, both are built in.
Are my PDFs uploaded?
No. FileHop works on your computer.
Does FileHop do more than PDFs?
Yes. It also handles video, images, spreadsheets, Word and PowerPoint files.
Free PDF tools on any computer
Merge, sign, redact and compress on Mac and Windows.
Download FileHop Free