Mac users have surprising options for Word-to-PDF. macOS's print system can make PDFs from anything that prints, Word and Pages both export natively, and online converters work too.
Word's own File > Save As PDF
If you have Word installed, this is the cleanest path. File > Save As, pick PDF as the format. Embeds fonts, preserves links, handles tables. Effectively identical to a dedicated converter.
macOS Print > Save as PDF
Open the document in Word (or anything else), Cmd+P, then in the print dialog click the PDF dropdown at the bottom left > Save as PDF. Works on any printable document.
Quality is good but not always as polished as Word's direct PDF export — fonts may not embed as completely, hyperlinks sometimes flatten. Use as a fallback.
Pages as a Word substitute
If you don't have Word, open the DOCX in Pages (free on every Mac), then File > Export To > PDF. Pages' DOCX import is decent and the PDF export is excellent. Useful when Word isn't installed.
Minor formatting differences sometimes show up — fonts may substitute, some Word-specific features simplify.
The browser route
Open Flint's Word to PDF in Safari, drop the DOCX in, download the PDF. Works whether or not Word or Pages is installed. Good for one-off conversions when you don't want to open anything. Conversion runs server-side so it doesn't matter if you're on an old MacBook.
FAQ
Which method is highest quality?
Word's own File > Save As PDF is the benchmark. The online converter matches it. Print > Save as PDF is slightly less reliable for hyperlinks.
Does it work on Apple Silicon?
All methods work on M-series Macs. No compatibility issues.
Can I batch process documents?
macOS Automator's "Convert Format of Word Files" action handles batches. For one-offs, single conversions are fine.
What if my DOCX has fonts I don't have?
Fonts will substitute. Install original fonts for exact match, or convert via a tool that can map to similar fonts gracefully.
Multiple paths, same destination. Convert your Word to PDF in whatever way fits.