Preview opens PDFs, lets you sign them, and rotates pages. For anything more — actual text edits, form fields, OCR — it gives up.
Browser-based tools fill the gap. They run in Safari, Chrome, or Firefox on any Mac without install.
Stick with Preview for quick stuff
Signatures, highlights, simple annotations, single-page rotation, password protection. Preview handles all of it without leaving the app.
For those tasks, Preview is the fastest path. Don't overcomplicate it.
Use Flint for real editing
Open Flint's editor in Safari. Drag the PDF in. Now you can edit text directly, insert images, add form fields, reorder pages, merge files.
The full toolkit Preview lacks, in the browser, no install.
OCR scanned PDFs
Preview can't OCR. macOS has system-level text recognition, but it doesn't bake OCR back into the PDF.
Flint's OCR processes the scan and adds a searchable text layer. Now you can search the document, copy text, and use it like any other PDF.
FAQ
Can Preview edit text?
No — only add text boxes on top. Preview can't change existing text. For that, use a real PDF editor.
Is Acrobat needed for advanced editing?
No. Browser-based tools handle the same tasks. Acrobat is still useful for some niche operations but not required.
How do I sign on Mac?
Preview's built-in signature tool works for simple signing. For verifiable digital signatures with audit trails, use Flint's signing tool.
Will Flint's edits open in Preview correctly?
Yes. Output is standard PDF. Opens in Preview, Acrobat, Chrome, or anywhere else identically.
Preview's great for the basics. For the rest, open Flint in Safari and finish the job.