Learn with our video tutorials. Search our Knowledge Base. Review our FAQ.
Video Tutorials
What’s New in PDFpen and PDFpenPro 11
Showcases some of the new features in the latest versions of PDFpen and PDFpenPro
What’s New in PDFpen and PDFpenPro 10
Showcases some of the new features of PDFpen and PDFpenPro 10
PDFpen & PDFpenPro 9 What’s New
Showcases some of the new features of PDFpen and PDFpenPro 9
PDFpen 8: What’s New
Learn about the new features of PDFpen 8 and how they can help you work smarter.
PDFpen Signatures and Signing Certificates
Learn how to add your signature to a document, and learn about digital signing certificates.
PDFpenPro 8 What’s New
Learn more about the new features in PDFpenPro 8.
PDF Markup
This video covers: highlighting, adding comments and notes, using the Library’s proofreading marks, adding URL links, and print options.
Sign a PDF
This video covers: adding a signature and saving objects to the Library.
Fill In Forms
This video covers: using the text tool to fill forms and filling interactive forms.
Image Touchup
This video covers: manipulating images by adding an image to a PDF page, moving, resizing, adjusting color, appling effects, and resampling.
OCR – Optical Character Recognition
This video covers: what OCR is, how to OCR, viewing OCR text layer, and copy and pasting OCR text.
Correct Text and Redact
This video covers: fixing typos with the Correct Text tool, keyword search with the Find tool, search and replace, redaction, redact and replace.
Export and Encrypt
This video covers: exporting PDF to Microsoft Word, page numbering, Bates numbering, saving with encryption and a password, saving to Evernote, and using AppleScript.
PDFpenPro Features
This video covers PDFpenPro only topics: creating forms with automatic form creation, text fields, checkboxes, radio buttons, signature fields; creating a PDF from a web site; editing the text results of OCR; creating and editing a table of contents; setting a password and permissions; advanced exporting options.
FAQ
Where do I find Help resources?
- Getting started? Watch PDFpen in action on our Video Tutorials above.
- PDFpen comes with extensive Help documentation:
- In-app Help manual: Look under Help in the PDFpen menu bar
- Online Help manual
- Off-line Help manual: Download the PDF
- Older version? Download PDFs for PDFpen 10 Help, PDFpen 9 Help, PDFpen 8 Help, PDFpen 7 Help, PDFpen 6 Help, PDFpen 5 Help, PDFpen 4 Help and PDFpen 3 Help
How do I install PDFpen?
See the installation instructions here.
How do I buy or upgrade PDFpen?
Buy PDFpen from our web store. Buy, or upgrade, from within the product itself click here for instructions.
PDFpen won’t register no matter what! What do I do?
You can find directions on our Activation Help page
I bought from the Mac App Store, why isn’t the upgrade working?
Find directions to upgrade PDFpen. If they don’t help, contact support
I purchased on the Mac App Store after January 1, 2019. How do I get a free upgrade?
PDFpen or PDFpenPro 10 can only be upgraded for free by downloading the direct-purchase version of PDFpen or PDFpenPro 11, not with the Mac App Store version. When you launch the downloaded app, you’ll be prompted to locate your previous version Mac App Store receipt file, as that can only be read with your permission. Once your receipt is verified, PDFpen or PDFpenPro 11 will offer to contact our server and issue you a license to the direct purchase version.
Are PDFpen and PDFpenPro compatible with macOS 10.15 (Catalina) and 10.14 (Mojave)?
I have more than one computer. Does a single license allow me to install on all of them?
Yes, if you are the only user of those computers. If you have multiple computers used by more than one person in the same household, you can purchase a Family Pack license, which covers 5 computers in the same household. (Click here for more information.)
What is the difference between PDFpen and PDFpenPro?
PDFpenPro has all the PDF editing features of PDFpen. PDFpenPro also has the ability to:
- Create cross-platform fillable PDF forms including interactive signature fields and email or web submission buttons
- Create and edit Table of Contents and bookmarks
- Convert websites into PDFs
- Add and edit document permissions
- Automatic form creation makes existing PDF forms fillable
- Gather submitted form data via backend integration
- Export to Microsoft® Excel (.xlsx) when offline, and to Microsoft® PowerPoint (.pptx) and PDF Archive (PDF/A) formats with an Internet connection, must be a licensed user
- Add and delete file attachments and annotations
- Create Portfolio documents, combining related files together
- Correct typos in OCR text layer
- OCR horizontal Chinese, Japanese & Korean
What if I don’t have Mac OS 10.12 or later?
See the System Requirements to download the version of PDFpen which supports your OS version.
How can I purchase a license for version 10.x or earlier?”
We stopped selling v.10 licenses when v.11 was released. A current version license of PDFpen v.11 gives you access to any previous version. Contact support for assistance on registering the version you want to use.
This license will also work in the future to register PDFpen v.11 should you update to it.
Is there an education discount?
Yes, there is a 30% education discount. Please visit our education store for more details.
When are updates available on the Mac App Store?
Smile submits applications for review by the Mac App Store on the day that they are released. Apple must approve the update, and has sole control over when they appear in the Mac App Store.
How do I use PDFpen with iCloud Drive?
Learn more about and iCloud Drive on our blog
Additional Questions?
Have any other questions? Search our Knowledge Base for answers.
System Requirements
| Version | Downloads |
| macOSÂ 10.15, 10.14, 10.13, 10.12 (Catalina, Mojave, High Sierra, Sierra) | PDFpen and PDFpenPro 11 |
| macOS 10.14, 10.13, 10.12 (Mojave, High Sierra, Sierra) | PDFpen and PDFpenPro 10 |
| macOS 10.13, 10.12, 10.11 (High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan) | PPDFpen and PDFpenPro 9 |
| macOS 10.13, 10.12, 10.11, 10.10 (High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan, Yosemite) | PDFpen and PDFpenPro 8 PDFpen and PDFpenPro 7 |
| Mac OS X 10.9, 10.8, and 10.7 (Mavericks, Mountain Lion, and Lion) | PDFpen and PDFpenPro 6 |
| Mac OS X 10.9, 10.8, 10.7, and 10.6 (Mavericks, Mountain Lion, Lion, and Snow Leopard) Requires an 64-bit Intel Core 2 Duo Mac. | PDFpen and PDFpenPro 5 |
| Intel Core Duo and Solo Macs on OS X 10.6 | PDFpen and PDFpenPro 5.7.2 |
| Mac OS X 10.5 and 10.4 (Leopard, Tiger) | PDFpen and PDFpenPro 4 |
