Added Oct 29, 2026
PDF Pals
Free trial · $59 one-timeNative Mac app for chatting with PDFs, with local data
What is PDF Pals?
PDF Pals is a macOS app that lets you chat with PDFs, summarize long documents and check answers against cited source pages. Documents and data stay on your Mac, and you can use local models or your own API key.
The app runs natively with built-in OCR, has no stated file size limit and stores data locally, so no cloud vector database is involved. Use-case pages cover developers, academic researchers, product managers, legal professionals and HR teams.
It is sold as a licence rather than a subscription: Basic is $59 for one Mac with a year of updates, and Plus is $99 for two Macs with lifetime updates. A free trial can be downloaded, and version 2 requires macOS 14 or later.
Features
- Chat with PDFs
- Cited source pages
- Built-in OCR
- Local models or own API key
- Local data storage
Tags
Releases
+ Submit new release- Listed
PDF Pals was added to the directory.
Organization
PDF Pals
Listed by kitio.ai · unverified owner
Pricing
- Pricing model
- Free trial
- Paid options from
- $59 one-time
- Billing frequency
- One-time
PDF Pals plans
Basic
$59 one-time
- 1 Mac
- All features
- One year of updates
Plus
$99 one-time
- 2 Macs
- Lifetime updates
Prices in USD, checked Oct 29, 2026. Plans change often, so confirm on the PDF Pals site.Official pricing
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Pros and cons
Pros
- Documents stay on your Mac
- One-time licence
- Works with local models
Cons
- Mac only
- Basic licence covers one year of updates
- Team licences by request
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Q&A
What is PDF Pals?
PDF Pals is a macOS app that lets you chat with PDFs, summarize long documents and check answers against cited source pages. Documents and data stay on your Mac, and you can use local models or your own API key.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. The site offers a free trial download.
Which macOS version do I need?
macOS 13 or later, while version 2 needs macOS 14 or later.
How much does PDF Pals cost?
PDF Pals is free trial, with paid plans from $59 one-time.
Is there a free version of PDF Pals?
No, but you can try it free before paying.
What are the main features of PDF Pals?
Chat with PDFs, Cited source pages, Built-in OCR, Local models or own API key, Local data storage.
Who makes PDF Pals?
PDF Pals is made by PDF Pals.
What are the best alternatives to PDF Pals?
Popular alternatives include Sparkle, PdfGPT.io, PDF GPT.