acrobat classic mac review-cover

Adobe Acrobat 2024 Review: Offline Desktop Version of Acrobat Pro DC

Nick Mead
Reviews
5
Last updated:
Adobe Acrobat Pro 2024 offers a reliable and powerful PDF solution for Mac users who prefer an offline, fixed term perpetual license, albeit limited to three years. While it lacks the advanced and continuously updated features of Acrobat Pro DC, it covers the essentials well and integrates smoothly with macOS. For those looking to avoid subscription models and who are satisfied with basic PDF functionalities, Acrobat Pro 2024 is a worthwhile option to consider.
Pros:
No annual subscription
Powerful PDF editing tools
macOS desktop app
Cons:
No continuous updates
Lacks advanced PDF editing tools
No web or Creative Cloud integration
Fixed term license only valid for three years
75
Buy Now

Adobe Acrobat Pro DC has long been the best PDF editor for Macs which isn’t much of a surprise since Adobe invented the PDF format.

However, nowadays it’s subscription only – you can’t buy a standalone version of it anymore.

A subscription for Acrobat Pro DC currently costs $19.99 per month or it’s also included as part of an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription.

However, Adobe has now given users another option – Acrobat Pro 2024.

Adobe Acrobat 2024 offers a straightforward, one-time purchase PDF editor for all those who prefer not to sign up for yet another subscription.

There are a few catches to be aware of though as we’ll explain.

In this review, we’ll take a look at this new version of Acrobat, focusing on what it can do, its usability on macOS, and who it’s right for.

What is Adobe Acrobat Pro 2024?

acrobat classic for mac - interface
Source: Adobe

Acrobat Pro 2024 is an updated version of Adobe Acrobat Pro 2020 which was the last version of Acrobat that Adobe sold with a perpetual license.

Initially it was branded as “Adobe Acrobat Classic” but Adobe changed this to “Adobe Acrobat 2024” to prevent confusion amongst customers.

The older Adobe Acrobat Pro 2020 is now completely discontinued for sale to both individual and commercial customers.

Acrobat Pro 2024 still includes all the features in Adobe Acrobat Pro 2020 plus a whole new interface with features such as improved tagging features, the ability to star a document, hybrid/border-less table detection and more.

The big difference is that its only available on a 3 year fixed-term license for $324.00 compared to Acrobat Pro 2020 which was available as a one-time purchase.

During this time, you can use it completely offline on a Mac or PC desktop but it doesn’t include Adobe’s Cloud services.

Unlike Adobe Acrobat Pro DC (the “DC” stands for Document Cloud) which requires a subscription and offers continuous updates, Cloud features and Creative Cloud integrations, Acrobat 2024 is more limited.

It receives only security updates, without access to the latest features that Adobe might roll out in the future.

It also lacks the Creative Cloud integration with Adobe’s suite of apps and of course, there’s no AI in it.

Acrobat 2024 is therefore basically a “lite” version of Adobe Acrobat Pro DC but without the monthly subscription.

For more details on the differences between Adobe Acrobat 2024 and Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, we have a full comparison here.

Key Features of Adobe Acrobat Pro 2024 for Mac

  1. PDF Creation and Editing:
    Like the Pro version, Acrobat Pro 2024 allows Mac users to create PDFs from various file types, merge multiple documents into one, and perform basic edits like adding text, images, and links. While it handles standard editing tasks well, it lacks some of the more advanced editing capabilities found in Acrobat Pro DC.
  2. Convert PDFs to Other Formats & OCR:
    Acrobat Pro 2024 has many conversion features, allowing users to convert PDFs into Word, Excel, and PowerPoint among others. You can also perform OCR scans on documents to make them editable or searchable.
  3. Form Creation and Signing:
    For Mac users who need to create fillable forms such as applications forms or questionnaires, Acrobat Pro 2024 offers basic form creation tools. You can add text fields, checkboxes, and other interactive elements. It also supports basic e-signing, though it doesn’t provide the advanced Cloud management and signature tracking tools of Acrobat Pro DC.
Creating a form from scratch in Adobe Acrobat 2024. Source: Adobe
  1. Document Management: Acrobat Pro 2024 allows you to star important documents to make them easier to find. Just add a star to them and you can find them via the starred column on the left.
acrobat classic - starred files
Starred documents in Acrobat Pro 2024. Source: Adobe
  1. Security Features:
    Adobe Acrobat Pro 2024 also has the ability to password-protect documents and apply permissions to restrict printing or editing. This keeps sensitive information secure, which is an important for those that work with confidential PDFs. It also supports Microsoft Purview Information Protection which is Microsoft’s proprietary digital document rights management system. These can be linked with Microsoft Sovereign Cloud although you need to modify your Mac’s registry with Terminal to do so.
  2. Mac Integration:
    Acrobat Pro 2024 has a Mac desktop app and can only be used offline. There’s no web access and no mobile version either. However, the desktop app integrates well with macOS, supporting features like Quick Look for previewing PDFs and compatibility with Preview. Apart from this though, it doesn’t offer any specific Mac-only enhancements and it can still be a bit slow when working with very large files of complex PDFs.

Other enhancements in Adobe Acrobat Pro 2024 compared to the older standalone 2020 version are:

  • The ability to edit rotated tables
  • Background and overlapping object support in PowerPoint
  • Subscript and Header detection in Microsoft Word
  • The ability to easily extract discontinuous pages or pages that need to be removed from a PDF document.

Acrobat Pro 2024 System Requirements

Acrobat Pro 2024 works on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. The exact minimum system requirements are:

Requirement
ProcessorIntel processor; M-series Apple Silicon processor
Operating systemmacOS v12, macOS v13, macOS v14 or macOS 26 (Tahoe)
RAM4GB of RAM
Hard disk space
4.5GB of available hard-disk space
Monitor resolution
1024×768 screen resolution

Pricing

Adobe Acrobat Pro 2024 for Mac is priced at a one-time cost of $324.00. This was originally $540.00 when it was released as “Adobe Acrobat Classic” but Adobe quietly reduced this in 2025.

This differs from the old Acrobat Pro 2020 one time purchase version which was a perpetual license costing $540.00 with no limits.

This will definitely come as a disappointment for those that want a perpetual license although it still works out cheaper than paying $19.99 a month for Acrobat Pro DC over three years.

Is Adobe Acrobat 2024 Worth It?

For Mac users who require only the essential PDF features of Acrobat Pro DC and don’t want another subscription, Acrobat Acrobat 2024 is worth considering.

The desktop app is well integrated with macOS and covers the basics without the need for a subscription.

However, if you’re looking for Cloud integration with regular updates and advanced PDF editing features you may find it limited.

The three year limit on the license is also a downside considering there are other one time purchase PDF editors for Macs that don’t impose limits.

FAQs

Can I upgrade from Adobe Acrobat Pro 2024 to Acrobat Pro DC?

Yes, you can upgrade to Acrobat Pro DC at any time if you find that you need additional features or access to cloud services.

How does Adobe Acrobat Acrobat Pro 2024 perform on newer macOS versions?

Acrobat Acrobat Pro 2024 is officially compatible with the latest versions of macOS, though it’s always best to check Adobe’s website for the most recent compatibility updates.

Does Acrobat Pro 2024 support Apple Silicon Macs?

Yes, Adobe has optimized its applications for Apple Silicon, and Acrobat Pro 2024 runs efficiently on M-chip series Macs.

Is there a free trial available for Acrobat Pro 2024?

Adobe does not offer a free trial for the 2024 version. You can however explore the Pro DC trial if you want to test out Acrobat features before committing to a purchase.

What happens if I need a feature that Acrobat Pro 2024 doesn’t have?

If you find yourself needing more advanced features, such as advanced e-signature tools or cloud storage, you’ll have to upgrade to Acrobat Pro DC.

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Nick Mead
Nick founded MacHow2 in 2013 and has a bachelor's degree in Journalism. Nick started life as a tech journalist and created MacHow2 mainly to help users like himself that had switched from Windows to macOS (and never looked back). Since then the site has evolved into one of the biggest independent online resources for Mac users new and old. You can follow him on X or get in touch via email below or the contact form at the top of the site.

5 Responses

  1. The three-year limit on the license effectively still makes this a subscription-based product. All you are doing is paying upfront for a product with less features. For that privilege, you get an extra 9 months free. It works out to the equivalent of $15/mon instead, or a savings of $5/mon. So, even that is a hefty price.

    Acrobat is overkill for most people that need basic editing capabilities, which Preview can supply for free, or other PDF editors can offer for a fraction of the price.

    Reply

    1. The point on pricing is true but there are many businesses that buy in volume that don’t want Creative Cloud integration and want a standalone desktop solution. The savings of $5 per month may be significant if it’s for hundreds or thousands of licenses.

      macOS Preview is very basic compared to dedicated PDF editing software including Acrobat Pro. Yes it can be used to fill in forms and basic editing but try creating a form with it or a complex PDF document and it’s another story.

      Reply

    2. (Strange but I received the following reply but it does not show up here, so I am copying it here so I can reply)

      “MacHow2 just commented on Adobe Acrobat Classic Review: A New Lighter Version of Acrobat Pro.

      In response to smayer97:

      The three-year limit on the license effectively still makes this a subscription-based product. All you are doing is paying upfront for a product with less features. For that privilege, you get an extra 9 months free. It works out to the equivalent of $15/mon instead, or a savings of $5/mon. So, even that is a… Continue reading Untitled

      The point on pricing is true but there are many businesses that buy in volume that don’t want Creative Cloud integration and want a standalone desktop solution. The savings of $5 per month may be significant if it’s for hundreds or thousands of licenses.

      macOS Preview is very basic compared to dedicated PDF editing software including Acrobat Pro. Yes it can be used to fill in forms and basic editing but try creating a form with it or a complex PDF document and it’s another story.”

      ——

      Yes, that seems to be the differentiator. The Adobe’s pricing is less considerate to average consumers, making their products much less attainable. It is business that would benefit the most by such pricing structure. For them it might make sense. Adobe does not seem to care much to target the average consumer. For most consumers, I doubt they have much need to create any meaningful volume of forms, if at all, let alone complex ones. When I have need to create a form, Preview, though clumsy, can get the job done, at least for my purposes.

      So, for business, sure. For the average Joe, not so much, as the price is much harder to justify.

      Reply

  2. Thank you for a useful description of the new Acrobat Classic.
    Without doubt, Adobe has created some excellent and now almost essential programs for many.
    However, I find Adobe’s marketing strategies and pricing quite objectionable.
    I detest the ever increasing move to subscription only products. Despite these now being delivered entirely by download as compared with earlier provision of disks and usually quite comprehensive manuals, the cost of subscriptions is certainly excessive.

    $540 for a single license for a limited feature stand alone version of Acrobat Classic is profiteering on a grand scale, particularly if that is a $US figure.

    Similar moves have placed Lightroom, Photoshop and other products out of reach of the average person.

    Yes, I’m aware that considerable effort and technical prowess goes into producting quality software such as Adobe undoubtedly produces. However, these marketing strategies and pricing policies add to the inequities which cause a technological rich and technological poor society and which increase the inequity between the haves and have nots.

    To me, that’s wrong. I was raised in virtual poverty. I still, at 77 years have little and live on a pension only. No, I am far from the most disadvantaged people in the World but computing has been an enjoyment of mine since the days of the Apple II, Amstrad, Commodore, Peach, Cat and such. I have never made any money from it but have used it to support non-profits and deliver community information via the Internet, as well as building library programs to assist those often fund starved institutions.

    Adobe was the first company in Silicon Valley to become profitable. It’s revenue in the third quarter of 2024 was over $5.4 Billion with yearly earnings of $20.2 Billion representing a growth of 17%+ EPS per year.

    I am nobody but for what it’s worth, my view is that large corporations are well able to grow and produce good profits for their shareholders but ought also to have and show a responsibility to a more even and equitable society and the ‘lessening’, not widening between wealthy and poor.

    Reply

    1. Subscription pricing is definitely a controversial subject although it’s not just big software developers that have moved to it. Many smaller developers have moved to it as a way to continuously fund the development of apps and software. Part of the reason is because releases of new versions of macOS and iOS are far more frequent now and this requires more maintenance and development. That said there are still some developers that offer one time purchase PDF software if you don’t want a subscription.

      Reply

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