Popup PDF

Popup PDF is a free productivity-focused reader built exclusively for the Mac. Whether you’re studying a 600-page manual, comparing two contracts side-by-side or simply skimming an article, Popup PDF keeps you in the flow. Thanks to the navigation buttons and the pop-over when hovering internal links, it is particularly useful for reading scientific papers: it allows you to quickly take a look at reference definitions or equations without losing your place.

Highlights
• Multi-tab workspace
 – Drag a tab to reorder, merge or detach it into a new window
 – Open unlimited PDFs without cluttering the Dock

• Hover-to-preview internal links
 – Pause over a cross-reference to see the target page in a roomy pop-over
 – Open that preview in a new tab or window with a single click

• Lightning-fast search
 – Instant results with live highlighting
 – Jump to the next/previous hit with ⌘G / ⇧⌘G
 – Dismiss or recall the search bar just like Safari (⌘F / Esc)

• Page thumbnail strip
 – Scroll or click to navigate, with smart pre-loading for zero lag
 – Current page is clearly marked so you never lose your place

• Document outline (Table of Contents)
 – Browse chapters/sections in a sidebar and jump instantly
 – Expand/collapse nested headings for long, structured PDFs

• Navigation history with Undo/Redo
 – Every jump is remembered
 – Step back with ⌘Z, forward with ⇧⌘Z

• Automatic & manual zoom
 – One-click “Resize to Fit” (⌘R)
 – Saved zoom level, scroll position and display mode per document

• Seamless macOS integration
 – Quick Look, “Reveal in Finder” and “Open in Preview” from the context menu
 – Native PDF render engine for crisp rendering
 – “Open recent” button to quickly find your PDFs

• Dark Mode (Night Reading)
 – Read comfortably in low light
 – Inverts PDF colors so text stays clear while the background becomes dark
 – Can be turned on or off at any time

• Focus Mode
 – Hide distractions and focus only on your document
 – Simplifies the window and removes extra controls
 – Move your mouse to the top of the document to show a floating bar with the main controls

Made for focus
The interface stays out of your way: no ads, no login, no telemetry. All processing happens locally so your documents never leave your Mac.

Keyboard shortcuts you already know
⌘F Search • ⌘G Next result • ⇧⌘G Previous result
⌘↑ First page • ⌘↓ Last page • ⌘+ / ⌘– Zoom • ⌘Z Undo • ⇧⌘Z Redo

Download Popup PDF today and rediscover how smooth reading PDFs on a Mac can be!