Since PDF files are easy to distribute and share, many of us use them as PDF files when saving files. So you just received a PDF report file from your colleague, the content in the file is basically a presentation style. And now you want to convert a PDF file to a PowerPoint without having to spend time creating a new PPT from scratch. Then what the best way to do this?

Well the good news is, there are a couple of ways to accomplish this.

And because we said there’s a couple of ways, lets list them down. You can:

• Convert PDF to PowerPoint on Mac with Paid Software
• Convert PDF to PowerPoint on Mac with Free Software
• Convert PDF to PowerPoint on Mac Online (Without Software)

All of these methods have their pros and cons. But thankfully, they all get the job of turning a PDF to PowerPoint Mac done. So let’s dig in.

Ready to convert your PDF to PPT? Read on.

Method 1. Convert PDF to PowerPoint on Mac with Paid Software

The easiest yet commercial way to seamlessly convert your PDF to Powerpoint on Mac, these paid software can take care of everything. Be it the formatting, fonts, pictures, and the overall layout, you just can’t go wrong here.

We take a look at two commercially available software that can turn your PDF to PPT Mac without you tearing your hair out in frustration. After all, you got that presentation to deliver and the clock’s ticking.

1. PDFElement (Formerly Wondershare PDF Converter)

Wondershare has always emphasized on ease of use and an accessible user experience for its products. Little surprise that Wondershare’s PDF creating, editing and conversion tool is a breeze to use.

PDF Element in action. You can export your PDF to either Microsoft Word, Excel or PowerPoint formats.

As you may have noticed from the screenshot, Wondershare’s PDF conversion software is pretty easy to use. Just one-two clicks, and that spiffy PDF that your co-worker sent will be ready to go as a dynamic and presentable PPT.

Did we mention that it preserves all the formatting, layout and fonts? All you need to do is add some music and transition effects with your PowerPoint file and you’re good to go!

You really can’t go wrong with Wondershare PDF Converter. It has all the features you need and the results you want.

Pros

• Powerful, all-in-one utility for all your PDF creation and conversion needs
• Very simple to use.
• One-click conversion process for PDF to Powerpoint Mac.
• Preserves all elements during conversion, making for easier edits between two applications.

Cons

• Paid software. Both Standard and Pro versions feature an annual fee at $69 and $89 respectively.

Conclusion: For small and medium-sized businesses, Wondershare PDF converter pretty much fits the bill. For the individual personal user, there are better options out there.

2. Cisdem PDF Converter OCR

Apart from the fact that Cisdem PDF Converter OCR excels at scanning images and turning them into editable little PDFs, you can also convert these digital files into other formats as well.

Cisdem’s implementation also works better if you have a bunch of PDFs lying around, thanks to its batch processing feature. Not only is it fast, it is hassle-free and preserves the layout of the original source.

Users should note that scanned documents may appear differently than the original counterparts, since the software has to digitally capture all information. Thankfully, you have control over the final product, helping you rearrange the layout, replacing the fonts and pictures, and more.

Cisdem also allows you to convert PDFs into simple text and/or image files, making it more appealing for certain use cases. It also turns documents into HTML, just in case you want to put it online.

All in all, the business-friendly Cisdem PDF Converter OCR package covers all the bases when it comes to your PDF to PowerPoint Mac conversion needs, and then some more.

Pros

• User-friendly interface. Easily create, edit and convert PDF files as needed.
• Batch processing feature to convert multiple files in one go.
• It supports over 200+ languages.
• No limit to how large your PDF file is. It will convert all files.

Cons

• Trial version will convert only the first 5 pages of a document to PDF or other formats. If the document is less than 5 pages, it will only convert the first 2 pages.
• With certain scanned files, the app will change the font for the final document. This can be easily rectified by changing the font.
• Paid software. Cisdem PDF Converter OCR offers two versions  for $59 and $90-$165. One is for just a single Mac while other depends on how many multiple licenses you want for all your machines.

Conclusion: For enterprise users, Cisdem PDF Converter OCR is a better option, especially given its one-time fee. For personal use, free options exist.

Method 2. Convert PDF to PowerPoint on Mac with Free Software

Right now, we have taken a look at paid alternatives to getting the job done. But that’s not the only option you can use. There is a very simple way to convert your PDF to PPT on Mac and it doesn’t involve installing any additional software, that is Preview.

To convert your PDF, simply:

1. Double click on a PDF file. The file should open in Preview.
2. You can view the contents. But did you know you could also copy all the elements from your PDF file? Copy everything.
3. Open PowerPoint on your Mac, and paste the contents you copied on a new PPT file.
4. You can now edit your presentation n PowerPoint.

Alternatively, you can also go to the Desktop, select a PDF file or files, then choose File > Open With > Preview.

In case this method doesn’t work as intended (messed up layout, font placement, etc), you can try converting the PDF to JPG image format, again by using Preview.

Here’s how you can do it:

You can then drag and drop this image in your PowerPoint. Problem solved!

Pros

• No need to install anything if your Mac is running MacOS X or higher. All modern Macs do.
• Very easy to do it.
• Free for all MacOS users.

Cons

• Copy and then pasting content from PDF to PPT on Preview might not always be reproduced in an identical way. To get around this limitation, it is advisable to export the PDF in JPG format, and then paste the image file in PowerPoint.
• The flipside of pasting an image in a presentation file is that text, pictures, margins, layouts cannot be edited independently. You lose flexibility in modifying the file at the cost of preserving its design.

Method 3. Convert PDF to PowerPoint on Mac Online (Without Software)

We have seen paid software (Wondershare and Cisdem) make short work of PDF to PowerPoint Mac conversion woes. We have also looked at free ways of accomplishing the same, albeit with some extra (and time-consuming) fiddling involved.

What if there was a way to enjoy the best of both worlds, say, the painless and hassle-free working of paid PDF converters but free?

Turns out, this is absolutely possible. But in return, you need to have internet connectivity to be able to make the most of it.

Online PDF to PPT conversion tools exist, and here are two of the tried-and-tested ones:

1. SmallPDF
2. Zamzar

SmallPDF

Don’t let its ‘small’ name fool you, because as far as getting the job done is concerned, SmallPDF can preserve everything during the conversion process.

Its pretty simple to use too. Plus its free (with some limits but we’ll get to it). How simple and free? Here’s a sneak peak at the process:

Step 1: Open your web browser. Navigate to SmallPDF official page: https://smallpdf.com/pdf-converter

You will be greeted with this screen. Simple drag and drop or choose the PDF file from the following locations:

• Your Mac or PC
• Dropbox
• Google Drive

Step 2: Upload the file. Choose from converting it to PPT, Excel, Word.

Depending on the size of the file, the upload and conversion process may take some time. This is a small tradeoff for the price of converting PDF to PPT files seamlessly, without paying an extra dime.

Step 3: You can now download the file to your Mac. Alternatively, its pretty neat that SmallPDF has support for saving your converted PPT file to Google Drive and Dropbox. You can even email it to yourself.

It works as intended and the results are accurately reproduced for your presentation needs. However, it should be mentioned that with online tools, there’s concerns about uploading sensitive material to a third party. If privacy concerns are not an issue, an online PDF to PPT converter like SmallPDF seems like the tool for you.

Does the free version of SmallPDF come with any limits? It does. This chart tells you what additional features you can get if you subscribe to SmallPDF:

For your personal needs, SmallPDF covers everything. For more control and features, there’s always the paid version.

Zamzar

Another online tool we will be looking at is Zamzar. Though the name is quite the tongue-twister of sorts, lets see if the web app meets our conversion requirements.

Step 1: To use this PDF to PPT conversion tool, point your browser to Zamzar: https://www.zamzar.com/

You can either upload your PDF file, or drag and drop it into your browser window.

Step 2: Choose the right format for your needs. Since we are going to convert it to Microsoft PowerPoint format, let’s select ‘PPT’ from the menu.

Step 3: We’re almost done. Press the Convert Now button and wait for the thing to finish.

And we’re done:

Simply download the file and you’re on your way.

Cons of Using Free Online PDF Conversion tools:

• An internet connection is necessary.
• Files larger than 24Mb can’t be converted for free.
• Privacy concerns. If you’re dealing with sensitive information, consider using an offline app.

Concluding Thoughts

By now you may be fairly familiar with all the known methods of converting your PDF file to PPT one. Be it a paid app, a free one, or even an online tool, all of these have their merits and demerits. Depending on your requirements, you will be now in a better position to turn boring old PDF files into dynamic presentations with the power of PowerPoint (pun intended).

You may also want to edit PDF document, then read “Best Free PDF Editors” to get one have a try.