Pages For Mac

Apple’s alternative to Microsoft Word and Google Docs is designed to serve as the go-to word processor on macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. Pages has been around for a long time, slightly longer than Docs, and it has gone through several redesigns over the years, including a switch to a free-to-use model with version 5.0.

Pages isn’t a mere word processor in the classic sense, as it also allows users to create stunning page layouts, making it a more versatile solution than most of the alternatives. It comes with numerous templates that serve as a great starting point, and it is equipped with an impressive range of features, though not as many as some other popular word processors.

Of all the options at your disposal, I’d say Pages is by far the easiest to learn. When you launch the app, you are presented with an array of templates for various types of projects, all of them smartly designed and organized into relevant categories.

If you want to get something done quickly, just select one of these templates, make modifications where necessary, add your own media and text, and you’re done. Modifying layouts is incredibly simple, and the app also includes multiple tools to help you format your text.

One thing you’ll notice, if switching from a different word processor, is that all the features you use most frequently are within arm’s reach. You don’t need to navigate through confusing menus to find what you need, as the toolbar and two sidebars neatly contain these functions.

Things like adding charts, images, and shapes are just much simpler than in Word, for example. Granted, Pages doesn’t have anywhere near as many features as Microsoft’s app, but most users will probably not find that to be an issue.

With remote work becoming ever more popular, Pages isn’t one to be left behind. You can work with multiple team members on the same document, from any location or device. Changes will be seen in real-time, and you can leave comments for them to read.

As expected from an Apple product, it is available on all Apple devices that can make use of it. You can have it on your Mac, iPhone, and iPad, and all changes are seamlessly synchronized between them. While a browser version is also available, it offers fairly limited functionality.

One of the main concerns for users is the ability to open and edit documents created with other software. Given that the Pages format isn’t exactly versatile or popular, that’s understandable. Thankfully, the app supports pretty much all widespread formats, including Word, PDF, and ePub. Conversions from Word documents are usually good, but some objects may cause issues.

You can also save documents to any of these formats, though it’s worth noting that the Pages format will always be the default, and you have to export the file to use a different one.

Overall, for a Mac user, Pages is pretty much an ideal choice, especially if you don’t need to access or create documents from non-Apple devices on a regular basis. It is incredibly easy to use, versatile, and novice-friendly, and it allows for seamless transitions across the Apple ecosystem.