The idea of a paperless society has been around for decades, yet most of us still rely on stacks of paper. While technology has made digital workflows possible, the transition has been slow—until now.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift to remote work, making digital document management more essential than ever. Whether you’re a freelancer, small business owner, or part of a larger team, the right software can save you time, reduce clutter, and streamline workflows.
We tested the top Mac document management apps—both free and paid—to help you ditch the filing cabinets for good. If you’re looking for a Mariner Paperless or iDocument alternative, you’ll find plenty of great options here.
After extensive testing, we ranked Wrike as the best overall tool for digitizing and managing documents on a Mac, especially for teams that need seamless collaboration and e-signatures.
1. Wrike – Best for Teams & Collaboration
Price: Free / Paid plans from $9.80/user/month
Wrike is a cloud-based project management platform with powerful document handling features. It’s ideal for Mac users who need to organize files alongside tasks and projects.
Key Features:
- Attach documents directly to tasks, projects, or folders.
- Preview files (PDFs, Word, Excel, images) without downloading.
- Version control keeps track of file updates.
- Built-in proofing tools for feedback on PDFs, images, and videos.
- Integrates with Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and Box.
- Native Mac app and browser-based access.
Wrike’s free plan is great for individuals, while paid plans (Team, Business) unlock advanced features like approvals and file proofing.
2. DEVONthink Pro – Best for Researchers & Power Users
Price: $99 (one-time purchase)
Built exclusively for Mac, DEVONthink Pro offers deep macOS integration and AI-powered organization. It’s perfect for researchers, journalists, and anyone managing large document collections.
Why We Love It:
- AI learns your filing habits and suggests where to store documents.
- OCR search (powered by ABBYY FineReader) scans text in PDFs and images.
- Syncs with iPhone/iPad via iCloud, Dropbox, or WebDAV.
- Supports multiple databases for different projects.
Try the free trial to see if it fits your workflow.
3. Adobe Acrobat Pro DC – Best for PDFs & E-Signatures
Price: $19.99/month
Adobe Acrobat remains the gold standard for PDF editing, but it’s also a robust document management tool.
Standout Features:
- Scan & OCR documents with high accuracy.
- Track document access (who viewed, downloaded, or signed).
- Secure sharing with permission controls.
- E-signature support (via Adobe Sign).
Students get 60% off Adobe Creative Cloud, which includes Acrobat Pro DC.
4. ABBYY FineReader PDF – Best OCR Accuracy
Price: $69/year
If you need flawless text recognition, FineReader PDF is unbeatable. It’s the engine behind many other document apps, including DEVONthink.
Highlights:
- 99.8% OCR accuracy (the best we tested).
- “Hot Folders” auto-convert scanned files to PDF.
- Works with any TWAIN-compatible scanner.
Perfect for legal, medical, or archival use where precision matters.
5. Receipts Space – Best for Expense Tracking
Price: $59.99 (one-time)
A Mariner Paperless alternative, Receipts Space specializes in digitizing receipts and bills but handles any document.
- Auto-OCR for receipts (search by amount, date, vendor).
- Tagging & Spotlight search integration.
- Syncs across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Great for freelancers and small businesses at tax time.
6. Neat – Best for Small Business Bookkeeping
Price: $200/year
Neat combines document scanning with accounting tools, making it ideal for SMBs.
- Neat Files (document management).
- Neat Books (simplified bookkeeping).
- Integrates with QuickBooks.
Note: Neat’s scanners don’t work with macOS Sonoma, but third-party TWAIN scanners do.
7. ExactScan Pro – Best for Multi-Scanner Support
Price: $99.99
A no-frills scanning interface that works with any scanner.
- Skew correction, color smoothing.
- Basic OCR (not as accurate as ABBYY).
Best for users who need simple, universal scanning software.
8. EagleFiler – Best for Clipping & Archiving
Price: $59.99
A veteran Mac app for organizing notes, emails, and web clippings.
- Hotkey support for quick filing.
- Email archiving (Outlook/Mbox support).
- No OCR—best for pre-digital files.
9. Evernote – Best for Notes + Light Doc Management
Price: Free / $129.99/year
While not a full DMS, Evernote’s OCR search and mobile scanning make it handy for receipts and notes.
- “Print to Evernote” scanner integration.
- Proprietary database (export carefully).
10. YEP – The “iTunes for Documents”
Price: $58
A visual document organizer inspired by iTunes.
- Non-destructive filing (keeps original files).
- Slows down with large libraries.
11. Revver (eFileCabinet) – Best for Enterprises
Price: Custom (request demo)
A powerful enterprise DMS with ABBYY OCR, e-signatures, and CRM integrations.
Why Go Paperless?
- Save money (less printing, storage, admin work).
- Boost productivity (instant search vs. digging through files).
- Enhance security (encrypted digital files > paper).
- Go green (reduce waste).
What to Look for in a Document Manager
OCR accuracy – Can you search scanned text?
Scanner compatibility – Does it work with your hardware?
Mobile sync – Can you scan from your phone?
Tagging & search – Easy retrieval is key.
Export options – Avoid proprietary lock-in.
Best Mariner Paperless Alternative?
For most users, DEVONthink Pro is the closest replacement. If you need simplicity, try Receipts Space.
Best Scanner for Mac?
The ScanSnap iX100 (portable) or iX1600 (desktop) are top choices for speed and OCR accuracy.
Final Thoughts:
Whether you need basic scanning, advanced OCR, or team collaboration, there’s a Mac document manager for you. Wrike is our top pick for most users, but DEVONthink Pro and Adobe Acrobat are excellent for power users.
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