Add Bates Numbers to PDF on Mac — Free

Bates numbering on a Mac used to mean paying for Adobe Acrobat Pro or finding a Windows-only tool and running it in a virtual machine. Mac users have fewer options than Windows users in the professional PDF space — most Bates numbering software was built for Windows first. The browser-based alternative runs directly in Safari or Chrome on any Mac, without any download, installation, or license. Open the page, drop your PDF, stamp it.

Why Bates Numbering on Mac Has Fewer Options

The legal software market developed largely on Windows. Tools like Kofax, Nitro Pro (until recently), and many court-specific software packages were Windows-only for most of their history. Adobe Acrobat Pro is the most capable Mac PDF tool with Bates support, but it requires a $20/month subscription.

Mac's built-in Preview app does not support Bates numbering — it handles basic annotations but has no sequential stamping feature. The free browser tool fills this gap: it runs in Safari (macOS's default browser) or Chrome and works identically on a Mac as on Windows or Linux.

How to Add Bates Numbers in Safari on Mac

1. Open Safari and go to wildandfreetools.com/pdf-tools/bates-numbering/
2. Drag your PDF from Finder into the tool's upload area — or click to select it from a file dialog
3. Fill in the Prefix field with your case number or document code (e.g., SMITH-PROD, CASE-001)
4. Set the Starting Number — typically 1, or the next number in your production sequence
5. Choose Zero Padding — 6 digits (000001) is standard for US court productions
6. Select Position — bottom center is conventional; bottom right is used by some courts
7. Set Font Size — 10pt is the default; 8pt if your documents have tight margins
8. Click "Add Bates Numbers" and wait for processing to complete
9. Click "Download Bates-Numbered PDF" — the file goes to your Downloads folder
10. Open in Preview to verify the stamps look correct

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Performance on Mac — What to Expect

The tool uses a JavaScript PDF library to process files in your browser. On modern Macs (M1, M2, M3 chips or recent Intel Macs), a 50-page PDF stamps in a few seconds. Larger documents (100+ pages) take correspondingly longer, but even a 300-page production document typically completes in under 30 seconds on a modern Mac.

Both Safari and Chrome work well. Safari uses slightly less memory, which can be an advantage when working with large PDFs. Chrome sometimes has better JavaScript performance on older Intel Macs. Either browser will work for typical legal document sizes.

Mac Alternatives to Adobe Acrobat for Bates Numbering

If you need Bates numbering regularly on a Mac and want software rather than a browser tool, the realistic options are:

• Adobe Acrobat Pro — The most capable option. $19.99/month. Full Bates support including batch processing and portfolio stamping.
• PDF Expert (Mac/iOS) — Does not natively support Bates numbering as of 2026. Good for other PDF editing but not this task.
• Foxit PDF Pro for Mac — Supports Bates numbering. ~$79/year. Smaller feature set than the Windows version.
• WildandFree Tools (browser) — Free. No install. Handles single-PDF Bates stamping with full customization.

For occasional use — producing documents for a specific matter, not a daily workflow — the free browser tool eliminates the need for any paid software on Mac.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the tool work on macOS without any plugins or extensions?

Yes. It runs using standard browser capabilities — no plugins, extensions, Flash, or Java required. Safari and Chrome both support it natively on all recent versions of macOS.

Can I stamp Bates numbers on a Mac without an internet connection?

Once the page is fully loaded, the tool processes files locally and does not require an active internet connection. You can load the page, then disconnect from the internet, and still stamp your PDFs.