How to Convert JPG to PDF on macOS – Free, Easy & No App Needed

Why It's Hard to Convert JPG to PDF on macOS — and Why You Should Use Moainex Taskspace – A Practical Breakdown

Converting JPG images to PDFs should be simple. But on macOS, it's often confusing and frustrating—especially if you're trying to merge multiple images or batch convert files.

Despite having built-in tools like Preview, Automator, and Quick Actions, the macOS experience is far from smooth. Here’s why it’s harder than expected—and what actually works.

1. Preview App on Mac: One-by-One Export to PDF

macOS’s Preview app lets you export a single JPG to PDF:

File → Export as PDF

But when selecting multiple images:

• You must manually reorder them in the sidebar
• Then go to File → Print → Save as PDF
• And if the image metadata (EXIF) differs, it may not preserve order correctly

Not only is this flow non-obvious, it’s slow and error-prone.

2. Quick Actions: Often Buggy or Incomplete

Right-click “Quick Actions” like “Convert Image” are meant to be helpful—but:

• They don’t support PDF export by default
• Custom Automator-based Quick Actions are often:
• Unstable on macOS Ventura and Sonoma
• Silent on failure
• Unable to merge multiple JPGs

3. Automator: Powerful But Too Complex

Automator can do batch PDF conversion using a “New PDF from Images” workflow—but:

• Most users don’t know it exists
• The UI is confusing
• You have to manually insert “Combine PDF Pages” to merge files

And setting it as a system-wide Quick Action? Even more steps.

4. Terminal: Powerful But Not User-Friendly

macOS includes sips, a command-line tool for image conversion:

sips -s format pdf input.jpg --out output.pdf

To batch convert:

for file in *.jpg; do sips -s format pdf "$file" --out "${file%.jpg}.pdf"; done

But this generates separate PDFs per image.

To merge them, you’ll need to install ImageMagick:

brew install imagemagick
magick *.pdf -append output.pdf

5. No Simple Native Tool for Bulk Conversion

Unlike Windows, macOS has no native tool to:

• Drag and drop JPGs
• Reorder easily
• Export as one high-quality PDF

This forces users to rely on online converters, which often come with:

• Upload delays
• Privacy risks
• Watermarks or limitations without payment

The Better Alternative: Moainex Taskspace

A Free JPG to PDF Converter That Just Works — Especially on Mac

If you're tired of Preview quirks, Automator workflows, or terminal hacks—just open Safari and go to:

Moainex Taskspace

• Upload JPGs instantly
• Download merged PDF with 1 click
• No login or email needed
• Your files never leave your device
• Supports up to 100 images in ~4.72 seconds

Unlike other tools, Moainex Taskspace never sends data to the cloud, and maintains original image quality.

Why should you prefer Moainex Taskspace?

Method	Merge Support	Batch Convert	Easy to Use	Works Offline
Preview	Manual only		Medium
Quick Actions			Buggy
Automator	If setup		Complex
Terminal (SIPS)		(split only)	Nerdy
Moainex Taskspace		Fast	Instant	Local-first