Applications that Create PDFs & Accessibility Output

“It takes two to tango” when it comes to Portable Document Format (PDF) files. Typically, there’s a source document where the content and design are created. Then, from the source application, the file is exported or saved out as a PDF file.

Some source applications do a better job at generating accessible PDF files. Following is a roundup of common applications that can generate PDFs, and the capability of creating accessible files.

Document & Word Processing

Program	Notes on Accessibility Support
Apple Pages	Limited tagging; manual remediation usually required.
Google Docs	Exports to PDF, but tagging is limited, best to download as Word.
LibreOffice Writer	Can export tagged PDFs with configuration.
Microsoft Word	Strong accessibility support with proper use of styles/headings.

Spreadsheets & Data Tools

Program	Notes on Accessibility Support
Google Sheets	Limited export features; typically untagged PDFs.
LibreOffice Calc	Exports to PDF, but tagging is inconsistent.
Microsoft Excel	Can export tagged PDFs, but complex tables may need review.

Presentation Software

Program	Notes on Accessibility Support
Apple Keynote	Limited support; generally produces untagged PDFs.
Google Slides	Exports untagged PDFs, accessibility is limited.
Microsoft PowerPoint	Can export tagged PDFs with alt text if configured properly.

Design & Publishing Tools

Program	Notes on Accessibility Support
Adobe InDesign	Supports accessible PDF export with proper tagging and alt text.
Adobe Illustrator	Limited tagging support—usually requires remediation.
Adobe Photoshop	Usually creates image-based PDFs, not accessible without OCR/alt text.
Canva	Exports untagged PDFs; no built-in accessibility tools.
QuarkXPress	Supports accessible PDF export with proper setup.
Scribus (Open Source)	Limited accessibility support.

Other Tools That Export PDFs

Category	Applications / Methods	Accessibility Notes
PDF Printers	Microsoft Print to PDF, CutePDF, PDF24	Typically untagged—no structure or semantics.
Scanners/OCR	Adobe Scan, ABBYY, Epson, etc.	Must apply OCR and tagging for accessibility.
Reporting Tools	Crystal Reports, Tableau, Power BI.	Usually export non-accessible PDFs by default.
E-learning Tools	Articulate, Captivate, Rise, Moodle	Accessibility varies; often require manual tagging.

If you start with an accessible source document (e.g., in Word or InDesign) and export correctly, you can generate tagged, accessible PDFs, saving time and effort on remediation.