Looking for a PDF2Go alternative? Here is how pdfdots compares
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PDF2Go is a long-running online PDF toolbox from the team behind online-convert.com. It covers a wide range of conversions, works without an account and is familiar to many people who found it through a search. At the time of writing in October 2026, its free version is supported by ads and has limits on file size and batch processing, with a premium subscription that raises those limits according to its pricing page.
We built pdfdots for people who want the same everyday tools without ads. You sign in once with a free account and use every tool, 3 tasks a day, with optional paid plans for more. Most tools run directly in your browser, so your PDF stays on your device. This page compares the two fairly and shows when PDF2Go remains the more practical choice.
pdfdots vs PDF2Go at a glance
| Feature | pdfdots | PDF2Go |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free plan (3 tasks a day); optional paid plans from $2.99/month | Free version plus premium subscription |
| Account | Free account required | Not required for basic use |
| Ads | None | Free version shows ads |
| Where files are processed | In the browser for most tools; a few conversions on our server in Germany | Uploaded to their servers for processing |
| File size | Files up to 10 MB on the free plan, larger on paid plans | Free limit lower than premium, per their site |
| Conversion formats | Focused on PDF, Office, images and HTML | Very wide range of formats, including e-books |
| OCR | OCR PDF, in the browser | Available |
| Mobile app | PDF Dots for iOS and Android | Mobile website |
Why switch from PDF2Go
For many users the reason is the experience rather than the features. Ads around upload boxes make it harder to see what to click, and free limits appear exactly when you are in a hurry. Others simply prefer not to upload personal paperwork to any server for a task as small as rotating a page.
pdfdots answers both points. There are no ads anywhere on the site, and tools like Rotate PDF, Merge PDF, Compress PDF, Protect PDF and PDF to JPG work locally in your browser tab.
What you get with pdfdots
About 37 tools across organizing, optimizing, converting, editing and security. Conversions that need an office engine, like PDF to Word or Word to PDF, run on our own converter in Germany and the file is not kept afterwards. Everything else is processed on your device.
Your free account also includes My files: 100 MB of storage (more on paid plans) encrypted with AES-256-GCM in Germany, so you can save results and pick them up later on the website or in the PDF Dots mobile app.
- No ads, and paid plans are optional
- Local processing for editing, merging, compressing and OCR
- Same account on web and mobile
When PDF2Go is the better choice
PDF2Go shines when you need an unusual format. Its connection to a large conversion platform means it handles e-book and other formats we do not offer. If you need a single conversion right now and do not want to create any account, it also gets you there with fewer steps. And if you already pay for their premium plan, there may be little reason to change.
Doing the same tasks in pdfdots
Most PDF2Go visits are for a few core jobs. To turn a PDF into an editable document, open PDF to Word. To make a file small enough for an e-mail attachment, use Compress PDF. To pull images out of pages, PDF to JPG exports each page as an image. For scanned paper, OCR PDF adds a text layer, and Word to PDF handles the reverse direction.
Sign in, drop the file on the tool page and download the result. If a document is sensitive, prefer the browser tools; the tool page tells you when a conversion uses our server.
Switching from PDF2Go: check your formats first
PDF2Go is often used as a general converter, so the first question is not price but formats. Go through the files you converted in the last month and sort them into the groups below. If most of them fit, pdfdots will cover your routine; if not, keep PDF2Go bookmarked for the rest.
- Images to and from PDF: JPG to PDF and PDF to JPG run fully in your browser, with no upload at all.
- Office files: Word, Excel and PowerPoint to PDF, and PDF to Word, Excel or PowerPoint, use our converter at Hetzner in Nuremberg, Germany. The file is deleted right after the result comes back.
- Web pages: HTML to PDF turns a page into a document, also on our server.
- Scans: OCR PDF adds a searchable text layer in your browser before you convert anything.
- E-books and rare formats: not supported by us. PDF2Go remains the right tool for those.
- Large batches: the free plan is 3 tasks a day; Silver and Gold remove the daily cap if conversions are a daily habit.
Tools to try instead
Frequently asked questions
Is pdfdots free like PDF2Go?
Yes, on a free plan of 3 tasks a day, without ads. You need a free account; paid plans are optional for heavier use.
Are my files uploaded?
For most tools, no: they run in your browser. PDF to Word, Office to PDF, PDF to Excel, PDF to PowerPoint, PDF/A, grayscale and HTML to PDF use our converter in Germany over HTTPS.
Does pdfdots support as many formats as PDF2Go?
No. We focus on PDF, Office documents, images and HTML. For e-book or rare formats PDF2Go is the better fit.
Is there a size limit?
Files up to 10 MB on the free plan, larger on paid plans. Browser tools also depend on your device's memory.
What is a PDF2Go alternative without ads for PDF to Word?
PDF to Word in pdfdots has no ads around the upload box or the result. The conversion runs on our server in Germany over HTTPS and the file is deleted as soon as the Word document is returned. You need a free account; the free plan includes 3 tasks a day and files up to 10 MB.
Can pdfdots convert Excel and PowerPoint files as well?
Yes. Excel to PDF and PowerPoint to PDF turn spreadsheets and slides into PDFs, and PDF to Excel and PDF to PowerPoint go the other way. All four use our office converter in Germany, capped at your plan's file size or 50 MB, whichever is lower.