PDF24 vs iLovePDF: which free toolbox should you use?

Our verdict

PDF24 wins if you want everything free and are fine with ads, or if you work on Windows and want an offline desktop program with a virtual printer. For a single task on a shared computer, not needing any account is also a real plus.

iLovePDF wins if you prefer a cleaner web experience, apps on more platforms, and the option to pay for larger batches and extra features. Teams that already use its business plan will find little reason to switch.

pdfdots is worth a look if you want no ads and no uploads for most tasks. Our browser tools keep the file on your device, the PDF Dots app shares your account, and the free plan covers occasional use. You do have to sign in, and there is no desktop program.

Ads or a paywall: how each one is paid for

Every free service needs a way to cover servers and staff. PDF24 does it with advertising, which keeps the tools free but puts banners around them. iLovePDF keeps its free tier comparatively clean and earns from subscriptions, which means limits appear once you use it often or with large files.

Neither model is a trick; they just suit different people. If ads do not bother you, PDF24 is hard to beat on price. If you dislike ads and use PDFs only occasionally, iLovePDF's free tier may be enough. If you dislike both, a tool where most processing happens on your own device has lower running costs and can be funded differently, which is the approach we take.

Desktop work and offline use

PDF24 Creator is a strong reason to pick PDF24 on Windows. It works offline and its virtual printer turns output from almost any program into a PDF. iLovePDF's desktop apps cover more operating systems and connect to the same account as the website.

pdfdots has no installable program. Our tools need the page to load, but for browser tools the processing itself happens on your computer, not on a server. On a work laptop where you cannot install software, that is often the practical option.

What happens to your file

Both PDF24's online tools and iLovePDF upload documents to their servers for most tasks, while PDF24's desktop app works locally. Both describe their deletion practices on their own pages.

In pdfdots you can see where each file goes. Merge PDF, Split PDF, Compress PDF, Rotate PDF and Add Page Numbers run in the browser tab. Word to PDF and other Office conversions use our server in Germany, and the temporary file is deleted immediately after the result is returned.

• Local in the browser: merge, split, compress, rotate, page numbers
• Server in Germany, not kept: Office conversions, PDF/A, grayscale
• Optional storage: My files, encrypted with AES-256-GCM

Which one for which job

Feature tables only go so far, so we find it more useful to walk through the jobs people actually bring to these sites. The picks below rely only on the differences described above: ads versus limits, an offline Windows program versus apps on more platforms, and where each file is processed.

If your jobs fall on both sides, there is no need to commit to one: you could keep PDF24 Creator for printing to PDF and use a browser tool for everything else. Here is how the most common jobs line up.

• Compress a PDF before e-mailing it: either works for a one-off file; PDF24 stays free if you accept the ads, and Compress PDF in pdfdots does it in the browser without an upload.
• Merge scans every week: iLovePDF's free limits may push you towards Premium, PDF24 stays free with ads, and on Windows PDF24 Creator does it offline.
• Create a PDF from any program: PDF24 Creator's virtual printer is the natural fit.
• Sign a contract: PDF24 has a basic signing tool and iLovePDF extends signing on paid plans; pdfdots Studio sends simple sign requests by e-mail, with an audit trail.
• Convert Word to PDF: both competitors upload the file for most online tasks; in pdfdots, Word to PDF uses our server in Germany and the file is deleted right after the result is returned.

Tools to try instead

Frequently asked questions