iLovePDF Alternative (Free, Higher Limits, No Upsell Maze)
Looking for an iLovePDF alternative? Here's a free tool with the same everyday features, 20 MB limits, no watermark — plus an honest side-by-side.
iLovePDF earned its popularity — it has a big toolbox and a friendly brand. The free tier works, but it's wrapped in a fair amount of "upgrade to Premium" and "get the desktop app" prompting, and some tasks push you toward an account. Here's a free alternative and a fair comparison.
The quick comparison
| Feature | iLovePDF (free) | pdfty (free) |
|---|---|---|
| Merge / split / compress | ✓ | ✓ |
| Convert (Word/Excel/JPG) | ✓ | ✓ |
| OCR | Premium | Free (Tesseract) |
| Max file size (free) | Limited | 20 MB |
| Watermark on output | No | No |
| Account required | For some tasks | No |
| Upsell intensity | High | Low |
| File auto-delete | ✓ | ✓ (1 hour) |
| Works on any device | ✓ | ✓ |
Where iLovePDF is genuinely good
- Breadth: a large set of tools, including some niche ones (page numbers, scan-to-PDF, OCR in Premium).
- Desktop + mobile apps: maintained native apps for offline and on-the-go.
- Batch processing: handles multiple files well, especially on Premium.
- Brand maturity: long track record, large user base.
If you already use and like iLovePDF for the occasional task, there's no reason to abandon it.
Where pdfty is the better free pick
- Free OCR — pdfty makes scans searchable for free (Tesseract); iLovePDF puts OCR behind Premium.
- No account — drop a file, get your result, no sign-up.
- Lighter upsell — the free tools just work, without a maze of upgrade prompts.
- 20 MB free file size — covers nearly all everyday documents.
Switching is just opening a tab
Pick your tool
Go to pdfty.com/tools/merge (or compress, split, convert, sign, OCR).
Drop your files
No account, no email. Free up to 20 MB each.
Run it
Same quick processing.
Download
No watermark, no upgrade wall. File deleted within 1 hour.
Frequently asked questions
Is pdfty free like iLovePDF?
Yes — the basic tools are free up to 20 MB per file, with no watermark and no account. OCR is also free. Advanced tools (redact, compare) and unlimited sizes are Pro ($9/mo).
Does pdfty have mobile apps?
Not native apps — pdfty runs in the browser, so it already works on iPhone, Android, iPad and any laptop with nothing to install. iLovePDF's native apps are an advantage if you specifically want offline mobile use.
Which is better for merging PDFs?
Both merge reliably. pdfty's drag-to-reorder card interface is fast for many files. See our merge guide for a full walkthrough.
Is my data safe?
Files upload over HTTPS and delete within 1 hour. No AI training on your documents. For maximum privacy use offline tools (see our best free tools roundup).
Can I convert files for free?
Yes — Word/Excel/PowerPoint/JPG to and from PDF are free up to 20 MB on pdfty, no daily cap.
The pdfty team builds privacy-first online PDF tools — compress, convert, OCR, sign and protect. Files are deleted within 1 hour. About us →
