5 Best Free iLovePDF Alternatives (2026)
Published on March 2, 2026
iLovePDF is a solid PDF toolkit, but the free version limits you to one batch task per hour and adds watermarks on some operations. Here are five free alternatives for common PDF tasks like merging, compressing, and signing.
1. FileToolWorks
FileToolWorks has 10 dedicated PDF tools that run entirely in your browser. The PDF merger combines unlimited files with drag-and-drop reordering. The PDF signer lets you draw or upload a signature and position it visually on the document.
Other PDF tools include split PDF, compress PDF, extract pages, PDF to text, and HTML to PDF. Everything processes locally using pdf-lib, so your documents stay on your device. No signup, no file limits, no watermarks.
2. Smallpdf
Smallpdf has a polished interface with 20+ PDF tools. The free tier gives you two tasks per day, which is limiting but workable for occasional use. It supports OCR, e-signatures, and PDF editing. Files are processed on their servers and deleted after one hour. See our detailed Smallpdf comparison.
3. PDF24
PDF24 is genuinely free with no daily limits, which is rare for a PDF tool suite. It covers merging, splitting, compressing, and converting. The interface is functional rather than pretty. They also offer a desktop app for Windows if you prefer offline processing. See our detailed PDF24 comparison.
4. Sejda
Sejda offers browser-based PDF editing with a clean UI. The free version allows 3 tasks per hour with files up to 50 MB. Its standout feature is the PDF editor that lets you add text, images, and annotations directly. Good for one-off edits.
5. PDFgear
PDFgear is completely free with no file size or task limits. It works as both a web app and desktop application. The online version handles basic tasks like merging and converting, while the desktop app offers a full PDF editor with annotation tools.
Which One to Pick
For privacy, FileToolWorks is the best choice since it processes PDFs locally in your browser. For the most generous free tier without limits, PDF24 and PDFgear are strong picks. Smallpdf has the best UI but the most restrictive free plan. Sejda is ideal if you need to edit PDF content directly.
For a detailed feature-by-feature breakdown, see our full FileToolWorks vs iLovePDF comparison.