Best Free PDF Tools in 2026: Complete Comparison

What Makes a Good PDF Tool?

When evaluating PDF tools, consider these criteria:

• Privacy: Where are your files processed? Client-side is safest.
• Features: Does it do what you need without unnecessary complexity?
• Limitations: File size limits, daily quotas, watermarks?
• Speed: How fast is processing?
• Cost: What's free vs. paid?

Quick Comparison Table

Detailed Tool Reviews

PDFey (pdfey.com)

Best for: Privacy-conscious users who want unlimited free usage.

PDFey processes all files in your browser using JavaScript - your documents never leave your device. This makes it the most private option available.

Pros:

• 100% client-side processing (maximum privacy)
• No file size limits or daily quotas
• No account required
• Fast processing
• Clean, ad-light interface

Cons:

• Depends on browser capabilities
• Very large files may be slow on older devices

Smallpdf

Best for: Occasional users who don't mind ads and limits.

Popular tool with a polished interface. Free tier has significant limitations (2 tasks/day, file uploads to servers).

Pros:

• Good interface design
• Wide range of tools
• Desktop app available

Cons:

• Files uploaded to servers
• Only 2 free tasks per day
• Account required for more
• Pro subscription is expensive

iLovePDF

Best for: Users who need many different PDF tools.

Comprehensive toolset with reasonable free tier. Server-based processing with claims of automatic file deletion.

Pros:

• Many tools available
• Reasonable free limits
• Desktop and mobile apps

Cons:

• Files uploaded to servers
• Daily limits on free tier
• Some features require Pro

PDF24

Best for: German users who want a free, feature-rich option.

Generous free tier with no strict limits. Server-based but developed by a privacy-conscious German company.

Pros:

• Truly unlimited usage
• Many tools
• Desktop software available
• GDPR compliant

Cons:

• Files uploaded to servers
• Interface less modern
• Ad-supported

Adobe Acrobat Online

Best for: Adobe Creative Cloud subscribers.

Industry-standard tools with limited free tier. Best integration with other Adobe products.

Pros:

• Excellent quality
• Trusted brand
• Advanced features

Cons:

• Very limited free usage
• Account required
• Expensive subscription
• Files uploaded to Adobe servers

Privacy Comparison

Only PDFey offers true client-side processing where files never leave your browser. Other tools upload your documents to their servers, which poses privacy risks for confidential content.

Feature Comparison by Task

Merging PDFs

All tools support basic merging. PDFey and PDF24 have no limits. Smallpdf limits to 2/day free. iLovePDF has reasonable limits.

Compressing PDFs

Compression quality varies. Adobe and PDF24 offer best compression. PDFey offers good compression with privacy advantage.

Converting PDF to/from Images

All tools support basic conversion. Quality settings vary. PDFey offers adjustable resolution without limits.

Password Protection

All major tools support encryption. PDFey is safest as password never leaves your device.

Our Recommendation

For privacy-conscious users: PDFey - the only option where your files never leave your device.

For occasional users without privacy concerns: PDF24 - generous free tier with many features.

For Adobe users: Adobe Acrobat Online - best integration if you already subscribe.

Conclusion

The best PDF tool depends on your priorities. For privacy and unlimited usage, client-side tools like PDFey are unmatched. For maximum features and don't mind server uploads, PDF24 and iLovePDF are solid choices.