iLovePDF is one of the most popular online PDF toolkits for a reason: it merges, splits, compresses, converts, and edits almost any PDF you throw at it, and the interface is clean and beginner friendly. But there is a detail most people never think about when they drag a file into the browser: iLovePDF uploads your PDF to its servers to do the work. For a random flyer that is fine. For a signed contract, a bank statement, a medical record, or an internal report, sending the file to a third party is a privacy trade-off you may not want to make. We tested five alternatives (plus iLovePDF itself) to find tools that keep your files private, and the clear winner is a tool that never uploads your files at all.
Our pick
ToolHub processes PDFs entirely in your browser using local, in-page code. Your file is never uploaded to a server, so it never leaves your device. That makes it the most private way to merge, split, compress, or convert a PDF, and it is free with no account.
How we tested
We ran the same jobs through each tool: merging three PDFs into one, splitting a 40 page document, compressing a 12 MB scan, and converting between PDF and images. For every tool we checked one thing above all: does the file get uploaded to a remote server, or is it processed locally in the browser? We watched network activity to confirm. We also looked at how broad the feature set is, what the free tier actually allows, whether an account is required, how fast the tool feels, and whether the code is open source so the privacy claims can be verified.
How we scored
Each tool was scored out of 10: privacy and local processing (4 points), feature breadth (2 points), generosity of the free tier (2 points), no account required (1 point), speed and open source (1 point). Privacy carries the most weight because that is the entire point of this comparison.
The full ranking
Rank #1
ToolHub PDF tools
ToolHub runs every PDF operation in your browser. When you use pdf-merge, pdf-split, pdf-compress, pdf-to-jpg, or image-to-pdf, the file is read and processed on your own machine and never sent anywhere. It does not have the sheer number of features iLovePDF offers, but for the common jobs it is the most private option and there is nothing to sign up for.
Pros
- Files never leave your device, no upload
- Free with no account and no watermarks
- Covers merge, split, compress, rotate, watermark, and conversions
- Works offline once the page has loaded
- No file size gate behind a paywall
Cons
- Fewer total tools than iLovePDF or Smallpdf
- No OCR or advanced editing yet
- Very large files depend on your own device memory
Rank #2
Stirling PDF
An open source, self-hosted PDF toolkit with a huge feature set. Because you run it on your own machine or server, your files stay under your control. The trade-off is setup: you need Docker or a server to host it, which is more than most casual users want to deal with.
Pros
- Open source and self-hosted, full control
- Very broad feature set, close to iLovePDF
- No third-party sees your files when self-hosted
- Free forever
Cons
- Requires Docker or a server to run
- Not a zero-setup browser tool
- Overkill for a quick one-off merge
Rank #3
Sejda PDF
A capable, polished toolkit with a genuinely useful PDF editor. Sejda processes files on its servers and deletes them after a few hours, which is better than nothing but is still an upload. The free tier is limited to a handful of tasks per hour and caps file size and page count.
Pros
- Strong in-browser PDF editor
- Files auto-deleted after a few hours
- Broad feature set
Cons
- Files are uploaded to Sejda servers
- Free tier limited to a few tasks per hour
- File size and page limits on free plan
Rank #4
PDF24 Tools
A large, genuinely free set of PDF tools with no hard task limits, which is rare. Some operations run in your browser and some are done on PDF24 servers depending on the tool, so privacy varies job to job. Generous free tier makes it a good general fallback.
Pros
- Very large free tool set, no task caps
- Some tools run locally in the browser
- No account required for most tools
Cons
- Many tools still upload to PDF24 servers
- Privacy depends on which tool you use
- Dated interface in places
Rank #5
iLovePDF
The tool everyone knows, and for good reason: it is polished, fast, and covers almost every PDF task imaginable including OCR, e-signatures, and editing. The catch is that it uploads your files to its servers to process them. Files are deleted after a couple of hours, but they still leave your device, and the free tier limits how many tasks you can run.
Pros
- Widest feature set of any tool here
- Very polished, beginner friendly
- OCR, sign, edit, and many conversions
Cons
- Uploads your files to its servers
- Free tier caps tasks and file size
- Pushes a paid subscription
Rank #6
Smallpdf
Another slick, full-featured toolkit that competes directly with iLovePDF and often beats it on interface polish. Like iLovePDF, it uploads your files to the cloud to process them. The free tier is the most restrictive of the group, with a low daily task limit before it asks you to subscribe.
Pros
- Very clean, modern interface
- Broad feature set with editing and signing
- Good conversion quality
Cons
- Uploads your files to the cloud
- Most restrictive free tier here
- Strong push toward a paid plan
Side by side
| Feature | ToolHub | Stirling PDF | iLovePDF | Smallpdf | PDF24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local processing (no upload) | Yes | Yes | No | No | Partial |
| No account required | Yes | Yes | Partial | Partial | Yes |
| Free with no task cap | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Merge / split / compress | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PDF to image / image to PDF | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| OCR / advanced editing | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Works offline | Yes | Partial | No | No | Partial |
| No watermarks (free) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes |
Why the upload matters
Every mainstream online PDF service works the same basic way: you drop a file into the browser, it is sent over the network to the company's servers, the servers do the work, and the result is sent back. iLovePDF and Smallpdf both do this. Most of them promise to delete your file after a set time, usually one or two hours, and reputable services keep that promise. But there is a window where your document sits on someone else's computer, and you are trusting their security, their staff, and their policies for that whole window.
For a lot of documents that is a risk not worth taking. A payslip has your salary and employer on it. A lease has your home address and signature. A scanned ID is exactly what an identity thief wants. The safest way to handle those files is to never let them leave your device in the first place.
How local, in-browser tools are different
ToolHub takes the opposite approach. When you open pdf-merge, pdf-split, pdf-compress, pdf-to-jpg, or image-to-pdf, the actual work happens inside the page using code that runs on your own computer. Your PDF is read into the browser's memory, processed there, and the finished file is handed straight back to you. No upload happens, so there is no copy of your file on a remote server, nothing to delete later, and no company policy you have to trust. You can even disconnect from the internet after the page loads and the tools will keep working.
A quick way to check any PDF tool
Being fair: where iLovePDF and Smallpdf win
Privacy is not the only thing that matters, and it would be dishonest to pretend the upload-based tools are bad. iLovePDF and Smallpdf simply do more. They offer OCR to make scanned pages searchable, full page editors, e-signature workflows, and a long list of conversions to and from Office formats. That breadth is hard to match with tools that run only in the browser, because some of those features are genuinely heavy or need extra services. If you need OCR on a stack of scans, or you want to sign a document and send it for signature, iLovePDF is still one of the best tools out there.
Stirling PDF is the interesting middle ground. It has a feature set close to iLovePDF, and because you self-host it, your files stay private. The cost is setup: you need Docker or a server, which is more than a casual user wants. So the honest split is this. For raw feature breadth, iLovePDF and Smallpdf lead. For privacy with zero setup, ToolHub leads. For privacy with maximum features and some setup effort, Stirling PDF leads.
Who should pick which
For private everyday PDF jobs: ToolHub
If you mostly merge, split, compress, rotate, or convert PDFs and you care that the files stay on your device, ToolHub is the simplest answer. No upload, no account, no watermark, no task cap. Start with pdf-merge, pdf-split, or pdf-compress.
For maximum features and you self-host: Stirling PDF
If you are comfortable running Docker and want a near complete PDF toolkit that keeps files under your control, Stirling PDF is the best privacy respecting choice with the widest feature set.
For OCR, editing, and signing: iLovePDF or Smallpdf
When you need features that browser-only tools do not cover yet, the big hosted services are still the practical choice. Just go in knowing your file is uploaded, and avoid using them for your most sensitive documents.
For a generous free fallback: PDF24 Tools
PDF24 has no hard task limits and some tools run locally, which makes it a solid free backup. Check whether the specific tool you are using uploads or not, because it varies.
Common questions
Does iLovePDF upload my files?
Yes. iLovePDF processes files on its servers, so your PDF is uploaded when you use it. The company states files are deleted after a couple of hours, but during that window a copy exists on its infrastructure. If you want a tool that never uploads, use a local, in-browser tool like ToolHub.
Is there a free PDF tool that does not upload my files?
Yes. ToolHub's PDF tools run entirely in your browser, so your files are never sent to a server. Stirling PDF also keeps files private when you self-host it. Both are free.
Are browser-based PDF tools safe for sensitive documents?
A tool that processes files locally, like ToolHub, is a strong choice for sensitive documents precisely because the file never leaves your machine. The main limit is your own device: very large files use your computer's memory. For a signed contract or a bank statement, local processing is safer than any upload based service.
Will I lose features by switching away from iLovePDF?
For everyday tasks like merging, splitting, compressing, and converting, no. Those are all covered by ToolHub and other alternatives. You will lose access to heavier features like OCR and full editing if you switch entirely, so many people keep a hosted tool for those rare jobs and use a local tool for everything sensitive.
What is the most private way to merge or compress a PDF?
Use a tool that never uploads the file. ToolHub's pdf-merge and pdf-compress do the work in your browser, so the document stays on your device from start to finish. That is the most private option short of installing desktop software.
Final word
iLovePDF earned its popularity: it is polished and can do almost anything with a PDF. But popularity is not privacy, and for anything you would not want a stranger to read, uploading the file is the wrong default. For the common jobs most people actually do, ToolHub gives you merge, split, compress, and conversion without ever sending your file off your device, for free and with no account. If you need the full feature set and can handle setup, Stirling PDF keeps you private too. Reach for the hosted tools only when you genuinely need what they offer, and keep your sensitive files local.