SmallPDF is the most recognizable name in online PDF tools. It was the original site to package merge, split, compress, convert, and edit into a single web app, and millions of people use it every day. The catch is that the free tier is very limited: two tasks per hour, files uploaded to their servers, and a constant push toward a paid Pro plan. If you hit those limits often, you have probably looked for alternatives. We tested five of them.
Our pick
Only suite in the test that processes everything in your browser, no upload. No daily limits, no signup, growing list of PDF and image tools, and the privacy story SmallPDF cannot match.
How we tested
We picked the five most common PDF tasks (merge, split, compress, image-to-PDF, and PDF-to-image) and ran them on each platform with realistic files: a 50-page report, a scanned contract, a folder of receipts, and a 200 MB technical manual. We measured speed, quality, and friction from logins, quotas, and watermarks.
How we scored
Each platform was scored out of 10: feature breadth (3 points), privacy (3 points), free-tier generosity (2 points), and overall UX (2 points).
The full ranking
Rank #1
ToolHub
The privacy-first PDF and image suite. Every tool runs in your browser using pdf-lib, so files are never uploaded. No quota, no login, no paywall. Feature set still smaller than SmallPDF but covers the most common tasks.
Pros
- 100% client-side, files stay on your device
- Unlimited free use, no quota
- Merge, split, image-to-PDF, plus 16 other tools
- Modern UI, fast on any device
Cons
- Fewer tools than SmallPDF (no OCR or e-sign yet)
- No collaboration features
Rank #2
iLovePDF
Closest match to SmallPDF on feature parity. Slick UI, fast servers, every PDF tool you would expect. The same trade-off applies: files uploaded, daily quota on free tier, paid plan pushed hard.
Pros
- Comprehensive PDF toolkit (25+ tools)
- Polished UI
- Mobile apps available
Cons
- Files uploaded to their servers
- Daily quota on free tier
- Aggressive premium upsell
Rank #3
PDF24
The German competitor, with both a web app and a free desktop app. Web version uploads files; desktop app works offline. Tool count is high and the privacy policy is more honest than most.
Pros
- Free desktop app for offline work
- 30+ tools
- No mandatory account
Cons
- Web version uploads files
- UI feels dated
- Ads on the web pages
Rank #4
Sejda PDF
Quietly excellent toolkit with surprisingly good editing features. Free tier limits to 3 tasks per hour and 200 pages or 50 MB per file. Files are uploaded but auto-deleted after a few hours.
Pros
- Excellent PDF editor and form filler
- Honest, transparent privacy policy
- Auto-deletes uploads
Cons
- 3 tasks per hour limit
- Files still uploaded
- 200-page or 50 MB cap
Rank #5
LightPDF
Competent PDF suite with a clean interface. The pitch is fast servers and AI features (summarize, chat with PDF). For basic merge and split, it works. AI features require an account.
Pros
- Clean modern UI
- Some AI-powered tools
- Mobile apps
Cons
- Files uploaded
- AI tools require signup
- Free tier has size and count limits
Rank #6
SmallPDF (for reference)
The benchmark we are comparing against. Excellent tool quality, but the two-tasks-per-hour limit on the free tier feels punitive in 2026. Pro plan removes the cap but starts at $9 per month.
Pros
- Most polished PDF UX in the category
- Wide tool selection (25+ tools)
- Mobile apps
Cons
- 2 tasks per hour on free tier
- Files uploaded to their servers
- Paid Pro plan starts at $9/month
Side by side
| Feature | ToolHub | iLovePDF | PDF24 | Sejda | SmallPDF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Files stay on device | Yes | No | Partial | No | No |
| No daily quota | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| No signup | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial |
| Merge / Split / Compress | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Image-to-PDF | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PDF editor | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| OCR | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| E-sign | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop app | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Who should pick which
If privacy or compliance matters: ToolHub
For lawyers, doctors, accountants, HR, and government work, an upload-anything-to-the-cloud workflow is increasingly hard to justify. ToolHub processes everything in your browser. Files never leave your device. The trade-off today is fewer features, but for the core merge, split, compress, and image-to-PDF tasks, it covers the use cases most people hit.
If you need OCR or e-sign: iLovePDF or Sejda
These two are the strongest paid-feature contenders. iLovePDF has the largest tool selection. Sejda has the best editor. Both upload files but Sejda auto-deletes them and is more transparent about it.
If you need offline work: PDF24 desktop
PDF24 is the only entry on this list with a free Windows desktop app that works fully offline. If you process confidential documents and cannot use the web, install it.
Mix and match
Common questions
Is ToolHub really 100% free?
Yes. Every tool is free with no quota, no daily limit, no watermark, no signup. Display ads on the page support the site. There are no premium tiers because there is no server cost: everything runs in your browser.
Why does SmallPDF charge if these alternatives are free?
SmallPDF runs server-side, which means every task they process costs them CPU and bandwidth. They have a real cost basis to cover. Tools like ToolHub avoid this cost by processing client-side, which is why we can offer it free indefinitely.
Are server-side tools more accurate?
For most operations (merge, split, compress, image-to-PDF), no. The same libraries (pdf-lib, mupdf, mozjpeg) run in WebAssembly in your browser at near-native speed. The difference shows up in heavy operations like OCR on scanned documents, where dedicated server hardware is genuinely faster.
Can I import a PDF from Google Drive?
Most server-side suites (SmallPDF, iLovePDF) integrate with Drive and Dropbox. Client-side suites (ToolHub) do not yet because the integration would defeat the privacy model. You download the file from Drive and drop it in.
Final word
SmallPDF popularized online PDF tools and the suites that followed (iLovePDF, Sejda, LightPDF) all share a similar upload-and-process model. ToolHub takes a different approach: process in your browser, never upload. For the most common tasks, that is the right call. For specialized features like OCR or e-sign, the cloud suites are still ahead. Pick based on what you actually need.