LovedPDF vs iLovePDF
iLovePDF is the category leader. It's also a 2010 product. Here's an honest, item-by-item comparison — what we do better, what they still do better, and which one is the right fit for you.
Pick LovedPDF if
- Privacy of your files matters (contracts, financial, medical, personal)
- You want a modern, fast, ad-free experience
- You'll use AI features (chat with PDF, smart redact) later this year
- You want to chain operations (compress → watermark → merge)
Stay with iLovePDF if
- You need server-side conversions today (Word↔PDF, OCR) — we ship these in Phase 3
- You need their developer API (iLoveAPI) right now
- You don't process sensitive content and ads don't bother you
| Feature | LovedPDF | iLovePDF |
|---|---|---|
| File processing location | Your browser (no upload) | Their server (upload required) |
| Privacy of your files | We never see them | Stored 1-24 hours, then deleted |
| Free tier file size limit | 100 MB | 25 MB |
| Free tier daily operations | 5/day (Phase 2 unlimited) | Unlimited but ad-heavy |
| Ads in free tier | None, ever | Yes |
| UI design | Modern (2026) | Dated (2010s) |
| Pricing — Pro plan | $5/month | $7/month |
| AI features (chat, summarize) | Phase 4 — built-in | Limited add-ons |
| Workspace pipelines | Phase 2 | No |
| Server-side conversions (Word↔PDF, OCR) | Phase 3 | Yes, today |
| Tracking pixels | Zero | Multiple (GA, FB Pixel, ads) |
| API for developers | Phase 5 | Yes (iLoveAPI) |
The privacy gap, in detail
Every iLovePDF action — merge, split, compress, convert — uploads your file to their server. The file is processed on a server farm, then deleted "after a few hours." This is the standard model for online PDF tools and was reasonable in 2010. In 2026, browsers can do almost all of this work locally.
LovedPDF processes everything that can run in your browser, in your browser. That includes merge, split, compress, rotate, watermark, page numbers, sign, reorder, delete pages, crop, edit metadata, JPG↔PDF, and PDF↔PNG. The file never leaves your device.
The handful of operations that genuinely need a server — Word↔PDF conversion, OCR, advanced format support — ship in Phase 3 with explicit upload UX, EU-only servers, encryption at rest, and 60-minute auto-deletion. We tell you exactly when and why a file leaves your browser.
Pricing comparison
iLovePDF
$0 → $7/mo
Free with ads and small file limit. Premium starts at $7.
Frequently asked
Is iLovePDF safe to use?
iLovePDF is a legitimate, established company. Their security practices are reasonable for the upload-and-delete model. The risk is structural: any tool that uploads your file creates a window where the file lives on a third-party server. For sensitive documents (contracts, medical records, financial info), browser-only tools eliminate that window entirely.
Can LovedPDF do everything iLovePDF can?
Today: 14 tools versus their ~25. Most of the gap is server-side conversions (Word↔PDF, PDF↔Excel, OCR) that genuinely need a server — those ship in our Phase 3. Browser-capable tools (merge, split, compress, sign, rotate, etc.) are at parity or better.
Why is LovedPDF's free tier limited to 5 operations per day?
Anti-abuse during launch. Phase 2 lifts the daily cap entirely for free users — we want the free tier to be genuinely free without conditions.
Do I need an account?
No. Every Phase 1 tool works without sign-up. Pro and Teams (Phase 2) require an account because they're paid.
Will iLovePDF ever rebuild as browser-only?
Maybe. The technology shift is recent enough that legacy players haven't migrated yet. Until they do, browser-first alternatives like LovedPDF and Stirling PDF have a real privacy advantage.
Try LovedPDF on the file you'd normally upload
Open DevTools → Network. Drop your file into our merge or compress tool. Watch nothing get uploaded. That's the difference.
Try Merge PDF