Free PDF24 Tools alternatives

All PDF24 Tools alternatives

1. 

   

   iLovePDF

   4.8(51.9K) · App StoreLike

   iLovePDF is a web-based PDF toolkit from a company based in Barcelona, with single-purpose tools to merge, split, compress, convert, rotate, watermark, OCR and sign PDF files. Desktop and mobile apps cover the same tasks, and a developer API is offered separately. Most tools are free with file-size and usage limits, and a Premium subscription removes them.

   8 iLovePDF alternatives

   Pros

   • Simple single-purpose tools for merging, splitting and compressing
   • Most tools work free in the browser, with nothing to install
   • Developer API for automating PDF tasks

   Cons

   • Free use has file-size and usage limits
   • Uploading files to a web service may not suit sensitive documents
   • Text editing is basic compared with desktop editors

   Cost / License

   FreemiumProprietary

   Categories

   PDF Editors

   Platforms

   WebWindowsMaciPhoneAndroid

   Features

   API accessElectronic signaturesMerge and split PDFsOCRPDF conversionPDF text editing

   Visit websiteMore about iLovePDF
2. 

   

   Smallpdf

   4.8(6.9K) · App StoreLike

   Smallpdf is a Swiss PDF platform with simple tools to compress, convert, merge, split, edit and sign PDFs from the browser, plus desktop and mobile apps. It is aimed at individuals and teams with quick, occasional PDF tasks. Free users get a limited number of tasks per day, while the Pro plan removes limits and adds OCR, batch processing and AI tools for summarising documents.

   8 Smallpdf alternatives

   Pros

   • Clean, simple tools for quick PDF tasks in the browser
   • Compress, convert, merge, edit and sign in one place
   • Desktop and mobile apps alongside the web version

   Cons

   • Free users get only a few tasks per day
   • OCR, batch processing and AI tools require Pro
   • Files are processed online, a concern for sensitive documents

   Cost / License

   FreemiumProprietary

   Categories

   PDF Editors

   Platforms

   WebWindowsMaciPhoneAndroid

   Features

   AI assistantElectronic signaturesMerge and split PDFsOCRPDF conversionPDF text editing

   Visit websiteMore about Smallpdf
3. 

   

   PDFgear

   4.7(8.8K) · App StoreLike

   PDFgear is a free PDF application from Singapore-based PDF Gear Tech for reading, editing, converting, merging, compressing and signing documents. It includes OCR for scanned files and a Copilot assistant that summarises PDFs and carries out edits from chat requests. It is available on Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android and the web, without watermarks or a required account.

   10 PDFgear alternatives

   Pros

   • Free editing, conversion and signing without watermarks
   • No account required to use the apps
   • Copilot assistant summarises PDFs and applies edits from chat

   Cons

   • Text editing is less precise than in Acrobat or Foxit
   • Younger product with less of a track record than established editors

   Cost / License

   FreeProprietary

   Categories

   PDF Editors

   Platforms

   WebWindowsMaciPhoneAndroid

   Features

   AI assistantElectronic signaturesMerge and split PDFsOCRPDF conversionPDF text editing

   Visit websiteMore about PDFgear
4. 

   

   Stirling-PDF

   94KstarsLike

   Stirling-PDF is an open-core PDF application you can run on your own server, typically with Docker, so documents never leave your infrastructure. It bundles tools to merge, split, compress, convert, OCR, sign, redact and edit PDFs, plus a REST API and pipelines for automating repetitive jobs. The core is MIT-licensed and free; paid plans add enterprise features such as SSO.

   7 Stirling-PDF alternatives

   Pros

   • Self-hosted, so documents never leave your infrastructure
   • Dozens of tools for merging, OCR, redaction and conversion
   • REST API and pipelines automate repetitive jobs

   Cons

   • Requires running a server, typically with Docker
   • SSO and other enterprise features are paid

   Cost / License

   FreemiumOpen source

   Categories

   PDF Editors

   Platforms

   WebSelf-hosted

   Features

   API accessElectronic signaturesMerge and split PDFsOCRPDF conversionPDF text editing

   Visit websiteMore about Stirling-PDF
5. 

   

   Adobe Acrobat

   2.2(646) · App StoreLike

   Adobe Acrobat is the PDF application from Adobe, the company that created the format. The free Acrobat Reader views, annotates and signs files, while paid Acrobat Standard and Pro add text and image editing, OCR, conversion to and from Office formats, redaction, comparison and e-signature requests. An AI Assistant can summarise documents and answer questions about them.

   11 Adobe Acrobat alternatives

   Pros

   • Reference PDF tool from the company that created the format
   • Free Reader for viewing, annotating and signing
   • Pro adds editing, OCR, redaction, comparison and signature requests

   Cons

   • Editing and conversion require a costly subscription
   • Heavy app with frequent prompts to upgrade

   Cost / License

   FreemiumProprietary

   Categories

   PDF EditorsE-signature

   Platforms

   WebWindowsMaciPhoneAndroidBrowser extension

   Features

   AI assistantElectronic signaturesMerge and split PDFsOCRPDF annotationPDF conversion

   Visit websiteMore about Adobe Acrobat
6. 

   

   Sumatra PDF

   17.7KstarsLike

   Sumatra PDF is a small, fast document reader for Windows that opens PDF, EPUB, MOBI, XPS, DjVu and comic book files. It focuses on quick startup and a minimal interface rather than editing, with basic annotation support and a portable version that runs without installation. It is free and open source under the GPLv3.

   6 Sumatra PDF alternatives

   Pros

   • Very fast startup and a minimal interface
   • Opens PDF, EPUB, MOBI, DjVu and comic book files
   • Portable version runs without installation

   Cons

   • Available on Windows only, with no Mac or Linux version
   • No PDF editing and only basic annotations

   Cost / License

   FreeOpen source

   Categories

   PDF Editors

   Platforms

   Windows

   Features

   Ad-freeOffline modePDF annotation

   Visit websiteMore about Sumatra PDF
7. 

   

   Okular

   Like

   Okular is the document viewer developed by the KDE community, opening PDF, EPUB, DjVu, XPS, comic books and other formats in one application. It supports highlighting, notes and other annotations, form filling and digital signatures for PDFs. Okular is free and open source, is usually installed with the KDE Plasma desktop on Linux and is also available for Windows.

   6 Okular alternatives

   Pros

   • Opens PDF, EPUB, DjVu, XPS and comics in one viewer
   • Highlights, notes, form filling and digital signatures
   • Free and open source, with no ads

   Cons

   • Cannot edit the text or images of a PDF
   • Works best on KDE Plasma and feels less native elsewhere

   Cost / License

   FreeOpen source

   Categories

   PDF Editors

   Platforms

   WindowsLinux

   Features

   Ad-freeElectronic signaturesOffline modePDF annotation

   Visit websiteMore about Okular
8. 

   

   PDF Expert

   4.7(216.1K) · App StoreLike

   PDF Expert is a PDF app from Readdle designed for Apple devices. Reading, annotating, highlighting and filling forms are free, while a subscription unlocks text and image editing, OCR for scanned pages, page management, conversion and signatures. Its native interface is designed to stay responsive with large documents.

   8 PDF Expert alternatives

   Pros

   • Native Apple design that stays fast with large documents
   • Reading, annotation and form filling are free
   • Clean tools for editing text, images and pages

   Cons

   • Editing, OCR and conversion require a subscription
   • Fewer enterprise and automation features than Acrobat

   Cost / License

   FreemiumProprietary

   Categories

   PDF Editors

   Platforms

   MaciPhone

   Features

   Electronic signaturesMerge and split PDFsOCRPDF annotationPDF conversionPDF text editing

   Visit websiteMore about PDF Expert