Most people need a PDF tool for a short list of jobs: merge a few files, shrink one for email, sign a form, convert to Word, or pull text out of a scan. A dozen free options can do these. They differ in where your file goes, what the free tier limits, and how far the tool can go when the job gets harder.
This roundup is written by DocPro, so we are one of the tools on the list. We have tried to describe every option fairly, including where another tool is the better choice. Figures marked as of October 2026 come from each provider's own pages and can change, so check the current pricing page before you rely on them.
The first question: does your file leave your device?
Free PDF tools fall into two groups. Online services upload your file to their servers, process it there and send the result back. On-device tools do the work on your computer or phone, either in the browser or in an installed app. Neither group is automatically better, but the difference matters for anything private. If a copy of your file is on someone else's server, it is out of your control for as long as they keep it. Our guide on why you should think twice before uploading private documents goes into this in detail.
DocPro (web app)
DocPro's web app at /app/ has 38 tools for PDFs, images, conversion, OCR and privacy, and they all run in your browser. Files are not uploaded. Every tool is free and needs no account, except signing: Sign PDF and the signature vault are part of DocPro Pro, which costs A$5.99 a month after a 7-day free trial.
Best at: private, quick jobs such as merging, splitting, compressing, organizing pages, OCR, removing metadata and passport photos, with nothing to install. It also works offline once you have visited it.
The catches: it cannot edit the existing text of a PDF, redact, build forms or apply certificate-based digital signatures. Compress PDF re-saves pages as images, so text is no longer selectable. Word to PDF and Excel to PDF use a basic layout. Very large files depend on your device's memory. There is no desktop app, and the Android app is coming soon but is not released yet.
PDF24 Tools and PDF24 Creator
PDF24 is a German-run service. Its online tools are free and, according to the site, have no usage restrictions, paid for by advertising. Its privacy policy says uploaded files and results are usually deleted one hour after upload. The standout is PDF24 Creator, a free Windows desktop app where files stay on your PC and which the site says is also free for commercial use.
Best at: a large free tool set, and a genuinely offline option for Windows users. The catches: the online tools upload your files, the site shows ads, and Creator is Windows only, so Mac and Linux users are limited to the online version.
iLovePDF
iLovePDF has a wide range of tools, a desktop app for Mac and Windows and a mobile app for iOS and Android. The free plan is web only with a limited tool set, batch limits and ads. As of October 2026 its Premium plan was listed at US$5 a month billed annually or US$9 billed monthly, and it adds the apps, larger limits and an ad-free experience. The site says uploaded files are removed from its servers within two hours.
Best at: breadth, polish and apps on every platform. The catches: files are uploaded, and several tools sit behind Premium or have lower file size limits on the free plan. There is more in DocPro vs iLovePDF.
Smallpdf
Smallpdf offers 30+ tools, a Windows desktop app and mobile apps with scanning. The free plan has daily limits on many tools, and paid plans start with a 7-day free trial. Smallpdf states that files from its free tools are deleted after one hour, and that its servers are in Ireland.
Best at: a clean, easy interface and extras such as document scanning on mobile. The catches: daily limits on the free tier, uploads to its servers, and some tools such as advanced compression and OCR are paid. See DocPro vs Smallpdf.
Adobe Acrobat online
Adobe invented the PDF, and its paid Acrobat apps are the most complete PDF editors available, with text editing, OCR, redaction, form building and certificate-based digital signatures. The free online tools are narrower. Adobe's help page says most tools accept PDFs up to 100 MB and that you get one free transaction without signing in, with further limited use after you sign in. Files are uploaded to Adobe Document Cloud.
Best at: serious editing, compliance work and signatures that need to hold up formally. The catches: the strong features need a paid subscription, and the free tools are quota limited. See DocPro vs Adobe Acrobat online.
Stirling-PDF (self-hosted)
Stirling-PDF is an open-core project. Most of the code is under the MIT licence, with some directories under a separate licence. You run it yourself, for example with Docker, so files go to a server you control rather than a stranger's. It has 50+ tools, a REST API and a desktop client.
Best at: teams and technical users who want a full toolbox and control over where files go. The catches: you have to set it up and maintain it, and a hosted instance run by someone else is no different from any other upload site.
LibreOffice
LibreOffice is a free office suite. Its PDF export can set a password, create PDF/A files and sign with a certificate, and it can open PDFs in Draw for rough edits. Best at: turning Word, Excel and other documents into well-formed PDFs without a subscription, entirely offline. The catches: it is a large install, and editing existing PDFs this way is clumsy for anything with complex layout.
Built into your computer
macOS Preview can combine PDFs, rearrange and delete pages, annotate, fill and sign forms, add a password and reduce file size, all offline. Windows has Microsoft Print to PDF, and the Edge browser can open and annotate PDFs, so you can turn almost any printable document into a PDF without installing anything. These are the safest choices for simple jobs. The catches: they cover the basics only, and features differ by operating system version.
Which should you use?
- Private or sensitive file, quick job: an on-device tool such as DocPro, or the Mac or Windows built-ins.
- Windows user who wants a free offline toolbox: PDF24 Creator.
- Everyday jobs with apps on every device: iLovePDF or Smallpdf, accepting the upload and the free-tier limits.
- Real editing, redaction or legally formal signatures: Adobe Acrobat, or another full desktop editor.
- Your own team with a stack of documents and some technical skill: Stirling-PDF on your own server.
- Office files to a good PDF: export from Word or LibreOffice directly.
Rule of thumb: the more private the file, the closer it should stay to your own device.
If you only remember one thing, remember to check where the processing happens. Our guide on how to check whether a PDF website uploads your files shows how to test any tool in a couple of minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a completely free PDF tool with no limits?
Several tools are free without a stated cap, including DocPro (except signing), PDF24 and the built-in options on Mac and Windows. Others, such as iLovePDF, Smallpdf and Adobe online, limit the free tier. Check each pricing page, because limits change.
Which free PDF tool is safest for private documents?
Tools that process the file on your own device keep the only copy with you. That includes browser tools that do not upload, desktop apps and the built-in tools on Mac and Windows. Online services that upload files say they delete them after a set time, but a copy exists on their servers until then.
Do I need Adobe Acrobat to edit a PDF?
For editing the existing text, images and layout of a PDF, a full editor such as Acrobat is the most capable choice. For merging, splitting, compressing, converting and simple markup, free tools are enough.