A free iLovePDF alternative that never uploads
Merge, split, rotate, compress PDFs, and convert images to PDF — all in your browser. No signup, no watermark, no server.
iLovePDF and Smallpdf both upload your files to their servers, limit free users to a handful of tasks per hour, and put file size caps in the way. This toolkit uses pdf-lib and Mozilla's pdf.js directly in your browser — no uploads, no limits, no watermarks, no waiting in line.
How this toolkit compares
| Feature | iLovePDF | Smallpdf | PDF24 | nap.codes PDF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Task limit (free) | 2/hour | 2/day | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| File size limit | 25 MB free | 5 GB paid | No hard cap | No hard cap |
| Watermark | On some ops | On free tier | No | No |
| Processing | Server-side | Server-side | Server-side | Client-side |
| Files upload to a server? | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Merge / Split / Rotate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Compress | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (rasterize) |
| Cost | Free → paid | Free → paid | Free (ad-supported) | Free, no ads |
Comparison based on publicly published free-tier limits as of 2026. iLovePDF, Smallpdf, and PDF24 are trademarks of their respective owners.
What each mode does
Merge
Drop multiple PDFs, reorder them with the up/down arrows, and combine into one file. Bookmarks and metadata are stripped for a clean output.
Split
Drop a single PDF and specify page ranges (e.g. 1-3, 5, 8-10). Get one PDF per range, or a single combined PDF of just those pages.
Rotate
Rotate every page — or a selection — by 90°, 180°, or 270°. Useful for landscape scans that opened sideways.
Compress
Rasterizes every page at your chosen DPI and re-encodes as JPEG at your chosen quality, then rebuilds the PDF. Big savings for image-heavy or scanned documents. Text becomes non-selectable after aggressive compression — pick a lighter setting to keep text sharp.
Images → PDF
Drop any number of JPG, PNG, or WebP images and pack them into a single PDF. Choose page size (auto, A4, Letter), orientation, and margin.
Frequently asked
Is this really free?
Yes — no signup, no watermark, no daily cap. Runs entirely in your browser.
Are my PDFs uploaded to a server?
No. Check the Network tab while working — zero file uploads. Only the initial page and library assets load from a CDN.
How much can compress shrink my PDF?
Depends on the source. Scanned or image-heavy PDFs typically shrink 50-90%. Text-heavy PDFs (already efficient) shrink 10-40%. Aggressive settings sacrifice text selectability for maximum savings.
Can I merge password-protected PDFs?
Not directly — you need to unlock them first. We do not handle passwords because it would conflict with the zero-server model.
Is there a file size limit?
No hard limit. Your device memory is the ceiling. Desktops handle hundreds of MB comfortably; on mobile keep under 100 MB per PDF for the best experience.
Why does compress lose text selection?
Compress works by turning each page into an image and rebuilding the PDF. That trades text for size. If you need selectable text, use a lighter compress setting or skip compress for text-only documents.
Does it work offline?
After first load, libraries are cached. Disconnect and keep working.
Can I use this for client or commercial work?
Yes — free for any use, no attribution required.
iLovePDF®, Smallpdf®, and PDF24® are trademarks of their respective owners. This toolkit is an independent tool built by @nap.codes and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any of these companies. Comparisons are based on publicly documented free-tier capabilities.