Best Free Online PDF Tools Compared: MyEasyTools vs SmallPDF vs ILovePDF vs PDF24
Honest comparison of the four most popular free online PDF tools — features, file limits, privacy, and when each one is the better choice.
Written by Alex · Developer & Founder
Solo developer based in Adelaide, Australia. Built MyEasyTools to make everyday file and text tasks faster and free for everyone.
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If you need to compress, convert, or manipulate a PDF online, four tools come up in almost every search result: MyEasyTools, SmallPDF, ILovePDF, and PDF24. This guide cuts through the marketing to tell you what each one actually does well, where each one falls short, and which to reach for depending on your task.
The quick comparison
| Feature | MyEasyTools | SmallPDF | ILovePDF | PDF24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free file size limit | 25 MB | 5 MB (2 tasks/hr) | 100 MB | Unlimited (desktop app) |
| Rate limiting (free) | None | 2 tasks/hour | None | None |
| Privacy | In-memory, never stored | Files deleted after 1 hour | Files deleted after 2 hours | Processed locally (desktop) |
| Signup required | No | No (limited) | No | No |
| PDF compression | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Word to PDF | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PDF to Word | Yes (with OCR) | Yes (limited free) | Yes | Yes |
| Merge/split PDF | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Paid plan | $6/month | $12/month | $7/month | Free (pro features) |
SmallPDF
SmallPDF is the oldest and best-known PDF tool online. Its interface is clean, it supports over 20 operations, and the conversion quality on Word-to-PDF is consistently good.
Where it wins: Merge and split tools are best-in-class. The PDF editor (highlight, annotate, add text) is genuinely useful for free users within the task limit. The mobile apps are polished.
Where it falls short: The free tier is the most restrictive of the four — 2 tasks per hour, with a 5 MB file cap per operation. If you're processing several documents in one sitting, you'll hit the wall quickly. The paid plan at $12/month is also the most expensive here.
Who it's best for: Occasional users who need merge/split or advanced editing features and don't mind the pace limit.
ILovePDF
ILovePDF has the widest tool selection of any free PDF platform — over 25 operations including PDF to Excel, PowerPoint conversion, repair, watermarking, and page numbering.
Where it wins: The 100 MB free file size limit is the most generous of the browser-based tools. No rate limiting on basic tasks. The batch processing lets you upload multiple files at once on the free tier.
Where it falls short: Conversion quality on complex DOCX files (multi-column layouts, embedded graphics) is occasionally inconsistent compared to LibreOffice-based converters. The advertising density on the free tier is higher than competitors.
Who it's best for: Users who regularly need less common PDF operations (repair, watermark, OCR, PowerPoint conversion) and have large files.
PDF24
PDF24 is a different model from the others — it is primarily a desktop application (Windows) that processes files locally on your computer. The web version exists but is slower and less capable than the desktop app.
Where it wins: The desktop app has no file size limits at all, processes files faster than any browser-based tool, and is completely free with no paid tier. Because files never leave your computer, it is the most private option by a significant margin.
Where it falls short: The web version is limited compared to the desktop app. If you're on Mac, Linux, or a managed corporate machine where you can't install software, PDF24's main advantage disappears. The interface is functional but dated compared to competitors.
Who it's best for: Windows users who process PDFs frequently and want zero cost, zero limits, and maximum privacy. Not useful if you can't install software.
MyEasyTools
MyEasyTools focuses on doing a smaller set of PDF operations well, with a privacy-first architecture: files are processed in-memory and discarded immediately — nothing is written to disk or retained after your session.
The four PDF tools cover the most common use cases: compress a PDF, convert Word to PDF, combine images into a PDF, and convert a PDF to an editable Word document with full OCR support for scanned pages.
Where it wins: The free tier allows files up to 25 MB with no rate limiting or task caps. The PDF to Word conversion uses a full OCR pipeline (Tesseract + pdf2docx) that handles scanned documents better than many competitors. No account required for anything.
Where it falls short: No merge, split, or editing tools yet. If you need to combine 10 PDFs into one or remove specific pages, you'll need to use ILovePDF or SmallPDF for that task.
Who it's best for: Users who frequently compress PDFs, convert Word documents, or need OCR-based PDF to Word conversion, and care about files not being stored anywhere.
Which one should you use?
Use SmallPDF if: You need PDF merge/split/edit and can work within the 2 tasks/hour limit.
Use ILovePDF if: You have files over 25 MB, need uncommon operations (repair, watermark, PowerPoint), or want batch processing.
Use PDF24 if: You're on Windows, process PDFs daily, and want a free desktop app with no limits.
Use MyEasyTools if: You want the fastest no-signup experience for compression, conversion, or OCR-based PDF to Word, and you want certainty that your files aren't stored anywhere.
The practical answer for most people: bookmark two tools. Use MyEasyTools for the everyday tasks (compress, convert) where privacy matters. Keep ILovePDF as a fallback for the occasional large file or obscure operation.
FAQ
Which free PDF tool has the best compression? All four use similar JPEG downsampling techniques for compression. MyEasyTools and PDF24 both use PyMuPDF or equivalent — results are comparable. The main differentiator is file size limits, not compression quality.
Are my files safe with free PDF tools? Reputable tools like those listed here process files temporarily and delete them. MyEasyTools processes in-memory (never touches disk). SmallPDF and ILovePDF delete files within 1–2 hours. PDF24's desktop app never uploads files at all. Avoid obscure, unreviewed tools.
Is SmallPDF really free? SmallPDF offers a limited free tier — 2 tasks per hour, 5 MB file limit. Beyond that, you need the paid plan ($12/month) or Premium ($18/month billed annually). It is free for light occasional use but not for heavy daily use.
Can I convert a PDF to Word for free? Yes. ILovePDF, SmallPDF, PDF24, and MyEasyTools all offer free PDF-to-Word conversion. MyEasyTools is the only browser-based option with built-in OCR for scanned PDFs at no cost.
Do free PDF tools add watermarks? SmallPDF's free tier adds a watermark on some output types. PDF24 and ILovePDF do not add watermarks on the free tier. MyEasyTools adds a small footer to PDF-to-Word conversions on the free tier — Pro removes it.