Looking for the best free PDF tools online? With dozens of options available, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. Some upload your private documents to the cloud, others lock features behind paywalls, and many add watermarks to your output. We've tested and compared the most popular PDF tools in 2025 so you don't have to. Here's our honest ranking.
PhotoSePDF.in — Best Overall (Editor's Pick)
The only PDF tool that processes everything 100% locally in your browser. Your files never leave your device — making it the safest option for sensitive documents like Aadhar cards, bank statements, and medical records.
- Price: 100% Free — no premium tier, no hidden fees
- Privacy: ✅ Zero server uploads — everything processed locally
- Offline: ✅ Works without internet (PWA technology)
- Watermark: ✅ Never
- Sign-up: ✅ Not required
- File Limits: ✅ Unlimited
- Tools Available: Photo to PDF, JPG to PDF, PNG to PDF, Compress PDF, Merge PDF, Split PDF, PDF to JPG, HEIC to PDF, WebP to PDF, and more
Best for: Privacy-conscious users, Indian government form submissions, offline usage, mobile users.
Try PhotoSePDF.in — FreeiLovePDF
A feature-rich online PDF suite with a generous free tier. Offers a wide variety of PDF tools including merge, split, compress, convert, and edit. However, all processing happens on their servers.
- Price: Free (limited) / $7/month Premium
- Privacy: ❌ Uploads files to servers (deleted after 2 hours)
- Offline: ❌ Requires internet
- Watermark: ✅ No watermarks on free tier
- File Limits: 100MB per file (free), 4GB (premium)
Best for: Users who need advanced features like PDF editing, OCR, and format conversion and don't mind cloud processing.
SmallPDF
A sleek, well-designed PDF platform with a focus on simplicity. Offers 20+ tools but aggressively limits free usage to push users toward the paid plan.
- Price: Free (2 tasks/day) / $12/month Pro
- Privacy: ❌ Uploads to cloud / ✅ Desktop app available
- Offline: ✅ Desktop app only
- Watermark: ⚠️ Sometimes on free tier
- File Limits: 5MB per file (free), unlimited (pro)
Best for: Professionals who can justify the subscription cost and want a polished interface.
Adobe Acrobat Online
Adobe's online version of their industry-standard PDF software. Reliable and trustworthy, but the free tier is very limited and pushes hard toward the expensive Acrobat Pro subscription.
- Price: Free (very limited) / $19.99/month Acrobat Pro
- Privacy: ❌ Uploads to Adobe Cloud
- Offline: ✅ Desktop software only ($239.88/year)
- Watermark: ✅ No watermarks
- Sign-up: ❌ Adobe account required
Best for: Enterprise users who already have Adobe Creative Cloud subscriptions.
PDF24 Tools
A German-based PDF tool suite that's genuinely free with no premium tier. Offers 30+ tools and a desktop creator app. Processing happens server-side.
- Price: 100% Free
- Privacy: ❌ Server-side processing (files deleted after 1 hour)
- Offline: ✅ Windows desktop app available
- Watermark: ✅ No watermarks
- Sign-up: ✅ Not required
Best for: Windows desktop users who want a free all-in-one PDF creator.
Sejda PDF
A capable online PDF editor with some unique features like online PDF editing and form filling. Free tier is limited to 3 tasks per day.
- Price: Free (3 tasks/day, 50MB limit) / $7.50/month
- Privacy: ❌ Server processing (deleted after 2 hours)
- Watermark: ✅ No watermarks on free tier
PDF2Go
Offers a broad range of PDF and document conversion tools. Free tier allows unlimited basic operations but shows ads. Cloud-based processing.
- Price: Free (with ads) / $8.50/month Premium
- Privacy: ❌ Server-side processing
- Watermark: ✅ No watermarks
Head-to-Head Comparison Table
| Tool | Free? | Private? | Offline? | No Signup? | No Watermark? | Unlimited? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PhotoSePDF.in | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| iLovePDF | ⚠️ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| SmallPDF | ❌ | ❌ | ⚠️ | ❌ | ⚠️ | ❌ |
| Adobe Online | ❌ | ❌ | ⚠️ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| PDF24 | ✅ | ❌ | ⚠️ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Sejda | ⚠️ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
How We Ranked These Tools
Our ranking is based on these criteria, weighted by importance:
- Privacy & Security (30%): Does the tool upload your files to a server? Privacy is our #1 concern.
- Truly Free (25%): Is the free tier genuinely usable, or does it push you toward a paid plan?
- Feature Set (20%): How many useful tools does the platform offer?
- Speed & Performance (15%): How fast does the tool process files?
- Cross-Platform Support (10%): Does it work well on mobile, tablet, and desktop?
Why Privacy Matters for PDF Tools
When you upload a PDF to an online tool, you're trusting a third party with potentially sensitive information. Consider what your PDFs typically contain:
- Identity documents: Aadhar cards, PAN cards, passports, driver's licenses
- Financial records: Bank statements, tax returns, salary slips
- Medical information: Test reports, prescriptions, insurance claims
- Legal documents: Contracts, agreements, court filings
- Academic records: Marksheets, certificates, transcripts
With PhotoSePDF.in, none of this information ever leaves your device. The tool runs entirely in your browser's JavaScript engine, processing files using your device's local memory. Even if someone hacks the website, your previously processed files are completely safe because they were never transmitted.
Which Tool Should You Choose?
- For maximum privacy: PhotoSePDF.in — zero uploads, works offline
- For advanced features: iLovePDF or Adobe Acrobat Pro (paid)
- For Indian government portals: PhotoSePDF.in — optimized for 100KB-500KB size limits
- For mobile users: PhotoSePDF.in — mobile-first PWA design
- For occasional use: Any free tool will work, but avoid SmallPDF's restrictive free tier
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free PDF tool online?
PhotoSePDF.in is the best for privacy and unlimited free usage. iLovePDF is the best for advanced features with cloud processing. Your choice depends on whether privacy or feature variety matters more to you.
Which PDF tool is completely free with no limits?
PhotoSePDF.in and PDF24 are both completely free without daily limits. PhotoSePDF.in has the additional advantage of offline support and local processing.
Is it safe to use online PDF tools?
It depends. Tools that upload files to servers carry inherent privacy risks. PhotoSePDF.in is uniquely safe because it processes everything in your browser — your files never leave your device.
Can I convert, merge, compress, and split PDFs for free?
Yes! PhotoSePDF.in offers all major PDF operations for free: Photo to PDF, Merge, Compress, Split, and many more — all without limits or sign-ups.
Do free PDF tools add watermarks?
PhotoSePDF.in, iLovePDF (free tier), and PDF24 never add watermarks. SmallPDF may add watermarks on certain free operations. Always check before using any tool for important documents.