OnlyDocs vs iLovePDF: Which Free PDF Tool Is Better?

iLovePDF is one of the most popular free PDF tools on the web. With over a billion users served and a suite of 25+ tools, it's often the first result when people search for free PDF editing. And honestly? It's earned that spot — iLovePDF does a lot of things well.

But if you've used iLovePDF recently, you've probably noticed the growing list of limitations on free accounts, the ads, and the features that require a Premium subscription. That's why more people are searching for an iLovePDF alternative.

In this comparison, we'll break down how OnlyDocs and iLovePDF stack up across every dimension that matters: features, pricing, privacy, and user experience.

At a Glance

• Pricing: OnlyDocs free (Pro $7/mo) vs iLovePDF free (Premium $7/mo)
• Free tier: OnlyDocs has no task limits vs iLovePDF limits batch sizes and some tools
• Account required: OnlyDocs — no vs iLovePDF — no (but limited without one)
• File privacy: OnlyDocs processes in-browser vs iLovePDF uploads to servers
• Ad-free: OnlyDocs — yes vs iLovePDF — only on Premium

Pricing: Similar Pro Costs, Very Different Free Tiers

On paper, the paid tiers look similar. iLovePDF Premium costs $7/month (billed annually), and OnlyDocs Pro also costs $7/month. So if you're comparing paid plans, they're neck and neck on price.

The real difference is in what you get for free.

iLovePDF's free tier lets you use most tools, but with restrictions:

• Limited batch processing (usually 1-2 files at a time)
• File size caps on many operations
• Ads throughout the interface
• Some tools (like PDF editing and OCR) are Premium-only
• Limited daily usage on popular tools

OnlyDocs' free tier includes:

• Full PDF editing — text, images, annotations
• Unlimited usage with no daily caps
• Form filling and digital signatures
• Page management (merge, split, reorder, rotate)
• No ads, ever
• No account required

The key distinction: iLovePDF's free tier is designed to upsell you to Premium. OnlyDocs' free tier is designed to be genuinely useful on its own. If you never pay a cent, OnlyDocs still gives you a complete PDF editing experience.

Features: iLovePDF Has Breadth, OnlyDocs Has Depth

Let's give credit where it's due. iLovePDF's tool suite is massive. They offer:

• Merge, split, compress, convert (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, JPG)
• Watermarking, page numbering, rotation
• PDF/A conversion for archival
• HTML to PDF conversion
• Unlock and protect PDFs
• Repair damaged PDFs
• API access for developers

That's an impressive lineup, and if you need niche tools like PDF/A conversion or PDF repair, iLovePDF has you covered. Their conversion tools are solid, and the compress feature works well for reducing file sizes.

OnlyDocs focuses on the tools people use most often:

• Direct PDF editing — modify text, change fonts, resize elements
• Rich annotations — highlights, sticky notes, freehand drawing, stamps
• Form filling — interactive and flat form support
• Digital signatures — draw, type, or upload your signature
• Page management — merge, split, reorder, rotate, delete pages
• Format conversion — PDF to/from major formats

Where OnlyDocs pulls ahead is in the editing experience itself. iLovePDF treats each operation as a separate tool — you upload, process, and download for each one. OnlyDocs gives you an integrated editor where you open your PDF once and do everything in one session. Need to edit some text, add a signature, delete a page, and then merge in another document? That's one workflow in OnlyDocs, but four separate tool visits in iLovePDF.

For power users who regularly edit PDFs, this workflow difference is huge.

Privacy and Security: The Fundamental Divide

This is where the two platforms diverge most sharply.

iLovePDF requires you to upload files to their servers. Files are processed server-side and stored temporarily (they say files are deleted after a few hours). They use HTTPS encryption and have security certifications. For most casual use cases, this is perfectly adequate.

But there are real scenarios where uploading PDFs to a third-party server is problematic:

• Legal documents — client contracts, NDAs, court filings
• Healthcare — patient records, insurance forms (HIPAA considerations)
• Financial — tax returns, bank statements, payroll
• Personal — identity documents, immigration paperwork

OnlyDocs processes everything client-side in your browser. Your files never leave your device. There's no upload step, no server storage, and no retention period to worry about. The processing happens entirely in JavaScript/WebAssembly within your browser tab.

This isn't just a marketing bullet point — it's a fundamentally different architecture. If document privacy matters to you (and in 2026, it probably should), this is a major differentiator.

User Experience

iLovePDF has a familiar, no-frills interface. The homepage shows a grid of tools, you click one, upload your file, and get your result. It's been refined over years and works well. The main drawback is the ads on the free tier — banner ads and interstitial ads between steps can be distracting, especially on mobile.

OnlyDocs offers a cleaner, ad-free experience regardless of your plan. The unified editor interface means less jumping between pages and fewer upload/download cycles. You open your PDF, make all your changes, and export once.

Both work well on desktop browsers. On mobile, iLovePDF has native apps (iOS and Android) that provide a somewhat smoother experience than their mobile web version. OnlyDocs works through the mobile browser with a responsive layout — no app install needed.

If you prefer native mobile apps, iLovePDF has the edge. If you prefer not installing anything, OnlyDocs is the way to go.

Collaboration and Sharing

iLovePDF Premium includes team features and shared workspaces, which can be useful for small teams. They also integrate with Google Drive and Dropbox for file access.

OnlyDocs focuses on individual productivity. Since files are processed locally, there's no built-in cloud collaboration. However, the tradeoff is better privacy and faster processing. For team collaboration, you'd use your existing file sharing workflow (email, Slack, shared drives) alongside OnlyDocs.

If built-in team collaboration is essential to your workflow, iLovePDF Premium has more to offer here. For individual users and small teams that already have their own sharing setup, OnlyDocs' approach works fine.

API and Developer Access

If you're a developer looking to integrate PDF tools into your application, iLovePDF offers a developer API with various pricing tiers. This is a legitimate advantage for technical users building PDF workflows into their products.

OnlyDocs doesn't currently offer a public API, so if programmatic PDF processing is your need, iLovePDF (or dedicated libraries) would be the better choice.

Reliability and Uptime

iLovePDF's server-side processing means you're dependent on their infrastructure. During peak usage, processing can slow down, and server outages (rare, but they happen) mean you can't get any work done.

OnlyDocs runs in your browser, so the only dependency is the initial page load. Once the app is loaded, you can edit PDFs even if your internet connection drops. This offline resilience is a subtle but meaningful advantage.

Who Should Use iLovePDF?

iLovePDF is a solid choice if:

• You need niche PDF tools (PDF/A, repair, HTML conversion)
• You want a developer API for automated workflows
• Team collaboration features are important
• You prefer native mobile apps
• You don't mind ads on the free tier or paying to remove them
• Uploading files to servers isn't a concern

Who Should Use OnlyDocs?

OnlyDocs is the better fit if:

• You want genuinely free PDF editing without artificial limits
• Privacy matters — your files should stay on your device
• You're tired of ads interrupting your workflow
• You want one unified editor instead of 25 separate tools
• You need to edit PDFs quickly without creating an account
• You want a clean, modern editing experience

The Verdict

iLovePDF and OnlyDocs serve slightly different philosophies. iLovePDF is a tool suite — lots of individual tools, each doing one thing. OnlyDocs is an editor — one integrated workspace for your PDF needs.

If you need the breadth of 25+ specialized tools and don't mind the ads and upload requirements, iLovePDF is a capable platform. But if you want a fast, private, ad-free PDF editing experience that just works — without limits, without signups, and without uploading your documents to a server — OnlyDocs is the better choice.

Both have $7/month Pro tiers, but OnlyDocs gives you far more in the free tier. That's not a knock on iLovePDF — it's just a different business model. We believe the best way to earn your paid subscription is to give you a great free experience first.

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