Best Free PDF Tools in 2026: Complete Comparison Guide
Looking for the best free PDF tools? We tested and compared the top 10 online PDF converters. Find out which ones are truly free with no watermarks.
With dozens of PDF tools available online, how do you choose the right one? Many claim to be "free" but add watermarks or limit features.
We tested the most popular PDF tools to create this honest comparison guide. Here are the best truly free PDF tools in 2026.
Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | Truly Free? | Watermarks | File Limit | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percime Tools | ✅ Yes | None | 50MB | No signup |
| iLovePDF | Partial | None (limited) | 25MB | Feature rich |
| Smallpdf | ❌ No | After 2/day | 5MB free | UI design |
| PDF24 | ✅ Yes | None | 100MB | Desktop app |
| Adobe Acrobat | ❌ No | None | Paid only | Professional |
| PDF Candy | Partial | None (limited) | 10MB | Simple |
| Sejda | Partial | Watermark on free | 50MB | Page editing |
#1: Percime Tools (Best Overall Free)
Website: tools.percime.com
Pros:
- ✅ 100% free forever
- ✅ No watermarks on any conversion
- ✅ No registration required
- ✅ 50MB file limit
- ✅ Fast processing
- ✅ Works on all devices
- ✅ Files auto-delete (privacy)
Cons:
- Newer platform (less brand recognition)
- No desktop app yet
Available Tools:
- PDF to JPG / PNG
- Merge PDF
- Split PDF
- Rotate PDF
- Compress Image
- JPG/PNG to PDF
- Word to PDF
- PDF to Word
Verdict: Best choice for users who want truly free PDF tools without watermarks or signup.
#2: iLovePDF
Website: ilovepdf.com
Pros:
- ✅ Many free tools
- ✅ Nice user interface
- ✅ Mobile apps available
- ✅ Desktop app option
Cons:
- ❌ Premium upsells everywhere
- ❌ Limited free tasks per hour
- ❌ Requires signup for some features
- ❌ 25MB limit on free tier
Pricing:
- Free: Limited conversions
- Premium: $7/month
Verdict: Good tool but constantly pushes premium. Free tier has limitations.
#3: Smallpdf
Website: smallpdf.com
Pros:
- ✅ Beautiful, intuitive design
- ✅ Good conversion quality
- ✅ Cloud integrations
Cons:
- ❌ Only 2 free tasks per day
- ❌ Adds watermark after free limit
- ❌ Very small file limit (5MB free)
- ❌ Expensive premium ($12/month)
Pricing:
- Free: 2 tasks/day with watermark after
- Pro: $12/month
Verdict: Great UI but extremely limited free tier. Not recommended for regular use.
#4: PDF24
Website: tools.pdf24.org
Pros:
- ✅ Completely free
- ✅ No watermarks
- ✅ Large file limit (100MB)
- ✅ Excellent desktop app
- ✅ German privacy standards
Cons:
- ❌ Interface feels dated
- ❌ Many ads on website
- ❌ Can be slow
Verdict: Truly free with no limits. Best free desktop PDF app. Website UX could be better.
#5: Adobe Acrobat Online
Website: adobe.com/acrobat/online
Pros:
- ✅ Best conversion quality
- ✅ Professional features
- ✅ Brand you can trust
Cons:
- ❌ Requires Adobe account
- ❌ Very limited free usage
- ❌ Pushes expensive subscriptions
- ❌ $12.99/month for Pro features
Verdict: Best quality but not really free. Use only if you already pay for Adobe.
#6: PDF Candy
Website: pdfcandy.com
Pros:
- ✅ Simple interface
- ✅ Many tools available
- ✅ Desktop app option
Cons:
- ❌ Limited free conversions
- ❌ 10MB file limit
- ❌ Slow processing
- ❌ Some tools require premium
Verdict: Decent free option but limited. Better alternatives exist.
#7: Sejda
Website: sejda.com
Pros:
- ✅ Good PDF editor
- ✅ Page-level operations
- ✅ Reasonable file size limits
Cons:
- ❌ Watermark on free tier
- ❌ 3 tasks per hour limit
- ❌ 50 page limit on free
- ❌ Premium: $7.50/month
Verdict: Good for PDF editing but free tier adds watermarks. Not truly free.
#8: PDF2Go
Website: pdf2go.com
Pros:
- ✅ Many conversion options
- ✅ OCR capability
- ✅ Cloud storage integration
Cons:
- ❌ Ads everywhere
- ❌ Limited free conversions
- ❌ Slow processing
- ❌ Confusing interface
Verdict: Functional but poor user experience. Too many ads.
Comparison by Feature
Best for Merging PDFs:
- Percime Tools - Unlimited, free, fast
- PDF24 - Also free and reliable
- iLovePDF - Good but limited free use
Best for PDF to Image:
- Percime Tools - High quality, multiple formats
- iLovePDF - Good quality
- PDF24 - Reliable
Best for PDF Compression:
- iLovePDF - Multiple compression levels
- Smallpdf - Good compression (limited free)
- PDF24 - Free and effective
Best for PDF to Word:
- Adobe Acrobat - Best quality (paid)
- Percime Tools - Good free option
- iLovePDF - Decent conversion
Best Desktop App:
- PDF24 - Fully featured, completely free
- Adobe Acrobat - Professional (paid)
- iLovePDF - Good but limited free features
What to Look for in a PDF Tool
1. No Hidden Costs
Many "free" tools add watermarks or limit daily usage. True free tools have no such restrictions.
2. Privacy Policy
Your documents may contain sensitive information. Check if files are encrypted and auto-deleted.
3. File Size Limits
Free tiers often have small limits. Look for at least 25-50MB for practical use.
4. Conversion Quality
Test with a complex PDF to see if formatting, images, and text convert accurately.
5. Speed
Some tools are painfully slow. Fast processing matters for productivity.
Free PDF Tools by Use Case
For Students:
Best: Percime Tools or PDF24
- Merge assignment pages
- Convert lecture slides
- No cost for tight budgets
For Business:
Best: Adobe Acrobat (if budget allows) or iLovePDF Premium
- Professional quality
- Batch processing
- Advanced features
For Occasional Use:
Best: Percime Tools
- No signup needed
- Just works
- Free forever
For Heavy Users:
Best: PDF24 Desktop App
- No online limits
- Works offline
- Completely free
The Truth About "Free" PDF Tools
Most "free" PDF tools have catches:
Common Limitations:
- ⚠️ Watermarks on output files
- ⚠️ Daily task limits (1-3 per day)
- ⚠️ Small file size limits (5-10MB)
- ⚠️ Required account creation
- ⚠️ Feature restrictions
- ⚠️ Slow processing for free users
Truly Free Tools (No Catches):
- Percime Tools - Online, no limits
- PDF24 - Online + desktop
- LibreOffice - Desktop, open source
Frequently Asked Questions
Which PDF tool is completely free?
Percime Tools and PDF24 are completely free with no watermarks, no daily limits, and no hidden restrictions.
Is iLovePDF really free?
Partially. Basic features are free but with limitations. Premium features and unlimited usage require a subscription.
What's the best free alternative to Adobe Acrobat?
For online use: Percime Tools or iLovePDF. For desktop: PDF24 or LibreOffice.
Are online PDF tools safe?
Reputable tools like Percime Tools, iLovePDF, and PDF24 use encryption and auto-delete files. Always check the privacy policy.
Which PDF tool has the best quality?
Adobe Acrobat offers the best conversion quality but requires payment. Among free tools, iLovePDF and Percime Tools offer comparable quality.
Conclusion
After testing all major PDF tools, here are our recommendations:
Best Overall Free: Percime Tools - No watermarks, no signup, fast and reliable
Best Desktop App: PDF24 - Completely free with full features
Best Premium: Adobe Acrobat - If budget isn't a concern
Skip tools like Smallpdf that severely limit free usage. You don't need to pay for basic PDF operations.
Try our free PDF tools: Merge PDF | Split PDF | PDF to JPG