Free PDF Tools in 2026: What Actually Works?
PDF tools are one of the most searched-for utility categories online. Everyone needs to merge a PDF eventually, but Adobe charges $20/month and most free tools are riddled with ads or require uploads to sketchy servers.
What We Tested
We compared the top free PDF tools across key criteria:
| Tool | Upload Required | Ads | File Size Limit | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SmallPDF | Yes | Heavy | 5MB free | Slow (upload) |
| iLovePDF | Yes | Moderate | 25MB free | Medium |
| PDF24 | Optional | Light | None | Fast |
| PDFForge | No | Minimal | None | Instant |
Why Upload-Free Matters
When you merge two PDFs containing contracts, do you really want those on someone else's server? With browser-based tools like PDFForge, the merge happens in your browser's memory. The files never leave your device.
Our Recommendation
For basic PDF operations (merge, split, compress), browser-based tools are the clear winner. They're faster (no upload/download wait), more private, and just as capable for common tasks.
If you need advanced features like OCR or form creation, you'll still need desktop software. But for 90% of PDF tasks, a browser tool is all you need.