What PDF24 gets right — and its two trade-offs
PDF24 (pdf24.org) is genuinely one of the best fully-free PDF suites: no watermarks, no task limits, a large toolset, and a free Windows desktop app. Credit where due — for a free server-based tool, it is excellent. But it has two trade-offs that send people looking for an alternative:
- It uploads your files to its servers for the online tools — a privacy consideration for confidential documents
- The web interface is ad-supported — ads fund the free service, but they clutter the experience
If those two things matter to you, a browser-based tool removes both at once.
ihatepdf — no upload, no ads, same core tools
- No file upload — every tool runs in your browser via WebAssembly; files never leave your device
- No ads — clean interface, nothing to fund through advertising clutter
- No watermark, no sign-up, no task limit (matching PDF24's free generosity)
- Works offline once loaded — PDF24's online tools require a connection because they process server-side
- Free permanently
Side-by-side: ihatepdf vs PDF24
- File upload to server: ihatepdf — Never | PDF24 online — Always (desktop app is local)
- Ads: ihatepdf — None | PDF24 — Ad-supported web interface
- Watermark: ihatepdf — Never | PDF24 — Never (both clean)
- Task limit: ihatepdf — None | PDF24 — None (both unlimited)
- Works offline: ihatepdf — Yes (in browser) | PDF24 — Only via the Windows desktop app
- Platforms: ihatepdf — Any browser, any OS | PDF24 — Web + Windows desktop (no native Mac app)
- Cost: Both free
Mapping PDF24 tools to ihatepdf
- PDF24 Compress → ihatepdf Compress PDF
- PDF24 Merge → ihatepdf Merge PDF
- PDF24 Split → ihatepdf Split PDF
- PDF24 PDF to Word → ihatepdf PDF to Word
- PDF24 Word to PDF → ihatepdf Word to PDF
- PDF24 Images to PDF → ihatepdf Images to PDF
- PDF24 OCR → ihatepdf OCR PDF
- PDF24 Protect → ihatepdf Encrypt PDF
- PDF24 Unlock → ihatepdf Remove Password
- PDF24 Edit → ihatepdf Edit PDF
- PDF24 Rotate → ihatepdf Rotate PDF
When PDF24 is the better choice
- You're on Windows and want a dedicated desktop app that processes locally — PDF24's free Windows app is excellent and processes offline without a browser
- You need a tool PDF24 has that runs better server-side for very large files on weak hardware
- You don't mind ads and prefer PDF24's specific interface
For Mac and Linux users (PDF24's desktop app is Windows-only), for anyone who wants no ads, and for confidential documents that should never be uploaded, ihatepdf is the stronger fit. See the full comparison in ihatepdf vs iLovePDF vs Smallpdf vs Adobe.
Is PDF24 safe?
PDF24 is a reputable German company, is GDPR-compliant, and states it deletes uploaded files shortly after processing. Its Windows desktop app processes files entirely locally, which is genuinely private. The online tools, however, upload your file. For sensitive documents, either use PDF24's desktop app or a browser-based tool like ihatepdf that never uploads. See Are Online PDF Tools Safe? for the details and an easy verification test.
Frequently asked questions
Is ihatepdf free with no ads like PDF24?
ihatepdf is free with no task limits, and the interface has no advertising clutter. PDF24 is also free but funds its web tools with ads. Both avoid watermarks.
Does ihatepdf work on Mac, since PDF24's desktop app is Windows-only?
Yes. ihatepdf runs in any browser on any operating system — Mac, Windows, Linux, ChromeOS, iOS, and Android. There is no app to install, so the Windows-only limitation of PDF24's desktop app does not apply.
Does ihatepdf upload my files like PDF24's online tools do?
No. ihatepdf processes everything in your browser via WebAssembly — files never leave your device. PDF24's online tools upload to its servers (its separate Windows desktop app processes locally). Confirm ihatepdf's local processing with the offline test: load the page, disconnect, and the tools still work.