What actually matters when picking one
Most of these tools advertise "free," but the fine print is where they differ. Before comparing individual tools, here's what's worth checking on any of them:
- Daily or task limits — how many conversions you get before being asked to wait or pay.
- Watermarks — whether the free output gets stamped or branded.
- Signup requirements — whether you need to create an account just to try it.
- Breadth of tools — how many different PDF tasks (convert, merge, compress, split, and so on) it covers in one place.
- What happens to your file — whether it's stored, shared, or deleted after processing.
iLovePDF
Best for: wanting every PDF tool in one place
iLovePDF is one of the most complete free suites around, covering more than two dozen tools from basic conversion to e-signatures and editing. Its free tier is generous compared to most competitors, though heavier daily use eventually runs into its limits. Paid plans start in the low single digits per month.
Smallpdf
Best for: a polished interface with cloud storage integration
Smallpdf is known for a clean, well-designed interface and direct integration with Google Drive and Dropbox. Its free tier is tighter than most — around two tasks a day — and its paid plan adds AI features like summarizing PDF content, at roughly $9/month billed annually.
Sejda
Best for: actually editing a PDF, not just converting it
Sejda stands out for real in-browser PDF editing — filling forms, adding signatures, light text edits — without adding a watermark to free output. The tradeoff is a low free-task ceiling before it asks you to wait or upgrade to a desktop or Pro plan.
PDF24
Best for: a no-frills converter with no account required
PDF24 is a long-running option available as both a desktop app and a web tool, with no signup needed for basic conversions. It doesn't have the brand recognition of the others, but it's a solid, unfussy choice if you just want to convert a file without creating an account anywhere.
Stamped
Best for: no signup, no watermark, straightforward tools
Stamped covers convert-to-PDF, merge, compress, split, rotate, password-protect, and PDF-to-Word (with OCR for scanned files) — all without an account and without a watermark on anything you download. The free tier is 3 conversions a day; a $3 day pass or $9/month plan removes the cap for people who need more than that.
Side-by-side
| Tool | Free daily limit | Signup required | Watermark (free) | Starting paid price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iLovePDF | Generous, varies by tool | No | No | ~$5/mo |
| Smallpdf | ~2 tasks/day | No | No | ~$9/mo (billed annually) |
| Sejda | A few tasks/day | No | No | Desktop & Pro plans vary |
| PDF24 | No hard cap for basic use | No | No | Free (desktop app) |
| Stamped | 3/day | No | No | $3 day pass / $9/mo |
Which one to pick
If you want the widest range of tools in one place, iLovePDF is hard to beat. If a polished interface and cloud storage integration matter most, Smallpdf. If you need to actually edit a PDF — not just convert it — Sejda. If you want a straightforward converter without any account at all, PDF24. And if you want compress, split, merge, rotate, password-protect, and PDF-to-Word without a watermark, a signup, or a stingy daily limit, that's exactly what Stamped is built for.
Try Stamped's tools free — no signup, no watermark.
Go to Stamped