iLovePDF vs SmallPDF vs SaveDelete: PDF Editors Compared (2026)
SmallPDF and iLovePDF are the two big names in online PDF tools, and both now do far more than editing: they convert, compress, merge, OCR and e-sign. Our own PDF editor is much smaller and does one thing differently — it never uploads your file. This comparison sets out what each actually offers in September 2026, including where the free plans stop.
A note on bias: SaveDelete makes one of the three tools compared here. We have tried to be straight about where the other two are the better choice, and every fact below was checked against each company's own pages, or in our case the tool's code, in September 2026.
Quick Comparison
| SaveDelete | SmallPDF | iLovePDF | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, no signup | Free tier; Pro about $15/month or $120/year (US) | Free tier; Premium about $9/month, or $60/year billed annually |
| Free limits | None | 2 tasks a day | Per-task file caps; no published daily limit |
| Where your file goes | Stays in your browser — never uploaded | Uploaded; servers in Ireland | Uploaded; EEA servers as a rule |
| Deleted after | Never leaves your device | About one hour after processing | Within two hours of processing |
| Edit existing text | Covers it with new text | Pro only | Premium only |
| Add text, images, signatures | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Merge, split, compress, convert, OCR | No | Yes | Yes |
| Download | The current page, as an image-based PDF | Whole document | Whole document |
| Apps | Browser only | Web, Windows, iOS, Android, Chrome extension | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Developer API | No | No public API | Yes — iLoveAPI, 2,500 free credits a month |
SaveDelete PDF Editor
Our free online PDF editor opens and edits the PDF entirely in your browser: the file is never uploaded to our server. That makes it a sensible choice for a document you would rather not hand to anyone — a signed letter, a form with personal details, a page of a contract.
You can add text and text boxes, images, a signature (drawn with the mouse or uploaded as an image), shapes, freehand drawing, highlights, tick and cross marks, a date stamp, a page-number stamp, sticky notes and a watermark, then move, resize, copy or delete anything you added, with undo and redo. You can also rotate or delete pages. It is free, with no account and no usage limit.
Where it falls short: it downloads only the page you are viewing, saved as a new one-page PDF in which the page is an image — so text in the result cannot be selected or searched. "Editing" existing text means covering it with a white box and typing on top. There is no merge, split, compress, convert, OCR or form-field support, and it is built for a mouse, so dragging and drawing on a phone or tablet may not work well.
Best for: signing or filling in a single page privately.
SmallPDF
SmallPDF bundles a large set of PDF tools behind one clean interface. On the free plan you can add text, images, shapes, highlights, drawings and signatures, reorganise pages, and use OCR, merge, split, basic compression, conversions, the form filler and e-signing — but only for two tasks a day. Editing the existing text of a PDF directly needs Pro, which cost about $15 a month or $120 a year for US buyers in September 2026, with a 7-day free trial that asks for payment details. Team plans cover 2 to 19 people.
SmallPDF says uploaded files are removed from its servers an hour after processing; its privacy notice is less specific for users who are not logged in. Its servers are in Ireland, it holds ISO/IEC 27001 certification and describes its e-signatures as eIDAS-compliant. There is a Windows app that works offline, included with Pro, and apps for iOS and Android. It does not offer a public API.
Where it falls short: the two-tasks-a-day limit makes the free plan a taster rather than a working tool.
Best for: occasional users who want an easy all-in-one suite and will pay when they need more.
iLovePDF
iLovePDF's free plan is the more generous of the two big suites. Rather than a daily task count, it sets limits per task — for example 100MB for editing, 25 files for a merge, and 15MB or 50 pages for OCR. Free users can add text, shapes, images, comments and highlights, fill in forms, and use OCR, organise, compress, convert, sign, redact and compare. Editing existing text, PDF-to-Word with OCR, PDF/A and AI tools need Premium, which cost about $9 a month, or $60 a year billed annually, in mid-2026 US pricing; students and academics can get a free Premium year.
iLovePDF says files are permanently deleted within two hours of processing, while signed documents are kept for up to five years. It encrypts files in transit and at rest, holds ISO/IEC 27001 certification, and offers eIDAS signatures through qualified trust service providers. Its desktop apps for Windows and Mac process files locally, with the tools included in Premium. For developers, iLoveAPI includes 2,500 free credits a month, with paid plans from $38 a month.
Where it falls short: editing the existing text of a PDF is a paid feature, as it is on SmallPDF.
Best for: heavy free use, conversions and OCR, and developers who want an API.
Which Should You Use?
- Signing or filling in one page you would rather keep private: SaveDelete, because the file never leaves your device.
- Converting, compressing, merging or OCR for free: iLovePDF, which has the more generous free plan.
- Changing the existing text of a PDF: SmallPDF Pro or iLovePDF Premium — neither does it for free.
- A multi-page document you need to edit and keep searchable: SmallPDF or iLovePDF. SaveDelete exports one page at a time as an image.
- Legally recognised e-signatures: SmallPDF's or iLovePDF's signing services, both of which describe themselves as eIDAS-compliant.
- An API for your own software: iLovePDF's iLoveAPI.
For more options, including desktop editors, see our guide to free online PDF editors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these PDF editors safe to use with sensitive documents?
SaveDelete processes the PDF in your browser, so the file is never uploaded. SmallPDF and iLovePDF upload your file but say they delete it within one and two hours respectively, and both hold ISO/IEC 27001 certification. For highly confidential documents, an editor that works on your own device — ours, or the desktop apps — avoids the upload entirely.
Can I use these tools offline?
SaveDelete needs an internet connection to load, although your file itself is processed on your device. SmallPDF's Windows app works offline and is included with Pro, and iLovePDF's Windows and Mac apps process files locally, with the tools included in Premium.
Do these platforms support batch processing?
iLovePDF handles several files per task on its free plan — up to 25 files for a merge, for example — with larger batches on Premium. SmallPDF includes batch processing in Pro. SaveDelete edits one document at a time.
Which platform offers OCR?
SmallPDF and iLovePDF both do, within their free limits; iLovePDF's free OCR handles files of up to 15MB and 50 pages. SaveDelete has no OCR.
Can I cancel my subscription at any time?
SaveDelete has no subscription to cancel. SmallPDF and iLovePDF sell monthly and annual plans; SmallPDF's 7-day free trial requires payment details, so cancel before it ends if you do not want to be charged, and check each company's terms for refunds.
Do these tools work on mobile devices?
SmallPDF and iLovePDF both have iOS and Android apps. SaveDelete opens in a mobile browser, but it is designed for a mouse, and dragging or drawing on a touchscreen may not work well.
What file formats can I convert to and from PDF?
SmallPDF and iLovePDF both convert between PDF and Word, Excel, PowerPoint and images, and iLovePDF adds PDF/A on Premium. SaveDelete is an editor only and does not convert.
Is there an API available for developers?
iLovePDF offers iLoveAPI, with 2,500 free credits a month and paid plans from $38 a month. SmallPDF does not have a public API, and neither does SaveDelete.
How do the collaboration features compare?
SmallPDF sells Team plans for 2 to 19 people, and iLovePDF's Premium plan covers up to 25 users, with Business plans above that. Both include e-signature workflows. SaveDelete is a single-user tool with no sharing features.
What kind of customer support is available?
SmallPDF and iLovePDF both publish detailed help centres covering their tools and plans. SaveDelete is a free tool without a dedicated support team, although you can reach us through the site.
The Bottom Line
For most PDF jobs, iLovePDF is the stronger free choice and SmallPDF the more polished paid one. Use SaveDelete when you need to sign or fill in a single page and would rather the document never left your computer.
Facts checked September 2026 against each company's own website. Prices vary by country and change often; check the vendor's page before you pay.