Online2PDF vs PDF24 Tools (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Online2PDF if

• Fits if you convert or merge a PDF now and then
• Works for people who will not make an account

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you need to edit text or sign, which the pages read do not describe
• Watch out: form fields are removed when a PDF is edited or unlocked
• Not for you if you want an API or scripts, as the FAQ says heavy or scripted use is not allowed
• Skip it if you want an app, as there is no downloadable version
• Watch out: the site shows ads

Pick PDF24 Tools if

• Fits if you need PDFs merged, compressed or OCR'd for free
• Works for offices that want a free PDF printer on every Windows PC

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you need to change the text already in a PDF, as PDF24 says to convert to Word for that
• Too light for Mac, Linux or phone users who want an offline app, as Creator is Windows only
• Not for you if ads on the page drive you mad, as that's how it's paid for
• Watch out: the online tools process files on PDF24's servers before removing them; only Creator keeps them local
• Tight if you want it linked to your cloud storage or other apps, as no integrations are on record

Online2PDF

• Its editing is page-level (select, rotate, reorder, split, merge); the pages read describe no text editing or signing.
• Interactive form fields are removed when a PDF is edited or unlocked, according to the FAQ.
• The FAQ says there is no downloadable version and no web API, and heavy or scripted use is not allowed.
• PDF export is limited to 500 pages without OCR or 100 pages with OCR.

PDF24 Tools

• The online editor adds text and shapes but cannot change existing text; PDF24 suggests converting to Word for that.
• The offline app, PDF24 Creator, is for Windows only; on Mac, Linux and phones PDF24 works in the browser.
• The free web tools show advertising, which is how PDF24 says it pays for them.
• Online files are processed on PDF24's servers and removed after a short time; Creator keeps them on the computer.

Online2PDF

Convert to PDF

Turns Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, OpenOffice files, images and XPS into PDF, merged together or one by one.

Export from PDF

Exports PDFs to Word, Excel, PowerPoint and JPG, up to 500 pages without OCR or 100 pages with OCR.

Page tools

Select, extract, rotate, reorder and split pages, and merge several files, using the options beside each file.

OCR

Character recognition for scanned PDFs and images, with about 30 languages listed on the page.

Compress and unlock

Reduces file size by lowering image quality and removes edit, copy and print restrictions; opening passwords need the password.

Header, footer and layout options

Sets header and footer, page layout and compression for the output PDF before conversion.

PDF24 Tools

Merge, split and compress

Combine, split, compress and web-optimize PDFs, and rotate, remove, extract or rearrange pages.

Convert and OCR

Converts files and images to and from PDF, saves web pages as PDFs and makes scanned PDFs searchable with OCR.

Sign, protect and redact

Sign PDFs, add or remove passwords, black out sensitive content, add watermarks and page numbers and compare two PDFs.

Annotation-style editor

Write on pages, insert images, shapes and arrows, draw freehand and add form fields; existing text is edited by converting to Word.

PDF24 Creator offline

A Windows app with all the tools working offline, so files stay on the computer, plus virtual PDF printers that turn any printable file into a PDF.

Online2PDF

• Free$0

  All features at no charge; the FAQ says every service is completely free of charge.

PDF24 Tools

• PDF24 Tools$0

  The online tools and the PDF24 Creator Windows app, free for private and business use, paid for by ads on the website.