The iLovePDF Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about iLovePDF in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
iLovePDF
The Insider’s Guide
Online PDF tools with desktop and mobile apps, free for light use
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among PDF editors, read from iLovePDF’s own pages.
Made by iLovePDF · checked Oct 18, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from iLovePDF’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on iLovePDF’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 9 of the 15 other PDF editors we grade
iLovePDF is a web tool for merging, splitting, compressing, converting, editing and signing PDFs, with desktop apps for Windows and Mac that work offline and mobile apps for iOS and Android. The free plan covers the core tools with limits on documents and file size, and Premium unlocks every tool, unlimited processing, the desktop and mobile apps, digital signatures and AI credits for summaries and translation.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about iLovePDF, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It's a toolkit more than an editor, though: its edit tool isn't described as changing the text already on the page.
- 1
Best for cheap, no-fuss PDF tools on every device
iLovePDF is a web tool that also has desktop apps for Windows and Mac and phone apps.
- 2
Paid plans start at $5 a month for each person
As its pricing page puts it: $5 per user / month, billed annually ($9 billed monthly).
- 3
There is a free plan
Basic plan: the essential tools with a limited number of documents and smaller file size limits per task, with ads; the desktop app works as a free PDF reader.
- 4
It runs on 5 platforms
Web, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
- 5
Merge, split and compress
Browser tools to combine, split, compress, rotate, repair and number PDF pages, with files picked from the computer or Google Drive.
- 6
Convert with OCR
Converts PDFs to Word, PowerPoint and Excel with OCR on scans, and converts Office files and images to PDF.
- 7
Edit, sign and redact
Tools to edit, crop and watermark PDFs, fill forms, sign, redact, compare two files and protect or unlock them; Premium adds digital signatures.
- 8
A 2.8 GPA, above 9 of 15
That is against the other PDF editors we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace iLovePDF you would be making connections to other products, each kept working as those products change. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
iLovePDF at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $5 per user / month, billed annually ($9 billed monthly)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
- Made by
- iLovePDF
- Category
- PDF Editors
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
- Store rating
- 4.8 on the App Store, 52,031 ratings
The report card
Best for cheap, no-fuss PDF tools on every device
iLovePDF is a web tool that also has desktop apps for Windows and Mac and phone apps. Merging, compressing and converting couldn't be simpler, and Premium is just $5 a month on a yearly plan. It's a toolkit more than an editor, though: its edit tool isn't described as changing the text already on the page.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Premium is $5 a user a month on a yearly plan, $60 a year, or $9 month to month. That's the cheap side of normal for PDF editors, and it covers every tool on web, desktop and phone. Students and teachers can get a year free. |
| Free plan and trial | C | The Basic plan is free and does the essentials, with ads. But it caps how many documents you process and how big they are, and the desktop and phone apps need Premium. There's no trial. |
| Features | C | Merges, splits, compresses, converts with OCR, redacts, compares, signs and summarizes with AI, plus saved workflows and an API. Loads of tools. But the edit tool isn't described as changing existing text, and there's no form builder on record. |
| Ease of use | A | 4.76 from 52,031 App Store ratings. Pick a tool, drop in a file, done. There's nothing to learn. |
| Platforms and integrations | A | Web, Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android, with Google Drive, Zapier, Make and WordPress, and the iLoveAPI for developers. It's on everything. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who iLovePDF is for
- Great if you merge, compress or convert a PDF a few times a week
- Good for small teams of up to 25 on cheap per-user licenses
- A treat if you're a student or teacher, with a free year of Premium
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you need to rewrite existing text, as that isn't on record
- Tight if you stay on the free plan, with caps on documents and file size, plus ads
- Not for you if you want to try Premium first, as there's no trial
Good to know
Good for
- Occasional users who merge or compress a PDF in the browser
- Small teams of up to 25 that want low-cost per-user licenses
- Students and teachers, who can get a year of Premium free
Worth knowing
- The free plan limits how many documents you can process and the file size per task, and shows ads.
- The desktop and mobile apps, digital signatures and workflows are Premium features.
- Premium can be bought for up to 25 users; larger teams are quoted through the Business plan.
- There is no free trial of Premium on the pricing page; the free plan is the way to try it.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$5
A month to start, for each person. There is a free plan too
iLovePDF has a free plan. Paid plans start at $5 per user / month, billed annually ($9 billed monthly).
That's the cheap side of normal for PDF editors, and it covers every tool on web, desktop and phone.
Basic
$0
Essential tools for light use, with limited document processing and file size caps.
Premium
$5
per user / month, billed annually ($9 billed monthly)
For 1 to 25 users: every tool, unlimited processing, web, mobile and desktop, digital signatures, workflows, no ads and 2,000 AI credits.
Business
Custom
For 25 or more users: Premium plus custom contracts, a dedicated account manager and single sign-on.
The free plan
Basic plan: the essential tools with a limited number of documents and smaller file size limits per task, with ads; the desktop app works as a free PDF reader.
Read from ilovepdf.com on Oct 18, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Save 42% with yearly billing
iLovePDF's pricing page lists Premium at $5 per user a month billed annually ($60 a year) against $9 billed monthly, marked as 42% off.
Stated on ilovepdf.comEducation
A year of Premium free for education
Students, teachers and academic staff who join iLovePDF's education program get a full year of Premium at no charge.
Stated on ilovepdf.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
5
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android
Online PDF tools with desktop and mobile apps, free for light use. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, workflow automation, pDF editing.
Merges, splits, compresses, converts with OCR, redacts, compares, signs and summarizes with AI, plus saved workflows and an API.
- Merge, split and compress
- Browser tools to combine, split, compress, rotate, repair and number PDF pages, with files picked from the computer or Google Drive.
- Convert with OCR
- Converts PDFs to Word, PowerPoint and Excel with OCR on scans, and converts Office files and images to PDF.
- Edit, sign and redact
- Tools to edit, crop and watermark PDFs, fill forms, sign, redact, compare two files and protect or unlock them; Premium adds digital signatures.
- AI summaries and translation
- Summarizes and translates PDFs with standard or advanced AI; Premium includes 2,000 AI credits.
- Workflows
- Premium can save a chain of tools as a workflow, and integrations with Zapier, Make and WordPress and the iLoveAPI connect it to other apps.
- Offline desktop app
- Apps for Windows and Mac process PDFs offline; without a subscription the desktop app is a free PDF reader.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- Google Drive
- Zapier
- Make
- WordPress
- iLoveSign
iLovePDF is made by iLovePDF.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
9/15
Other PDF editors it is graded above
iLovePDF's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 9 of the 15 other PDF editors we grade, and level with 3.
It stands best on ease of use (A, above 14 of 15) and worst on free plan and trial (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $5 a month for each person, against a middle price of $6.67 for the category: 3 of the 10 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.3 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 16 PDF editors we grade, cut by the letter each got. iLovePDF’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 2 of 15
- CFree plan and trialAbove 0 of 15
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 15
- AEase of useAbove 14 of 15
- APlatforms and integrationsAbove 13 of 15
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 13 PDF editors. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. iLovePDF is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace iLovePDF you would be making connections to other products, each kept working as those products change. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It costs $60 a year.
What you could not
- Connections to other products, each kept working as those products change.
- Editing the text inside a PDF without breaking its layout.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- It is priced for each person, which means accounts and billing for a team.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
What this rests on. iLovePDF’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Smallpdf, PDF24 Tools, Sejda, PDF Candy and LightPDF
The 5 tools iLovePDF is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Smallpdf
Free plan
30-plus PDF tools in the browser, with Windows and mobile apps.
- Only iLovePDF lists a macOS app.
- Only Smallpdf lists a browser extension.
- iLovePDF also covers workflow automation.
- 3.0GPA
PDF24 Tools
Free
Free online PDF tools paid for by ads, plus an offline Windows app.
- Only iLovePDF lists macOS, iOS and Android apps.
- iLovePDF also covers workflow automation.
- 2.2GPA
Sejda
Free plan · from $5 one-time
Web and desktop PDF tools, free within daily limits or by the week.
- Only iLovePDF lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Sejda lists a Linux app.
- iLovePDF also covers workflow automation.
- 2.4GPA
PDF Candy
Free plan · from $4/mo
90-plus online PDF tools and a Windows app, free within limits.
- Only iLovePDF lists macOS, iOS and Android apps.
- PDF Candy can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- iLovePDF also covers workflow automation.
- 2.8GPA
LightPDF
Free plan · from $5.99/mo
Online PDF editor and converter with AI tools paid for in credits.
- LightPDF can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- iLovePDF also covers workflow automation.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
14
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is iLovePDF free?
iLovePDF has a free plan. Basic plan: the essential tools with a limited number of documents and smaller file size limits per task, with ads; the desktop app works as a free PDF reader.
How much does iLovePDF cost?
iLovePDF lists 3 plans. Basic: $0.
What platforms does iLovePDF work on?
iLovePDF is available on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
Does iLovePDF offer any discounts?
iLovePDF publicly lists the following: Save 42% with yearly billing; A year of Premium free for education.
How is iLovePDF rated?
iLovePDF's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.8 out of 5 from 52,031 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 18, 2026.
Does iLovePDF have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 18, 2026. iLovePDF is listed for Web, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
Is iLovePDF open source?
iLovePDF is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 18, 2026.
What does iLovePDF integrate with?
iLovePDF's listing names Google Drive, Zapier, Make, WordPress and iLoveSign.
Does iLovePDF have a student discount?
A year of Premium free for education. Students, teachers and academic staff who join iLovePDF's education program get a full year of Premium at no charge.
Who makes iLovePDF?
iLovePDF is made by iLovePDF.
What are the alternatives to iLovePDF?
The closest alternatives to iLovePDF in our directory are Smallpdf, PDF24 Tools, Sejda, PDF Candy and LightPDF.
How does iLovePDF compare with other PDF editors?
iLovePDF's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 9 of the 15 other PDF editors we grade, and level with 3.
Is iLovePDF good value for money?
ToolGPA grades iLovePDF C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $5 a month for each person, against a middle price of $6.67 for the category: 3 of the 10 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of iLovePDF?
To replace iLovePDF you would be making connections to other products, each kept working as those products change.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from iLovePDF’s own pages on Oct 18, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 18, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from iLovePDF's own pages on 18 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by iLovePDF. Prices change, so check ilovepdf.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
2,281
Tools graded, in 73 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
ToolGPA is free to read. It may earn a commission from affiliate links and it works with sponsors, but anything paid for is labelled and no one can pay for a grade. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
2,281
tools graded
73
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- iLovePDF, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/ilovepdf
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "iLovePDF: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 18, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/ilovepdf
Know someone choosing between PDF editors?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/ilovepdf/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded PDF editors after iLovePDF, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- PDF Editors Insider's GuideEvery one of the 16 PDF editors we grade, compared
- PDFgear Insider's GuideFree PDF editor for desktop, mobile and web with an AI copilot3.4 GPA
- PDF24 Tools Insider's GuideFree online PDF tools paid for by ads, plus an offline Windows app3.0 GPA
- UPDF Insider's GuidePDF editor with AI chat, one license across desktop and mobile3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what iLovePDF’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. ToolGPA uses affiliate links and may earn a commission from them, and it works with sponsors; anything paid for is labelled, and no one can pay for a grade. iLovePDF is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by iLovePDF. Prices and plans change: check ilovepdf.com before you buy.