The PDF Candy Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about PDF Candy 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.
PDF Candy
The Insider’s Guide
90-plus online PDF tools and a Windows app, free within limits
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among PDF editors, read from PDF Candy’s own pages.
Made by PDF Candy (Icecream Apps) · 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 PDF Candy’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on PDF Candy’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
2.4
GPA, above 5 of the 15 other PDF editors we grade
PDF Candy is a web tool with more than 90 PDF tools for converting, merging, splitting, compressing, editing and protecting files, plus AI tools that summarize, translate and chat with a PDF. PDF Candy Desktop is an offline Windows app with 35 of the tools. Both are free without an account within page and hourly limits, and paid plans remove the limits by the month, the year or with a one-time license.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about PDF Candy, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No account needed: pick a tool in the browser and go.
- 1
Best for lots of PDF tools for a small one-time fee
It's a converter and toolbox first, though: no OCR or form builder is on record.
- 2
Paid plans start at $4 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $4 per month, billed yearly.
- 3
There is a free plan
Free on web and desktop with no account or ads: page and hourly limits, smaller files, no batch processing and a cap on desktop operations.
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
Web and Windows.
- 5
Convert to and from PDF
Converts PDFs to and from Office files, images and e-book formats such as MOBI, and between many other formats.
- 6
Edit and organize
Edit PDFs and their metadata, merge, split, compress, rotate and reorder pages, and add or remove passwords.
- 7
AI tools
Summarize a PDF, translate it or chat with it from the web tools.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 5 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
Nothing PDF Candy does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 3 things listed below take a company.
PDF Candy at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $4 per month, billed yearly
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, Windows
- Made by
- PDF Candy (Icecream Apps), since 2016
- Category
- PDF Editors
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for lots of PDF tools for a small one-time fee
PDF Candy is a web tool with 90-plus PDF tools, plus a Windows desktop app that works offline. The free plan needs no account and shows no ads, and paid is $4 a month on a yearly plan or $99 once. It's a converter and toolbox first, though: no OCR or form builder is on record.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | $4 a month on a yearly plan for web and desktop, among the cheapest paid PDF tools. The $99 lifetime license, spread over three years, is cheap too, but it covers the current desktop version only, not future major ones. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Free on web and desktop with no account and no ads, but with page and hourly limits, smaller files and no batch processing. Fine for the odd job. |
| Features | C | Converts to and from Office and e-book formats, edits, merges, splits, compresses and protects, with AI summaries and chat. A big toolbox. But no OCR, form builder or signing is on record, so it's lighter as an editor. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record. No account needed: pick a tool in the browser and go. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | The web, plus a desktop app for Windows only. No phone apps and no integrations on record. |
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 PDF Candy is for
- Great if you convert or merge PDFs now and then without signing up
- Handy when you'd rather pay once for an offline Windows app
- A treat if you're a student or teacher, with a free year of online Pro
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you need OCR on scanned pages, as none is on record
- Not for you if you're on a Mac and want an offline app, as it's Windows only
- Tight if you expect the $99 license to cover future major versions, as it doesn't
Good to know
Good for
- People who convert or merge PDFs now and then without signing up
- Windows users who want an offline PDF tool for a one-time fee
- Students and teachers, who can get a year of online Pro free
Worth knowing
- The free plan limits pages, hourly use and file size, with no batch processing.
- The desktop app is for Windows only, and the Web Monthly plan does not include it.
- The lifetime license covers the current desktop version and its minor updates, not future major versions.
- Refunds within 30 days are given if errors keep happening and support cannot fix them.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$4
A month to start. There is a free plan too
PDF Candy has a free plan. Paid plans start at $4 per month, billed yearly.
Free on web and desktop with no account and no ads, but with page and hourly limits, smaller files and no batch processing.
Free
$0
Most tools on web and desktop with page, hourly, file-size and operation limits.
Desktop + Web Yearly
$4
per month, billed yearly
Shown as 75% off a crossed-out $18 a month: web and desktop with no hourly limits, 500MB files, priority processing, plus Video and Image Candy.
Web Monthly
$6
per month
PDF Candy Web only, with no hourly limits, 500MB files and priority processing.
Desktop + Web Lifetime
$99
one-time purchase
Pay once for PDF Candy Web and a permanent desktop license for the current version, with its minor updates but not major upgrades.
The free plan
Free on web and desktop with no account or ads: page and hourly limits, smaller files, no batch processing and a cap on desktop operations.
Read from pdfcandy.com on Oct 18, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Lifetime license
Lifetime license for $99
A one-time payment of $99 buys PDF Candy Web and a permanent PDF Candy Desktop license for the current version.
Stated on pdfcandy.comEducation
A free year of online Pro for education
Students and teachers can get a year of PDF Candy's online Pro subscription at no cost.
Stated on pdfcandy.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: Web and Windows
90-plus online PDF tools and a Windows app, free within limits. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, one-time purchase, AI features, pDF editing.
Converts to and from Office and e-book formats, edits, merges, splits, compresses and protects, with AI summaries and chat.
- Convert to and from PDF
- Converts PDFs to and from Office files, images and e-book formats such as MOBI, and between many other formats.
- Edit and organize
- Edit PDFs and their metadata, merge, split, compress, rotate and reorder pages, and add or remove passwords.
- AI tools
- Summarize a PDF, translate it or chat with it from the web tools.
- Offline Windows app
- PDF Candy Desktop brings 35 tools to Windows for editing, converting and organizing files without an internet connection.
- Short file retention
- Uploaded files and results are kept for no longer than 2 hours, and the free plan needs no account.
Where it runs
- Web
- Windows
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
PDF Candy is made by PDF Candy (Icecream Apps), and has been around since 2016.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
5/15
Other PDF editors it is graded above
PDF Candy's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 5 of the 15 other PDF editors we grade.
It stands best on value for money (B, above 10 of 15) and worst on free plan and trial (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $4 a month, against a middle price of $6.67 for the category: 0 of the 10 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 1 tool scores higher and costs less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 16 PDF editors we grade, cut by the letter each got. PDF Candy’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 10 of 15
- CFree plan and trialAbove 0 of 15
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 15
- BEase of useAbove 2 of 15
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 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. PDF Candy 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
Nothing PDF Candy does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 3 things listed below take a company.
It costs $48 a year.
What you could not
- Editing the text inside a PDF without breaking its layout.
- A real app for Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
What this rests on. PDF Candy’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
iLovePDF, Smallpdf, Sejda, PDF24 Tools and LightPDF
The 5 tools PDF Candy is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
iLovePDF
Free plan · from $5/mo
Online PDF tools with desktop and mobile apps, free for light use.
- Only iLovePDF lists macOS, iOS and Android apps.
- PDF Candy can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- iLovePDF also covers workflow automation.
- 2.6GPA
Smallpdf
Free plan
30-plus PDF tools in the browser, with Windows and mobile apps.
- Only Smallpdf lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Smallpdf lists a browser extension.
- PDF Candy can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.2GPA
Sejda
Free plan · from $5 one-time
Web and desktop PDF tools, free within daily limits or by the week.
- Only Sejda lists macOS and Linux apps.
- PDF Candy can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Sejda also covers forms.
- 3.0GPA
PDF24 Tools
Free
Free online PDF tools paid for by ads, plus an offline Windows app.
- PDF Candy can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.8GPA
LightPDF
Free plan · from $5.99/mo
Online PDF editor and converter with AI tools paid for in credits.
- Only LightPDF lists macOS, iOS and Android apps.
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 PDF Candy free?
PDF Candy has a free plan. Free on web and desktop with no account or ads: page and hourly limits, smaller files, no batch processing and a cap on desktop operations.
How much does PDF Candy cost?
PDF Candy lists 4 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does PDF Candy work on?
PDF Candy is available on Web and Windows.
Does PDF Candy offer any discounts?
PDF Candy publicly lists the following: Lifetime license for $99; A free year of online Pro for education.
Does PDF Candy have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 18, 2026. PDF Candy is listed for Web and Windows.
Does PDF Candy have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 18, 2026. PDF Candy is listed for Web and Windows.
Is PDF Candy open source?
PDF Candy is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 18, 2026.
Does PDF Candy work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Does PDF Candy have a student discount?
A free year of online Pro for education. Students and teachers can get a year of PDF Candy's online Pro subscription at no cost.
Who makes PDF Candy?
PDF Candy is made by PDF Candy (Icecream Apps). It dates from 2016.
What are the alternatives to PDF Candy?
The closest alternatives to PDF Candy in our directory are iLovePDF, Smallpdf, Sejda, PDF24 Tools and LightPDF.
How does PDF Candy compare with other PDF editors?
PDF Candy's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 5 of the 15 other PDF editors we grade.
Is PDF Candy good value for money?
ToolGPA grades PDF Candy B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $4 a month, against a middle price of $6.67 for the category: 0 of the 10 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of PDF Candy?
Nothing PDF Candy does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 3 things listed below take a company.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from PDF Candy’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 PDF Candy's own pages on 18 October 2026. 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 PDF Candy (Icecream Apps). Prices change, so check pdfcandy.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
- PDF Candy, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/pdf-candy
- 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, "PDF Candy: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 18, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/pdf-candy
Know someone choosing between PDF editors?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/pdf-candy/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded PDF editors after PDF Candy, 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 PDF Candy’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. PDF Candy is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by PDF Candy (Icecream Apps). Prices and plans change: check pdfcandy.com before you buy.