The PDF24 Tools Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about PDF24 Tools 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.
PDF24 Tools
The Insider’s Guide
Free online PDF tools paid for by ads, plus an offline Windows app
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among PDF editors, read from PDF24 Tools’s own pages.
Made by Geek Software GmbH · 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 PDF24 Tools’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on PDF24 Tools’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
3.0
GPA, above 13 of the 15 other PDF editors we grade
PDF24 Tools is a free set of web tools for merging, splitting, compressing, converting, signing, redacting and running OCR on PDFs, with PDF24 Creator, a Windows desktop app that does the same offline and adds a virtual PDF printer. Everything is free for private and business use without limits; the maker, Geek Software, pays for it with advertising on its web pages. Its editor adds text, images and drawings rather than changing existing text.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about PDF24 Tools, taken from its own pages and our grades.
The one big catch is that it can't change the text already in a PDF.
- 1
Best for free everyday PDF jobs with no account
Merging, compressing, OCR, redacting: no limits, no account, and ads on the website pay for it.
- 2
It is free
PDF24 Tools has no paid plan at all. All tools are free without restrictions or artificial limits, online and in PDF24 Creator, for private and business use; the web pages carry ads.
- 3
It runs on 2 platforms
Web and Windows.
- 4
Merge, split and compress
Combine, split, compress and web-optimize PDFs, and rotate, remove, extract or rearrange pages.
- 5
Convert and OCR
Converts files and images to and from PDF, saves web pages as PDFs and makes scanned PDFs searchable with OCR.
- 6
Sign, protect and redact
Sign PDFs, add or remove passwords, black out sensitive content, add watermarks and page numbers and compare two PDFs.
- 7
A 3.0 GPA, above 13 of 15
That is against the other PDF editors we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
PDF24 Tools is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
PDF24 Tools at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, Windows
- Made by
- Geek Software GmbH
- Category
- PDF Editors
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for free everyday PDF jobs with no account
PDF24 Tools is a free web tool, plus PDF24 Creator, a Windows desktop app that does it all offline and adds a PDF printer. Merging, compressing, OCR, redacting: no limits, no account, and ads on the website pay for it. The one big catch is that it can't change the text already in a PDF.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free for home and business use, with no limits, and ads on the website pay for it. Creator is a program anyone can download. That's a lot of tool for nothing, though bear in mind it can't rewrite existing text. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Everything is free online and in Creator, with no artificial limits and no account. The only cost is the ads on its web pages. |
| Features | C | Merges, splits, compresses, converts, OCRs, signs, redacts and compares, plus a virtual PDF printer. Plenty. But the editor only adds text and shapes on top: changing existing text means converting to Word first, and that's the core job here. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record. Pick a tool in the browser and go, with no install or account. It's built to be simple. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | The web, plus Creator for Windows. Mac, Linux and phones get the browser only, and there are 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 PDF24 Tools is for
- Great if you need PDFs merged, compressed or OCR'd for free
- Handy when your office wants a free PDF printer on every Windows PC
- Good for businesses that need free software they're allowed to use at work
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you need to change the text already in a PDF
- Too light for Mac 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
Good to know
Good for
- Anyone who needs common PDF jobs done for free with no account
- Windows offices that want a free PDF printer and offline tools
- Businesses allowed to use free software at work, which PDF24 permits
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
PDF24 Tools is free to use.
Free for home and business use, with no limits, and ads on the website pay for it.
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.
The free plan
All tools are free without restrictions or artificial limits, online and in PDF24 Creator, for private and business use; the web pages carry ads.
Read from tools.pdf24.org on Oct 18, 2026.
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
Free online PDF tools paid for by ads, plus an offline Windows app. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, pDF editing.
Merges, splits, compresses, converts, OCRs, signs, redacts and compares, plus a virtual PDF printer.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Web
- Windows
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
PDF24 Tools is made by Geek Software GmbH.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
13/15
Other PDF editors it is graded above
PDF24 Tools's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 13 of the 15 other PDF editors we grade, and level with 1.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 14 of 15) and worst on features (C, above 0).
PDF24 Tools has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 16 PDF editors we grade, cut by the letter each got. PDF24 Tools’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 12 of 15
- AFree plan and trialAbove 14 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. PDF24 Tools 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
PDF24 Tools is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 13 of the 15 other PDF editors we grade.
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.
What this rests on. PDF24 Tools’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
PDFgear, iLovePDF, Smallpdf, Sejda and PDF Candy
The 5 tools PDF24 Tools is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.4GPA
PDFgear
Free
Free PDF editor for desktop, mobile and web with an AI copilot.
- Only PDFgear lists macOS, iOS and Android apps.
- Only PDFgear lists a browser extension.
- PDFgear also covers forms.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Sejda also covers forms.
- 2.4GPA
PDF Candy
Free plan · from $4/mo
90-plus online PDF tools and a Windows app, free within limits.
- PDF Candy can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
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 PDF24 Tools free?
Yes. PDF24 Tools is free to use.
How much does PDF24 Tools cost?
PDF24 Tools lists one plan. PDF24 Tools: $0.
What platforms does PDF24 Tools work on?
PDF24 Tools is available on Web and Windows.
Does PDF24 Tools have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 18, 2026. PDF24 Tools is listed for Web and Windows.
Does PDF24 Tools have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 18, 2026. PDF24 Tools is listed for Web and Windows.
Is PDF24 Tools open source?
PDF24 Tools is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 18, 2026.
Does PDF24 Tools 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.
Who makes PDF24 Tools?
PDF24 Tools is made by Geek Software GmbH.
What are the alternatives to PDF24 Tools?
The closest alternatives to PDF24 Tools in our directory are PDFgear, iLovePDF, Smallpdf, Sejda and PDF Candy.
How does PDF24 Tools compare with other PDF editors?
PDF24 Tools's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 13 of the 15 other PDF editors we grade, and level with 1.
Is PDF24 Tools good value for money?
ToolGPA grades PDF24 Tools A for value for money. PDF24 Tools has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of PDF24 Tools?
PDF24 Tools is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from PDF24 Tools’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 PDF24'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 Geek Software GmbH. Prices change, so check tools.pdf24.org 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
- PDF24 Tools, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/pdf24
- 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, "PDF24 Tools: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 18, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/pdf24
Know someone choosing between PDF editors?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/pdf24/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded PDF editors after PDF24 Tools, 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
- UPDF Insider's GuidePDF editor with AI chat, one license across desktop and mobile3.0 GPA
- Foxit PDF Editor Insider's GuidePDF editor for Windows, Mac and web, yearly or as a one-time license2.8 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 PDF24 Tools’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. PDF24 Tools is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Geek Software GmbH. Prices and plans change: check tools.pdf24.org before you buy.