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Productivity · head to head

iLovePDF vs Kami

iLovePDF logo

iLovePDF

Productivity

Browser toolbox for merging, splitting, compressing and converting PDFs, processed on the vendor's servers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Kami logo

Kami

Productivity

The ultimate document annotation and collaboration tool

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: iLovePDF processing happens on the vendor's servers, so every file is uploaded to a third party, which rules the tools out for client documents, personal data and anything under a confidentiality obligation no matter how briefly the file is held.; Kami the free Basic plan exposes only about 10 of the 40 or more tools
  • They diverge on capability: iLovePDF covers Single-purpose tools, Kami covers PDF annotation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which iLovePDF and Kami actually diverge.

Attributes where iLovePDF and Kami differ
AttributeiLovePDFKami
PlatformsWebWeb, Chrome Extension, IOS, Android
FoundedUnknown2013

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Productivity).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in iLovePDF

  • Single-purpose tools
  • Format conversion
  • Text recognition conversions
  • File size limits
  • Desktop and mobile applications
  • Digital signatures
  • PDF/A output
  • No account needed

Only in Kami

  • PDF annotation
  • Drawing tools
  • Text tools
  • Voice comments
  • Text-to-speech
  • OCR
  • Split/merge PDFs
  • Video embedding

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

iLovePDF

  • Combining scanned pages into a single PDF or splitting a large document occasionally, without buying a desktop PDF editor.not Kami
  • Compressing a PDF that a mail system or an upload form refuses to accept.not Kami
  • Converting a scanned document into an editable Word or Excel file, which needs the paid text recognition tools.not Kami
  • A small office needing simple PDF operations across several machines without a per-seat desktop licence.not Kami

Kami

  • Free document collaboration for individualsnot iLovePDF
  • Professional document management with advanced toolsnot iLovePDF
  • Dedicated account management for workplace teamsnot iLovePDF
  • K-12 and higher education document workflowsnot iLovePDF

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

iLovePDF

  • Processing happens on the vendor's servers, so every file is uploaded to a third party, which rules the tools out for client documents, personal data and anything under a confidentiality obligation no matter how briefly the file is held.
  • The free tier is bounded by file size per tool rather than by feature, with Office conversions capped at 15 MB, so the large scanned documents most likely to need converting are precisely the ones most likely to be refused.
  • The conversions that require text recognition, meaning scanned PDF to Word or Excel, are held for the paid plan, and those are the conversions people genuinely struggle with, while the free ones mostly handle files that were digital already.
  • It is a per-account consumer subscription with no organisational administration, so a company that comes to depend on it ends up with staff holding personal subscriptions and no control over what is uploaded or by whom.
  • The API is a separate product with its own pricing, so a workflow prototyped by hand on the website cannot simply be automated under the same subscription and has to be costed again.

Kami

  • The free Basic plan exposes only about 10 of the 40 or more tools
  • Google Classroom, Schoology, Canvas and Microsoft Teams integrations require the Teacher plan at $149 per year
  • School and district licensing including domain wide deployment is custom priced and requires a quote
  • Non education users pay separate Workplace plans at $85 or $220 per year rather than the education rate
  • A dedicated account manager is only available on the School or District plan

Pricing, plan by plan

iLovePDF

Free
  • BasicFree
    • Access to essential iLovePDF tools
    • Limited document processing
    • 1 account
  • Premium$7/month
    • Full access to all iLovePDF tools
    • Unlimited document processing
    • 1-25 accounts
  • Premium Annual$48/year
    • Same as Premium plan
    • 42% discount compared to monthly billing
  • Business$null/mo
    • Custom pricing (contact vendor for quote)
    • Scalable solutions for businesses
    • 25+ accounts

Kami

Free
  • Basic (Free)Free
    • 10+ essential tools
    • Google Drive and OneDrive integration
    • Unlimited collaborators
  • Pro$12/month
    • All 40+ tools and features
    • Unlimited pages and document types
    • Priority support
  • Work$25/month
    • Everything in Pro
    • Free onboarding and training
    • Dedicated Account Manager
  • Teacher Plan$149/year
    • All 40+ tools and features
    • Full LMS integrations (Classroom, Schoology, Canvas, Teams)
    • Free onboarding and training

Which should you pick?

Choose iLovePDF if

  • You need single-purpose tools.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want format conversion.
iLovePDF review

Choose Kami if

  • You need pdf annotation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Chrome Extension, IOS, Android.
  • You also want drawing tools.
Kami review

Questions people ask

Is iLovePDF or Kami better?
Neither clearly leads. iLovePDF starts at Free and Kami at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, iLovePDF or Kami?
iLovePDF starts at Free and Kami at Free.
Does iLovePDF or Kami run on more platforms?
iLovePDF runs on Web. Kami runs on Web, Chrome Extension, IOS, Android.
Can I use iLovePDF for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is iLovePDF best used for?
iLovePDF is most often used for combining scanned pages into a single pdf or splitting a large document occasionally, without buying a desktop pdf editor., compressing a pdf that a mail system or an upload form refuses to accept., converting a scanned document into an editable word or excel file, which needs the paid text recognition tools., a small office needing simple pdf operations across several machines without a per-seat desktop licence.. Of those, combining scanned pages into a single pdf or splitting a large document occasionally, without buying a desktop pdf editor. and compressing a pdf that a mail system or an upload form refuses to accept. are not what Kami is typically brought in for.
What can iLovePDF do that Kami cannot?
iLovePDF covers Single-purpose tools, Format conversion, Text recognition conversions, File size limits. Kami covers PDF annotation, Drawing tools, Text tools, Voice comments.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

iLovePDF: Do I need an account?

Not for the basic free tools, though they are subject to per-tool size limits and restrictions on batch processing.

Kami: Does Kami offer a free plan and what does it include?

Yes, Kami's free Basic plan includes 10+ essential tools, unlimited collaborators, Google Drive/OneDrive integration, and 1,000+ templates. Full feature access requires Pro or higher tiers.

Source
iLovePDF: Is it safe for confidential documents?

Files are uploaded to the vendor's servers for processing. For client material, personal data or regulated documents, use a tool that works locally on the machine instead.

Kami: What is the cheapest paid plan for Kami and what does it cost?

Pro plan is $12/month ($85/year when billed annually) and includes all 40+ tools, unlimited pages, and priority support for workplace users.

Source
iLovePDF: What does Premium add?

Access to every tool including text-recognition conversions and PDF/A, much larger files, unlimited processing, desktop and mobile applications, digital signatures, workflows and no adverts.

Kami: Are there Kami plans designed specifically for educators?

Yes, the Teacher plan costs $149/year and includes all 40+ tools, full LMS integrations (Google Classroom, Schoology, Canvas, Teams), free onboarding, and priority support with a 30-day free trial.

Source
iLovePDF: Can I use it inside my own application?

Only through the separate developer API, which is priced independently, so plan the automation cost separately from the consumer subscription.

Kami: How much do Kami School or District plans cost?

School and District plans do not publish pricing and require contacting Kami for custom quotes. These plans include domain-wide deployment, dedicated account managers, and full LMS integrations.

Source
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