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Productivity · head to head

iLovePDF vs PDF Expert

iLovePDF logo

iLovePDF

Productivity

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PDF Expert logo

PDF Expert

Productivity

PDF Expert puts Adobe Acrobat to shame

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only iLovePDF has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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.; PDF Expert pricing displayed in AED (United Arab Emirates Dirham), not widely recognized currency
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which iLovePDF and PDF Expert actually diverge.

Attributes where iLovePDF and PDF Expert differ
AttributeiLovePDFPDF Expert
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo

Identical on both: platforms (Web), 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 PDF Expert

Nothing recorded that iLovePDF does not also cover.

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

PDF Expert

  • PDF editing and annotationnot iLovePDF
  • Document conversion to PDFnot iLovePDF
  • PDF text recognition (OCR)not iLovePDF
  • Digital document signaturesnot iLovePDF
  • Cross-device PDF managementnot 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.

PDF Expert

  • Pricing displayed in AED (United Arab Emirates Dirham), not widely recognized currency
  • Essential and Pro plans offer identical features despite different pricing
  • Lifetime plan limited to Mac only
  • New features beyond initial purchase may cost extra

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

PDF Expert

On request
  • Essential$199.99/year
    • iPhone, iPad, and Mac access
    • AI assistant
    • PDF conversion
  • Pro$309.99/year
    • All Essential features
    • iPhone, iPad, and Mac access
    • AI assistant
  • Lifetime$499.99/one-time
    • Mac only
    • Perpetual license
    • All core features

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 PDF Expert if

Nothing in the data separates PDF Expert from iLovePDF on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

PDF Expert review

Questions people ask

Is iLovePDF or PDF Expert better?
Neither clearly leads. iLovePDF starts at Free and PDF Expert at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, iLovePDF or PDF Expert?
iLovePDF has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for iLovePDF and On request for PDF Expert.
Does iLovePDF or PDF Expert run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use iLovePDF for free?
Yes. iLovePDF has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PDF Expert starts at On request.
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 PDF Expert is typically brought in for.
What can iLovePDF do that PDF Expert cannot?
iLovePDF covers Single-purpose tools, Format conversion, Text recognition conversions, File size limits.

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.

PDF Expert: How much does PDF Expert cost annually?

PDF Expert's Essential plan costs AED199.99/year and the Pro plan costs AED309.99/year. Both plans include iPhone, iPad, and Mac access, AI assistant, PDF conversion, OCR, digital signatures, and priority support.

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.

PDF Expert: Does PDF Expert offer a lifetime purchase option?

Yes. PDF Expert offers a Lifetime plan for AED499.99 as a one-time payment, but this license is restricted to Mac only.

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.

PDF Expert: Is there a money-back guarantee for PDF Expert?

Yes. All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied.

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.

PDF Expert: Can students get a discount on PDF Expert?

Yes. Students and educators can receive up to 50% off annual subscriptions through educational email verification.

Source
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