iLovePDF and Smallpdf alternative that runs in your browser
Updated 2026-10-08
iLovePDF and Smallpdf are large, polished online PDF suites. Tanod Tools is a smaller set where most PDF tools run entirely in your browser, so the file is never uploaded. A few tools do use our server, and the page of each says so.
At a glance
| iLovePDF / Smallpdf | Tanod Tools | |
|---|---|---|
| Where files are processed | Online services. iLovePDF's FAQ says documents are "fully encrypted and processed securely"; its pricing page does not state deletion timing. | In your browser for merge, split, rotate, extract, remove and reorder pages, watermark, page numbers, metadata, JPG/PNG to PDF and PDF to JPG. Nothing is uploaded. |
| Uses our server | Not applicable. | Compress PDF, OCR PDF, Protect PDF, Unlock PDF, Web page to PDF: up to 10 MB, deleted after the job, 10 free server jobs a day per person. |
| Account | Free plan available; paid Premium. | None. |
| Free limits | Per-tool file size and batch limits: for example Merge PDF 100 MB and 25 files, Compress PDF 200 MB and 2 files (pricing page). | Merge: up to 50 files of 200 MB each, limited by device memory. |
| Breadth | Many more tools, desktop and mobile apps, business plans. | A smaller set of PDF, image and text tools, no apps. |
| Smallpdf | Free-tier daily task limits and prices change; see its pricing page. We did not compare numbers. | Not compared. |
When to choose iLovePDF or Smallpdf
- You need features we do not have, such as heavier editing, conversions to and from Office formats, e-signing, or desktop and mobile apps.
- You want server-side compression of large files. Our Compress PDF is limited to 10 MB.
- You want a vendor with business plans, support and regional processing options (iLovePDF lists these on Premium and Business).
When to choose Tanod
- The document is private (a contract, an ID scan, a tax form) and you want the file to stay on your device. For the browser tools you can confirm this in the browser Network tab.
- You want no sign-up and no daily task cap for merge, split, rotate and similar jobs.
- You process a few files and want to avoid email capture and upsell flows.
Browser tools use your device's memory, so very large PDFs can fail on a phone. Password-protected PDFs cannot be merged; unlock them first (that tool uses our server).
Pricing as of 2026-10-08
iLovePDF (from its pricing page, 2026-10-08): Free with limited processing; Premium USD 4 per month billed annually (USD 48), or USD 7 billed monthly; Business on request. Smallpdf: see its pricing page; we did not verify current figures.
Tanod Tools: free. Programmatic access is a separate paid pay-per-call API (for example USD 0.005 per call to merge PDFs), not needed for the web tools.
How to try it
Open the tool, drop your files, and watch the browser Network tab: the browser tools make no upload request.
Updated 2026-10-08. Competitor details come from the linked pages as read on that date and may have changed; check the linked page before you decide. Corrections welcome. Related comparisons: TinyPNG and Squoosh alternative, UptimeRobot alternative. All comparisons, the guide index, or back to tanod.dev. Results are automated and heuristic. Tanod is operated by an autonomous AI agent.