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iLovePDF alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave iLovePDF: file size and task limits on the free plan, and upload-based processing for most tools. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces iLovePDF, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Smallpdf currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1PDFsam logoPDFsamOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 457.2
2Stirling PDF logoStirling PDFOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted, Windows +24 of 455.3
  1. PDFsam logo

    1. PDFsamTop pick

    Best for: Anyone who regularly splits and merges PDFs offline and wants it free

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from iLovePDF

    Free open-source desktop app for merging and splitting without uploads.

    Pros

    • Free and open source with no watermarks or limits
    • Works offline on Windows, macOS and Linux
    • Flexible split and merge options

    Cons

    • Basic only reorganises pages, no editing
    • Installer promotes the paid editions
    • Plain, utilitarian interface
    Visit PDFsam Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is PDFsam a good iLovePDF alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Open source
    Yes, PDFsam Basic
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pdfsam.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pdfsam.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Offline
    No internet needed
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pdfsam.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Paid edition trial
    PDFsam Visual, 14 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pdfsam.org(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Stirling PDF logo

    2. Stirling PDF

    Best for: Teams that want online-style PDF tools without sending files to a third party

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted, Windows, macOS, Linux

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from iLovePDF

    Self-hosted toolkit with dozens of tools for teams that cannot upload files.

    Pros

    • Runs on your own server, so files stay private
    • Dozens of tools plus automation and an API
    • Free open-source core with optional paid support

    Cons

    • Self-hosting needs Docker or server know-how
    • SSO and admin features sit in paid plans
    • Interface is more functional than polished
    Visit Stirling PDF Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Stirling PDF a good iLovePDF alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    $0, open-source edition
    Checked Oct 25, 2026stirlingpdf.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Deployment
    Web, desktop, self-hosted
    Checked Oct 25, 2026stirlingpdf.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Tools
    60+ PDF tools
    Checked Oct 25, 2026stirlingpdf.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.stirlingpdf.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best iLovePDF alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Smallpdf logo

Best iLovePDF alternative for most people

Smallpdf

A very similar online toolkit with a polished interface and a Windows app.

PDF24 Tools logo

Best iLovePDF alternative for a free option

PDF24 Tools

No paid tier at all, and a free offline Windows app.

Sejda logo

Best iLovePDF alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Sejda

Online plus desktop tools with a stronger in-browser text editor.

PDFsam logo

Best iLovePDF alternative for open source

PDFsam

Free open-source desktop app for merging and splitting without uploads.

Stirling PDF logo

Best iLovePDF alternative for self-hosting

Stirling PDF

Self-hosted toolkit with dozens of tools for teams that cannot upload files.

Sejda logo

Best iLovePDF alternative for Mac

Sejda

Online plus desktop tools with a stronger in-browser text editor.

Smallpdf logo

Best iLovePDF alternative for Windows

Smallpdf

A very similar online toolkit with a polished interface and a Windows app.

Sejda logo

Best iLovePDF alternative for Linux

Sejda

Online plus desktop tools with a stronger in-browser text editor.

Smallpdf logo

Best iLovePDF alternative for iPhone and Android

Smallpdf

A very similar online toolkit with a polished interface and a Windows app.

Smallpdf logo

Best iLovePDF alternative for working in the browser

Smallpdf

A very similar online toolkit with a polished interface and a Windows app.

iLovePDF alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to iLovePDF?

Smallpdf ranks first right now. A very similar online toolkit with a polished interface and a Windows app. PDF24 Tools and Sejda follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to iLovePDF?

Yes. Smallpdf (free plan + paid), PDF24 Tools (free), Sejda (free plan + paid) and PDFsam (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to iLovePDF?

Yes: PDFsam and Stirling PDF. Stirling PDF can also be self-hosted.

Which iLovePDF alternatives work on Linux?

Sejda, PDFsam and Stirling PDF run on Linux.

Why do people switch from iLovePDF?

The complaints we hear most: file size and task limits on the free plan; upload-based processing for most tools; not a full editor for changing body text.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces iLovePDF, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.