Alternative
Alternative to iLovePDF
iLovePDF offers a reasonable free tier, but caps it at a few tasks per hour and up-sells aggressively to its $4–$7/month paid tiers. Most casual users don't need a subscription — they need 3 to 5 operations a month.
PennyPDF replaces the subscription model with a one-time coin purchase. 50 coins ($2.99) covers a typical month of casual use with 40+ coins left over, which you'll still have whenever you need them because coins never expire.
iLovePDF runs everything server-side. Your file uploads, is processed, downloads back. PennyPDF runs the 14 free-tier tools entirely in your browser — for merge, split, rotate, reorder, JPG conversions, PDF-to-text, watermark, page numbers, the file literally never leaves your device.
PennyPDF vs iLovePDF
| PennyPDF | iLovePDF | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | One-time coin packs from $0.99 | Subscription, $4–$7/month |
| Auto-renew | Never | Default on |
| Credit expiry | Coins never expire | Monthly reset |
| Watermarks on free tier | None, any tier | Some outputs watermarked |
| Client-side processing | 14 of 22 tools | None (all server-side) |
| API access | Same coin balance | Separate paid tier |
How it works
- 1Pick the tool you were about to use on iLovePDF — the PennyPDF equivalent is at /#tools.
- 2Free tools (merge, split, rotate, edit, and 10 others) run immediately, no signup needed.
- 3If it's a paid tool, coins cost 4-12¢ each and never expire. Sign in with Google/Microsoft for 10 free welcome coins, then $0.99 covers the next month.
Frequently asked
Is the free tier enough for occasional use?+
For client-side tools (merge, split, rotate, and 11 others), the free tier has no task limit and no signup requirement. For server-side tools (compress, OCR, conversions), unauthenticated use gives 3 tasks/day per IP; signing in with Google/Microsoft adds 10 one-time welcome coins (enough for 3-10 operations before buying a pack).
What about iLovePDF's mobile app?+
PennyPDF is a web app that works identically on phones and tablets. A dedicated mobile app and browser extension are in development, but the web experience already covers every tool on mobile.
Watermarks?+
Never. PennyPDF never adds a watermark to any output at any tier. iLovePDF's free tier watermarks some outputs.
File size limit?+
Free tier: 25MB. Paid: 100MB. API: 2GB. Same as iLovePDF's structure, with higher free caps.
Data residency?+
PennyPDF client-side tools mean 70%+ of operations never generate server-side data. For server-side operations, EU-only storage is opt-in via account settings.
Why PennyPDF
- No subscription. Ever.
- Coins never expire — use them in 5 years.
- Client-side processing for 14 of 22 tools.
- No watermarks at any tier.
- Per-operation pricing, shown before you click.
- Same coins for web + public API.