AFileFix vs iLovePDF: Which Free PDF Tool Should You Use?

The short version

AFileFix is free for unlimited PDF-tool use, with no account and no ads — and 11 of 25 tools run entirely in your browser, so your file never leaves your device. Notably, OCR is free here; on iLovePDF it's a paid Premium feature.

iLovePDF is for people who want native desktop and mobile apps, cloud-storage integrations, and a larger paid catalog. Its free tier is web-only with ads and per-tool limits; OCR, desktop apps, and bigger batch/file sizes require a paid plan.

If you do regular browser-based PDF work — including OCR on scans — without wanting ads, signup, or a subscription, AFileFix likely fits. If you want apps on every device, Drive/Dropbox round-trips, or a paid suite with business features, iLovePDF fits better.

Feature comparison at a glance

AFileFix values are from our codebase. iLovePDF values reflect stable, widely-documented details about their free vs paid plans. Verify current limits and pricing on ilovepdf.com.

Where AFileFix wins

Free OCR (no signup, no Premium)

This is the clearest difference. On iLovePDF, OCR — turning a scanned PDF into selectable text — is a Premium feature. AFileFix's OCR — Scan to Text is free, no account required (with a per-IP daily cap, since it runs on a paid AI service).

No ads, no account

iLovePDF's free tier is web-based and shows ads. AFileFix has no ads on any tool and no account system — every tool works on first visit.

Browser-side processing for 11 of 25 tools

Eleven AFileFix tools — Split, Rotate, Delete Pages, Reorder Pages, Page Numbers, Watermark, PDF to Image, Image to PDF, Image Resizer, Social Media Resizer, and Redact PDF — run entirely in your browser, with no upload at all. iLovePDF, like most web PDF suites, uploads your file to its servers to process it. For confidential documents, "never leaves your device" is a stronger guarantee. For AFileFix's server and AI tools, files are deleted immediately after processing.

Free for unlimited use

AFileFix's PDF utility tools have no daily limit and support up to 50 MB per file. iLovePDF's free tier applies per-tool file-size and batch limits, with larger sizes and bigger batches reserved for paid plans.

Where iLovePDF wins

Native apps on every device

iLovePDF offers mobile apps and a desktop app. AFileFix is web-only — it works in mobile browsers, but Edit & Sign is desktop-only. For heavy phone or offline-desktop use, iLovePDF's apps are a real advantage.

Cloud integrations and a larger paid catalog

iLovePDF connects to Google Drive and Dropbox and offers a broad tool catalog, with Premium unlocking OCR, larger files, bigger batches, and more. AFileFix has no cloud integrations — you upload from and download to your device.

A paid plan and business features

iLovePDF is an established commercial provider with Premium and Business plans and a company behind them. AFileFix has no paid plan and no formal compliance certifications. If you need specific certifications (e.g. ISO 27001), a signed data-processing agreement, or team management, check iLovePDF's current security and pricing pages and treat that as a point in their favor.

Where it's roughly a tie

For everyday compress, merge, split, and convert tasks, both produce comparable results on typical documents. Both upload-based server tools delete files after processing. For non-sensitive documents, the privacy difference is academic; it matters most for confidential ones, where AFileFix's browser-side tools never upload at all.

Frequently asked questions

Comparing another tool? See AFileFix vs SmallPDF.

Bottom line

If you want free, no-signup, ad-free PDF tools in a browser — including free OCR — and you value 11 tools that never upload your file, AFileFix is a strong fit. If you want native apps on every device, cloud-storage round-trips, or a paid suite with business features and a larger catalog, iLovePDF fits better.