Comparison
An alternative to iLovePDF and Smallpdf that never uploads your PDFs
The best-known online PDF services process your files on their servers. ElniDocs does the same in your browser: merge, split, compress, sign, fill in, protect or convert a PDF, without the file ever leaving your device.
In short
ElniDocs offers dozens of free PDF tools that run entirely in the browser: no file is uploaded, no account is asked for, and there is no daily limit. iLovePDF and Smallpdf upload your files to their servers to process them, and keep part of their features for a paid subscription. ElniDocs adds editors for Word, Excel and PowerPoint files, which these services do not have.
Point-by-point comparison
| Criterion | ElniDocs | iLovePDF | Smallpdf |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Advantage: Free, no daily limit | With reservations: Free with limits; Premium subscription for more | With reservations: Free with limits; Pro subscription for more |
| Account | Advantage: Never asked for | With reservations: Optional for simple tasks, required for others | With reservations: Optional for simple tasks, required for others |
| Where your files go | Advantage: Stay on your device | Drawback: Uploaded to their servers for processing | Drawback: Uploaded to their servers for processing |
| Without a connection | Advantage: Yes, once the page has loaded | With reservations: Web version: no (desktop app available) | With reservations: Web version: no (desktop app available) |
| Editing Word, Excel, PowerPoint files | Advantage: Yes, three editors included | Drawback: No, conversion only | Drawback: No, conversion only |
Price
- ElniDocs
- Advantage: Free, no daily limit
- iLovePDF
- With reservations: Free with limits; Premium subscription for more
- Smallpdf
- With reservations: Free with limits; Pro subscription for more
Account
- ElniDocs
- Advantage: Never asked for
- iLovePDF
- With reservations: Optional for simple tasks, required for others
- Smallpdf
- With reservations: Optional for simple tasks, required for others
Where your files go
- ElniDocs
- Advantage: Stay on your device
- iLovePDF
- Drawback: Uploaded to their servers for processing
- Smallpdf
- Drawback: Uploaded to their servers for processing
Without a connection
- ElniDocs
- Advantage: Yes, once the page has loaded
- iLovePDF
- With reservations: Web version: no (desktop app available)
- Smallpdf
- With reservations: Web version: no (desktop app available)
Editing Word, Excel, PowerPoint files
- ElniDocs
- Advantage: Yes, three editors included
- iLovePDF
- Drawback: No, conversion only
- Smallpdf
- Drawback: No, conversion only
Comparison made on October 19, 2026 from each product's public pages. Their offers may change: check them on their websites.
When ElniDocs is the better choice
- The PDF is sensitive (an ID document, a contract, a bank statement, a medical record): it must not pass through a third party's server.
- You process many files and do not want to hit a daily limit or a subscription.
- You work offline, or in a company that forbids sending documents to online services.
- You also want to edit the original document in Word, Excel or PowerPoint, in the same place.
When another tool is a better fit
- Your device is not very powerful and your files are huge: an online service does the computing on its servers.
- You want to send a document to other people for signature and track the signatures: these services offer that workflow, ElniDocs only signs on your device.
- You work straight from Google Drive or Dropbox: these services connect to them.
Switching to ElniDocs
- Choose the tool: merge, compress, sign, convert…
- Drop your PDFs: they are opened in your browser, nothing is uploaded.
- Download the result, or carry on with another tool on the same file.
Frequently asked questions
How can I check that my PDFs are not uploaded?
Load the page, cut your connection (airplane mode), then use the tool: it works. A strict security policy (CSP) also lets the browser contact only our own site and our anonymous visitor statistics, which never receive your files.
Is there a limit on file size or number of files?
There is no daily limit. The only limit is your device's memory (up to 500 MB per file).
Does ElniDocs add a watermark?
No, never: your files come out exactly as you made them.