PDF tools compared by where your file goes
| Tool | Where your file is processed | Install needed? | Notes (as stated by the service) |
|---|---|---|---|
| PDFDistrict | In your browser; never uploaded | No | 21 tools; no account; 100 MB per file; no OCR, Word conversion or editing of existing text |
| Stirling-PDF | On your device or your own server | Yes (desktop app or Docker) | Open source; its README says you can work on PDFs “without sending documents to external services” |
| PDF24 Creator | On your computer (Windows desktop app) | Yes | PDF24 also offers separate online tools; read its privacy policy for how those handle files |
| iLovePDF (online) | Uploaded to its servers | No | Files deleted automatically within two hours, per its security page |
| Smallpdf (online) | Uploaded to its servers | No | Files deleted after one hour unless you save them to your account, per its page |
Sources: Stirling-PDF, PDF24, iLovePDF security and Smallpdf. Third-party details on this page were checked on the services’ own pages on October 3, 2026 and may change; check the current terms before relying on them.
When uploading a PDF is fine, and when to avoid it
Uploading is a reasonable trade for a public or low-stakes file when you need a feature that only a bigger service offers, such as converting to Word. For contracts, IDs, medical or financial documents, a tool that never uploads the file removes the question entirely. Read Are Online PDF Tools Safe? for what to look for.
How to check that a tool doesn’t upload your file
- 1 Open developer tools in your browser (F12, or Cmd+Option+I on a Mac) and go to the Network tab.
- 2 Run the tool on a test PDF: add the file and click the action button.
- 3 Look at the requests. In a tool that processes locally you will not see a request carrying your file; in an upload-based tool you will see the file being sent to the service.
What PDFDistrict doesn’t do
Being honest about limits helps you choose: PDFDistrict has 21 tools (merge, split, compress, sign, add text and more). It does not edit the text already in a PDF, highlight or comment, fill interactive forms, run OCR or convert to Word. For those, pick a different tool and weigh its privacy terms.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best free PDF tools that don’t upload files?
Tools that process files on your own device: PDFDistrict in your browser, Stirling-PDF as a desktop app or self-hosted server, and the PDF24 Creator desktop app for Windows.
Do iLovePDF and Smallpdf upload my files?
Yes. Both process files on their servers. According to their own pages, iLovePDF deletes files within two hours and Smallpdf deletes them after one hour unless you save them to your account.
How can I merge PDFs without uploading them?
Use a tool that merges in your browser or on your device, such as PDFDistrict’s Merge tool: add the files, set the order and download the result.
Is there a free PDF tool that works without an account?
PDFDistrict needs no account or sign-up for any of its 21 tools.
Try a PDF tool that never uploads your file
Merge, split, compress and more, processed in your browser.
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