Not all PDF tools are created equal. Here's how LocalPDF compares to popular cloud-based alternatives like Adobe Acrobat Online, Smallpdf, iLovePDF, and PDF24.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | LocalPDF | Adobe Acrobat | Smallpdf | iLovePDF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Files uploaded to servers | ❌ Never | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Privacy by design | ✅ 100% | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Processing speed (10 MB PDF) | <2s | 5-10s | 10-15s | 8-12s |
| File size limit (free tier) | Unlimited* | 100 MB | 5 MB | 200 MB |
| Requires account/registration | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (pro) | ✅ Yes (pro) |
| Free tier pricing | $0 (beta) | $12.99/mo | $9/mo | $6/mo |
| Works offline | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Watermarks on output | ❌ Never | ❌ No | ✅ Free tier | ❌ No |
*Unlimited within browser memory constraints (typically 2-4 GB depending on device)
Key Differences Explained
1. Privacy: Cloud vs. Client-Side
Cloud-Based Tools (Adobe, Smallpdf, etc.)
When you upload a PDF to cloud-based tools, your file is transmitted over the internet to their servers, processed remotely, and stored temporarily (or permanently, depending on their policy).
Privacy risks:
- Files can be intercepted during transmission
- Servers may scan content for analytics or ad targeting
- Data breaches expose user documents
- No guarantees of deletion
LocalPDF (Client-Side)
Your PDF never leaves your device. All processing happens in your browser using JavaScript and WebAssembly. There are zero network requests during processing.
Privacy benefits:
- No risk of interception—files stay local
- No server-side scanning or data collection
- Impossible to breach what we don't have
- Automatic deletion (browser memory cleared on tab close)
2. Speed: Upload Time = Wasted Time
Cloud-based tools require uploading your PDF to servers before processing can begin. For large files (50+ MB), this can take 30-60 seconds on typical broadband connections.
LocalPDF eliminates upload time entirely. Your file is already on your device—processing starts instantly. A 50 MB PDF that takes 45 seconds to upload to Smallpdf processes in 2-3 seconds with LocalPDF.
3. File Size Limits: Arbitrary vs. Real
Cloud tools impose artificial limits:
- Smallpdf free: 5 MB
- Adobe Acrobat: 100 MB
- iLovePDF free: 200 MB
These limits exist to reduce server costs and push users toward paid plans.
LocalPDF's only limit is your browser's memory (typically 2-4 GB on modern devices). This is a real technical constraint, not an arbitrary paywall.
4. Offline Capability
Cloud tools require an active internet connection—no network, no processing.
LocalPDF works offline once loaded. On a plane? In a remote location with no signal? You can still merge, split, and compress PDFs. Perfect for travelers and users in areas with unreliable connectivity.
When Cloud Tools Make Sense
To be fair, cloud-based PDF tools have legitimate use cases:
- Collaboration: Shared document editing and commenting (LocalPDF is single-user)
- Advanced OCR: Server-side OCR with cloud GPUs can be more accurate (we use browser-based Tesseract.js)
- Integration: APIs for automating workflows (LocalPDF has no API—it's a web app)
- Very large files: If you need to process a 5 GB PDF, server-side tools with dedicated resources may work better
But for 99% of individual users processing personal documents, client-side processing is faster, more private, and more cost-effective.
The Verdict
- Privacy (files never uploaded)
- Speed (no upload delays)
- Simplicity (no accounts, no paywalls)
- Offline capability
- Collaboration features
- API access for automation
- Advanced server-side OCR
- Processing files larger than browser memory limits
Ready to try the privacy-first approach? Get started with LocalPDF →