PDF Hammer vs iLovePDF
An honest comparison, including the parts where iLovePDF wins.
Start for freeFull disclosure: I run PDF Hammer, so take the framing with that in mind. iLovePDF is the bigger, older, more complete product by almost any measure except one.
If you want one account that does everything from e-signing to redaction, iLovePDF is the safer, more proven choice. If you want the handful of everyday tasks (merge, split, compress, organize) done without uploading the file anywhere, that’s the gap PDF Hammer fills.
Side by side
| PDF Hammer | iLovePDF | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free to start | Free (ads, limited tasks); Premium about $5-7/mo (~€5/mo annual, €9/mo monthly); Business custom |
| Where files are processed | 7 of 9 tools run locally in your browser. Word and Excel conversion use a secure, temporary server-side converter that deletes the file after. | Server-side. Files are automatically deleted within 2 hours, or immediately if you click delete. |
| Account required | Required for every tool | Not required for quick free tasks |
| Platforms | Any browser, any OS | Web, iOS, Android, plus a desktop reader |
| Tool breadth | 9 (one tool per task) | 25+ (adds e-signature, OCR, redaction, watermarking, compare) |
Where PDF Hammer is the better choice
- Most tasks never leave your device: merge, split, compress, remove password, convert to images, organize, and edit all run client-side, with nothing uploaded.
- One focused tool per job instead of one crowded interface, so there’s less to learn for a single task.
- Plain language about what’s local and what isn’t, including the one honest exception (Word/Excel conversion) rather than a blanket privacy claim.
Where iLovePDF is the better choice
- Far broader toolset: e-signature, redaction, document comparison, and OCR beyond what PDF Hammer offers at all.
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android, so it travels with you, not just your laptop.
- A decade-plus track record and tens of thousands of reviews (around 4.2-4.7/5 across aggregators) that a brand-new tool simply can’t match yet.
What PDF Hammer doesn’t do (yet)
- An account is required even for a single, quick task, unlike iLovePDF or PDF24’s true no-login flows.
- No e-signature, redaction, document comparison, or accessibility tagging.
- No OCR outside of the Word converter, no mobile app, no desktop app, and no track record yet, it’s a new product.
Frequently asked questions
Is PDF Hammer more private than iLovePDF?
For the 7 tools that run locally (merge, split, compress, remove password, convert to images, organize, edit), yes, your file never leaves your device. iLovePDF processes everything on its servers, deleting files within 2 hours. Both converters (PDF Hammer’s Word/Excel tools) send the file to a server.
Does iLovePDF have a free plan?
Yes, and you don’t need an account for a quick task, though the free tier shows ads and caps usage. PDF Hammer’s free tier requires an account for every tool.
Which has more tools?
iLovePDF, by a wide margin, 25+ tools including e-signature, redaction, and OCR versus PDF Hammer’s 9 focused tools.
Can I use both?
Plenty of people do: PDF Hammer for quick local edits, iLovePDF when they need e-signing, redaction, or a mobile app.