Full disclosure: I run PDF Hammer. PDF24 is the honest-to-god free option here, and in a couple of ways it’s more private than PDF Hammer, not less.
If you’re on Windows and never want to create an account for anything, PDF24 plus its free Creator desktop app may beat PDF Hammer outright. If you’re on a Mac, need it to work the same way across devices, or want a cleaner interface, PDF Hammer’s browser-only local processing is the simpler fit.
Side by side
| PDF Hammer | PDF24 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free to start | Free, with no paid tier at all |
| 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. | The web tools run on PDF24’s servers (Berlin-based Geek Software GmbH), with files deleted within 1 hour. A separate free desktop app, PDF24 Creator, processes files fully offline on Windows. |
| Account required | Required for every tool | Never required |
| Platforms | Any browser, any OS | Web (any OS) plus a free offline desktop app (Windows only) |
| Tool breadth | 9 (one tool per task) | Broad free toolset comparable in breadth to iLovePDF, without ads gating core use |
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 PDF24 is the better choice
- Completely free, forever, for everyone, with no account, no ads blocking core use, and no upsell funnel, which is rare among tools this capable.
- PDF24 Creator gives Windows users real, free, offline processing, something only Sejda otherwise offers, and Sejda charges for it.
- A long track record (operating for well over a decade) among people who specifically want free tools with no strings attached.
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 PDF24 more private than PDF Hammer?
On Windows, arguably yes: PDF24 Creator is a free desktop app that processes files fully offline, with no account, ever. PDF Hammer runs 7 of 9 tools locally in the browser but still requires an account to use them.
Does PDF24 cost anything?
No. It’s completely free with no paid tier at all. PDF Hammer is also free to start, with no paid plan announced yet.
What’s the catch with PDF24?
The web version is noticeably slower on large files, the interface is more utilitarian, and the free local desktop app only exists for Windows, Mac and Linux users are back to uploading files to a server.
Why would I choose PDF Hammer over something completely free?
If you want local-style privacy without installing anything, on any operating system, and you don’t mind creating a free account, PDF Hammer’s browser-only approach is simpler to keep using the same way everywhere.