Comparison
ConvertYard vs ILovePDF
Published May 28, 2026
Both are free PDF tools. The difference is where your files go — ILovePDF uploads them to servers; ConvertYard processes them entirely inside your browser.
ConvertYard
Best for: desktop users who need privacy, batch PDF processing, no account
- ✓ Files never leave your browser
- ✓ No account, no signup
- ✓ No daily limits, no file size caps
- ✓ Batch 1,000+ PDFs at once
- ✓ Free forever
ILovePDF
Best for: mobile users, occasional PDF work, affordable Pro plan
- ✓ iOS and Android apps
- ✓ ~$4/month Pro — affordable paid tier
- ✓ Some tools ConvertYard doesn't have yet
- ✗ Files uploaded to servers
- ✗ File size limits on free tier
Feature comparison
| Feature | ConvertYard | ILovePDF |
|---|---|---|
| Files uploaded to a server | ✕ Never | ✓ Yes |
| Account required | ✕ No | Optional (required for premium) |
| File size limit (free) | None | Limited on free tier |
| Batch conversion | 1,000+ files at once | 1 file at a time (free) |
| Works offline | Yes (after first load) | No — requires upload |
| PDF tool count | 15+ PDF tools | 25+ PDF tools |
| Mobile apps | Not available | iOS and Android |
| Price | Free | Free / ~$4/month Pro |
| BAA for HIPAA workflows | Not required (no upload) | Required if handling PHI |
The details
Privacy
ILovePDF sends your files to its servers for processing. For most personal PDF tasks — compressing a presentation or splitting a form — this is acceptable. For sensitive documents like legal contracts, HR files, or medical records, any upload is a liability. ConvertYard eliminates that liability entirely: conversion runs in your browser via WebAssembly, and no upload request ever fires.
PDF tool coverage
ILovePDF has about 25 PDF tools. ConvertYard has 15+ and is actively expanding. The core tools — compress, merge, split, rotate, reorder, convert to Word/Excel/JPG/PNG, OCR, protect, unlock, watermark, redact, fill forms — are covered on both. ILovePDF has a slight edge in total count, but for the tools most people use most of the time, the difference is minimal.
Batch processing
ILovePDF's free tier processes one file at a time. ConvertYard accepts 1,000+ files in a single operation. Drop 500 PDFs to compress, get a ZIP back. No daily limit. No per-file counting. If you're processing a document archive, a folder of scans, or a batch of reports, ConvertYard is meaningfully faster.
Mobile: ILovePDF wins
ILovePDF has native apps for iOS and Android that let you work with PDFs directly from your phone. ConvertYard is browser-based and works on mobile browsers, but doesn't have a dedicated app. If you need PDF tools on your phone regularly, ILovePDF is the better fit.
Verdict
On a desktop, for any PDF task where privacy matters or you're working with more than a handful of files, ConvertYard is the better choice. On mobile, or if you need a cheap paid tier with a few additional tools, ILovePDF's Pro plan at ~$4/month is one of the most affordable in the space.
Common questions
Does ILovePDF upload my files?
Yes. ILovePDF processes files on its servers. Your PDF uploads, gets converted or processed, and is then deleted after a short retention period. The service is operated from Spain and is GDPR-compliant, but the upload is unavoidable. ConvertYard's approach is different: the entire conversion runs inside your browser, so nothing ever uploads.
Is ILovePDF really free?
ILovePDF has a free tier with file size restrictions and processing that goes through its servers. Its Pro plan at ~$4/month is one of the more affordable options in the space, removing most limits. ConvertYard is genuinely free with no paid tier — every tool works for every user, unlimited, forever.
Does ConvertYard cover all the same PDF tools as ILovePDF?
ConvertYard covers the core PDF workflows: compress, merge, split, rotate, reorder pages, PDF to Word/JPG/PNG/Excel, Word to PDF, OCR, redact, protect, unlock, watermark, and fill forms. ILovePDF has a few additional tools around PDF repair and accessibility that ConvertYard doesn't have yet. For the most commonly used tools, the coverage is comparable.
Which is better for batch PDF processing?
ConvertYard. On ILovePDF's free tier, you process one file at a time. ConvertYard accepts 1,000+ PDFs in a single drop and processes them all in your browser with per-file progress. Results download as a ZIP. For batch compression, splitting, or converting large numbers of PDFs, ConvertYard is significantly faster.
What is ILovePDF genuinely better at?
ILovePDF has mobile apps for iOS and Android that ConvertYard doesn't offer. It also has some PDF repair tools and an OCR feature with more language support. If you work primarily on your phone or need mobile-friendly PDF editing, ILovePDF is the stronger choice.
See also
Try ConvertYard PDF tools — no upload, no account, no limit