An alternative to iLovePDF and Smallpdf with no uploads

Updated October 11, 2026

We make PDFLocal, so read this with that in mind. We tried to stick to things you can check: what each site says on its own pages, which we read on 11 October 2026. Prices and feature lists change often, so we do not quote them for other companies.

Where your file goes

  • iLovePDF: its Security and Data Protection page says "all files processed within our platform are automatically and permanently deleted within two hours of being processed". It describes protecting your data from the moment you upload it until it is delivered back to you.
  • Smallpdf: its compress page describes its tools as cloud-based and says files are deleted after one hour. Its redact page says files are processed "100% in your browser", while the FAQ on the same page says "All processing happens on secure servers." Read the page for the tool you actually use.
  • PDFLocal: the work happens in your browser and the file is never sent anywhere. The page makes a few small requests, such as counting your free runs, and none of them contains your document.

Is deletion after an hour good enough?

For a lot of files, yes. An hour or two is a reasonable promise from a large company, and for a flyer or a public report there is nothing to worry about.

We built PDFLocal for files like a tax return or a lease, where you would rather not rely on a promise at all. If the file never leaves your computer, there is nothing to delete and no period when a copy exists.

What the others offer that we do not

Both sites link to desktop apps, which we have not tested, so we cannot say whether those process files locally. PDFLocal has no accounts by design, and how fast it runs depends on your own computer.

What it costs

PDFLocal has a free tier with three runs a day and a small PDFLocal link on the output. Pro is a one-time $19 with no subscription, which removes the daily limit and the link and unlocks every tool. Check iLovePDF's and Smallpdf's own pricing pages for theirs. The Pro page has ours.

How to choose

For a flyer or a public report, any of the three is fine. Use a browser-only tool when the file is one you would not want on someone else's server for an hour.

To compare for yourself, Merge, Compress and Split are free here. Our longer argument is in the guide on whether uploading a PDF is safe, and the checking guide shows how to test any tool, ours included.