PDFinish vs iLovePDF
iLovePDF has far more tools and a generous free plan. PDFinish is the better pick if you want your files to stay on your device and a simple, one-time Lifetime option.
Compared as of October 2026.
Our honest verdict
Choose iLovePDF if you want the widest set of tools, including Office conversions, and you do not mind your files going to a server for processing. Choose PDFinish if you want the tools we offer to run in your browser, you value a short, plain price list, or you want to pay once instead of renewing every year.
Side by side
| PDFinish | iLovePDF | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free to start. Pro is $2.99 a month (intro price) or $24 a year. Lifetime is $50 for the first 500 founders. | Premium is US$9 a month month to month, or US$5 a month billed yearly (US$60 a year), as shown in US dollars. A free plan exists. |
| Free tier | 2 tasks a day with no account, 10 with a free email account. Files up to 50 MB. | Free Basic plan. Limits vary by tool; most allow files up to 100 MB per task. |
| Where files are processed | In your browser. Your files stay on your device. | On their servers. Files are deleted automatically within two hours of processing. |
| Sign-in needed | No. An account is optional and raises the free limit. | Not confirmed here. |
| Lifetime option | Yes. $50 once, for the first 500 founders. It covers current and future Pro features, but not paid add-ons such as sending documents for signature. | None listed. |
| E-sign | Sign your own PDFs today: draw, type or upload a signature. Asking other people to sign is on the waitlist. | Sign PDF is on the free plan with a monthly limit. |
Where iLovePDF is stronger
- Much greater tool breadth, including Office conversions that PDFinish does not have yet.
- A free plan with larger file allowances on many tools.
- A long track record and a very large user base.
Where PDFinish is stronger
- PDF tools run in your browser, so documents such as contracts and leases never leave your device. Office to PDF conversion uploads the file and deletes it when done.
- A Lifetime option at $50 (founder deal), where iLovePDF lists only subscriptions.
- A smaller, calmer product built around everyday jobs for freelancers and small landlords.
Try PDFinish on a real file
Free to start, no account needed for your first tasks each day.
Most people who use PDFinish are small landlords and freelancers. See the PDF tools and templates for landlords and for freelancers.
Looking for more detail? Read our iLovePDF alternative page.
Questions people ask
Is iLovePDF cheaper than PDFinish?
On a yearly plan iLovePDF lists about US$5 a month. PDFinish Pro is $2.99 a month at the intro price or $24 a year, and there is a one-time $50 Lifetime founder deal. Prices change, so check both pricing pages.
Does iLovePDF keep my files?
Their terms say files are deleted automatically within two hours of processing on their servers. PDFinish's live tools do not upload your files at all.
Which has more tools?
iLovePDF, by a wide margin. PDFinish focuses on a smaller set done well and is adding Office conversions later. OCR for English text is already there.
Can I try PDFinish without an account?
Yes. You get 2 free tasks a day without an account and 10 with a free email account.
Sources
Facts about iLovePDF are as of October 2026, read from the pages below. Prices and plans change, so check the official page before you buy.
- ilovepdf.com/pricing (checked 2026-10-23)
- ilovepdf.com/help/terms (checked 2026-10-23)
PDFinish is an independent product and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by iLovePDF. Product names belong to their owners and are used here only to describe a comparison.