Key facts
- Where files are processed: TotPDF: on your device. iLovePDF and Smallpdf: on their servers
- After processing: TotPDF: nothing is stored because nothing is uploaded. iLovePDF: files deleted within 2 hours. Smallpdf: files deleted after 1 hour for most tasks
- Account: TotPDF: none needed
- Daily limit: TotPDF: none
- Not in TotPDF: OCR and conversion to Word or Excel
The short answer
Pick TotPDF when the document is private and you only need a standard PDF job: merge, split, compress, rotate, number pages, watermark, protect, unlock, sign, edit or convert to images. Nothing is uploaded, so there is no server copy to worry about.
Pick a server-based service such as iLovePDF or Smallpdf when you need OCR or conversion between PDF and Word, Excel or PowerPoint, which TotPDF does not do.
What the other services say about your files
iLovePDF says it automatically deletes files from your content within two hours of processing them on its servers (iLovePDF terms, www.ilovepdf.com/help/terms). Smallpdf says it deletes documents from its servers after one hour of processing for most tasks (Smallpdf blog, smallpdf.com/blog/how-to-separate-pdf-pages). Both policies were read in October 2026 and can change, so check the current terms.
That means the file does travel to a server first. With TotPDF it does not: the work happens in your browser and the file is not sent anywhere.
Where TotPDF is the better fit
You do not need an account, a daily quota or a payment plan. You can process one file after another without a limit per day, up to 150 MB per file. The tools are in Catalan, Spanish and English, and the site has no analytics, ads or trackers.
Compress PDF keeps the text selectable at Balanced and Strong levels. Edit PDF lets you draw, highlight, add text and fill in forms. Sign PDF places a drawn or photographed signature.
Where the others are the better fit
TotPDF has no OCR, so it cannot make a scanned PDF searchable. It does not convert PDF to Word, Excel or PowerPoint, and Edit PDF does not rewrite the existing text of a document. Sign PDF adds an image of a signature, not a certificate-based digital signature.
Very large files depend on the memory of your device, because everything runs locally.
FAQ
Is TotPDF an alternative to iLovePDF?
Yes for everyday PDF jobs such as merging, splitting, compressing, rotating, signing and editing. It is not a replacement when you need OCR or conversion to Word or Excel.
Is TotPDF more private than iLovePDF or Smallpdf?
TotPDF does not upload your file, because it processes it in your browser. iLovePDF and Smallpdf send it to their servers and delete it after a stated time.
Does TotPDF have a daily limit like other free PDF tools?
No. There is no daily limit, no account and no payment plan. Each file can be up to 150 MB.
Can TotPDF compress a PDF like iLovePDF?
Yes. Compress PDF has three levels, and Balanced and Strong keep the text selectable.