PrivaPDF vs PDF24: Privacy, Features & Price Compared (2026)
PDF24 is one of the most feature-complete free PDF tools available. But 'free' and 'private' are not the same thing. This comparison covers what PDF24 does with your files, how PrivaPDF differs architecturally, and which tool is right for your use case.
How PDF24 and PrivaPDF handle your files differently
PDF24 offers two modes of use: a web app (PDF24 Tools) and a free desktop app (PDF24 Creator for Windows). They handle privacy differently:
- PDF24 Tools (web) uploads your file to PDF24's servers for processing. Files are deleted automatically after processing, but the upload still occurs — your document travels to a remote data centre.
- PDF24 Creator (desktop) processes files locally on your machine. This is a good option, but requires a Windows installation.
- PrivaPDF processes everything in your browser using WebAssembly. No installation, no upload. Works on any operating system, including macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
PDF24 offers a genuinely private option — its desktop app. PrivaPDF offers the same privacy guarantee without any installation, on any platform, directly in your browser.
Which is better for sensitive documents?
If you use the PDF24 web tool, your files pass through their servers. If you use the PDF24 desktop app, they do not — but the app is Windows-only and requires installation.
PrivaPDF gives you the same on-device privacy as the PDF24 desktop app, but works in any browser on any device. There is nothing to install, no OS restriction, and no upload under any circumstances.
Feature comparison
| Feature | PrivaPDF | PDF24 (web) |
|---|---|---|
| Processing location | 100% client-side (browser) | Cloud servers |
| File uploaded | Never | Yes |
| File retention | N/A (never stored) | Deleted after processing |
| Offline capable | Yes (PWA) | No |
| Cross-platform | Yes — any OS, any browser | Yes (web) / Windows only (desktop) |
| Free tier | Yes, 5 tasks/day | Yes, unlimited (web) |
| Paid plan | $9/month | Free (web), one-time fee (desktop Pro) |
| PDF to Word | Yes | Yes |
| PDF to Excel | Yes | Yes |
| Compress PDF | Yes | Yes |
| Merge PDF | Yes | Yes |
| E-sign PDF | Yes | Yes |
| OCR | Pro/Business | Yes (desktop Pro) |
| Number of tools | ~10 | 45+ |
The tool count gap
PDF24 offers more than 45 tools in its web suite — far more than PrivaPDF's current scope. If you need niche operations like Repair PDF, PDF/A conversion, or PDF comparison, PDF24 covers them.
PrivaPDF focuses on the PDF tasks most people need most often: convert, compress, merge, split, sign, and password-protect. These cover the overwhelming majority of everyday PDF workflows without requiring a file upload.
PDF24 Creator vs PrivaPDF for privacy
PDF24's desktop Creator app is a legitimate privacy-first option for Windows users. It processes files locally without any server interaction. The trade-off is installation friction and OS lock-in.
PrivaPDF achieves the same privacy guarantee in a browser tab. Open the page, convert the file, close the tab. No install, no update cycles, no OS requirement.
Can you verify PrivaPDF doesn't upload your file?
- Open PrivaPDF in Chrome or Firefox.
- Press F12 → Network tab → clear the log.
- Drop in a file and convert it.
- Filter by XHR/Fetch. Zero outbound file-data requests.
When should you choose PDF24 instead?
PDF24 is the right choice when you need tools beyond PrivaPDF's current scope — Repair PDF, PDF/A, comparison, niche format conversions — and you are not working with sensitive documents that require on-device processing.
If you need the widest possible free toolset for non-sensitive documents, PDF24 is hard to beat. If your files contain confidential information, choose a tool — PrivaPDF or PDF24 Creator — that never uploads them.
The bottom line
PDF24 is one of the most complete free PDF suites available. Its web tool uploads files; its desktop app does not. PrivaPDF provides the same on-device privacy as the desktop app in any browser on any platform, with no installation required. For sensitive documents without the need for niche tools, PrivaPDF is the more accessible private option.