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Thryve PDF compared with the online PDF services
The difference that matters most is where your file goes. iLovePDF, Smallpdf and PDF24 upload it to their servers, work on it there and delete it later. Thryve PDF does the work inside your browser tab, so the file never leaves your device. The rest is below, from each vendor’s own pages.
- Thryve PDF vs iLovePDFOnline PDF toolkit with mobile and desktop appsFree with ads and per-tool limits; Premium ₹2,900 a year or ₹500 a monthRead the comparison
- Thryve PDF vs SmallpdfOnline PDF toolkit with Windows and mobile appsFree with a daily download limit; Pro ₹8,799 a year or ₹979 a monthRead the comparison
- Thryve PDF vs PDF24 ToolsFree, ad-funded online PDF toolkit with a Windows desktop appFree, funded by advertising; no paid plan publishedRead the comparison
Side by side
| Checked on 17 October 2026 | Thryve PDF | iLovePDF | Smallpdf | PDF24 Tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Files processed on your own device, no upload | YesEvery tool runs in the browser tab | NoProcessed on iLovePDF’s servers | NoProcessed on servers in the EU | NoProcessed on servers in the EU |
| Uploaded files deleted afterwards | YesNever uploaded, so nothing to keep | PartlyDeleted within two hours; signed documents kept longer | PartlyTool pages say one hour; the privacy notice says a “reasonable period” without an account | YesUsually deleted one hour after upload |
| Account needed for free use | NoNo account for the free allowance | NoUnregistered free use allowed | NoNo sign-up for the free tasks | NoNo registration |
| Free limits | Yes10 exports per tool per 30 days; files up to 500 MB | PartlyPer-tool caps, e.g. Merge 25 files or 100 MB, Compress 2 files | PartlyDaily download limit per tool; help says up to 2 a day | YesNo published size, page or task limits |
| Paid plan | YesThryve Pro $9.99 once, every Thryve web app | Yes₹2,900 a year or ₹500 a month | Yes₹8,799 a year or ₹979 a month, 7-day trial | Not listedNo paid plan |
| Ads on the free tier | NoNo ads | YesAd-free is a Premium feature | Partly“Zero ads” is listed as a Pro benefit | YesFunded by advertising on the pages |
| Merge, split and organise pages | YesMerge, Split, Organize, Remove and Extract pages | Yes | YesWithin the daily limit | Yes |
| Compress PDF with quality levels | YesLight, Balanced and Max | YesExtreme, Recommended, Less | PartlyBasic free; Moderate and Strong are Pro | YesDPI, image quality, greyscale, lossless |
| OCR: make a scanned PDF searchable | YesEnglish, on the device | Yes | PartlyOCR tool free within the limit; OCR inside conversions is Pro | YesMany languages, including Hindi |
| Word, Excel and PowerPoint to PDF and back | YesBoth directions, on the device | Yes | YesWithin the daily limit | Yes |
| Sign PDF: draw, type or upload a signature | YesDraw, type or upload | PartlyDraw or upload; certificate signing is Premium | YesDraw, type or upload; several signatures is Pro | PartlyDraw, upload or photograph; no typed signature listed |
| Redact: permanently remove text | YesPages flattened on export; finds Aadhaar, PAN, cards | PartlyListed; the page does not say removal is permanent | Yes“Permanent and irreversible” | YesPages rasterised on save |
| Compare two PDFs | Yes | Yes | Not listed | Yes |
| Password protect and unlock | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Watermark and page numbers | YesText or image watermark | Yes | PartlyText watermark only | PartlyText watermark only |
| Works in a phone browser | YesChrome and Safari on Android and iPhone | YesBrowser and iOS/Android apps | YesBrowser and iOS/Android apps, daily task limit | YesBrowser; can be added to the home screen |
| Works offline once the page has loaded | YesOnce a tool has loaded; OCR and Office fetch their engine on first use | PartlyPaid desktop app for Windows and Mac | PartlyWindows desktop app, included with Pro | PartlyFree PDF24 Creator desktop app, Windows only |
Written by the makers of Thryve PDF. Every fact about iLovePDF, Smallpdf and PDF24 Tools comes from its own published pages, checked on 17 October 2026; “Not listed” means the vendor does not advertise it, not that it is missing. Sources are linked below. Prices are as shown from India on that date and may change.