What iLovePDF is good at
iLovePDF launched in 2013 as a single tool — merging PDFs — and grew into a suite. It’s the default answer a lot of people give when someone asks how to “do something with a PDF” online. The site handles very large files gracefully, the interface is straightforward, and there’s a desktop app for heavy users.
For a one-time task with a non-sensitive document, iLovePDF is fine. For documents with names, addresses, financial figures, or anything that identifies a person, the trade-off is privacy.
How ToolConvoy differs
The key difference is where the work happens. With iLovePDF, your file uploads to their server, processes there, and only then comes back. With ToolConvoy, the conversion happens in your browser, using JavaScript and WebAssembly. The file never leaves the tab.
For the same conversions — merge, split, compress, convert — ToolConvoy does the work without the round trip and without the privacy exposure. The cost is no server-side OCR, no cloud account sync, and slightly slower for huge files because your device does the work.
Feature comparison
| Capability | iLovePDF | ToolConvoy |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy model | Uploaded to server | Browser-only, no upload |
| Account required | No (free tier) / Yes (paid) | No |
| Daily limits | Yes (free tier) | No |
| Server-side OCR | Yes | No (browser-only) |
| File size cap | Generous paid tier | Whatever fits in your tab |
| Desktop app | Yes | No (browser is the app) |
| Mobile app | Yes | No (browser is the app) |
| Sign / fill forms | Yes | No |
| Languages | 25+ | English, Chinese, Japanese |
When iLovePDF is still the right answer
- You need server-side OCR for a scanned PDF.
- You want a desktop or mobile app for offline file processing.
- You need to fill form fields and apply electronic signatures.
- You’re processing 1000-page documents and want the server CPU.
When ToolConvoy is the right answer
- Privacy is the priority — tax forms, contracts, medical records, school transcripts, family photos.
- You don’t want to register an account.
- You process many small files in a session.
- You’re on a network where outbound uploads are blocked or monitored.
- You want the file to be gone the moment you close the tab — no server means nothing to forget.
Bottom line
For privacy-sensitive or anything-you’d-rather-not-upload material, ToolConvoy handles the same conversions in your browser. For server-side OCR or e-signatures, iLovePDF remains a useful tool.