Head-to-head · PDF Editors
iLovePDF vs PDFgear
iLovePDF leads on 0 checks, PDFgear on 0, and 6 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreiLovePDF · 9.2/10
- Free planboth
iLovePDF scores higher on our rubric for pdf editors: 9.2 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #9.
iLovePDF is the better fit for accessible PDF work across devices. PDFgear is the better fit for free, full-platform PDF editing.
- iLovePDF fits best
Accessible PDF work across devices
- PDFgear fits best
Free, full-platform PDF editing
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Side by side
| Feature | iLovePDF 9.2/10 Visit ↗ | PDFgear 8.6/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.2 | 8.6 |
| Ranking | #2 in PDF Editors | #9 in PDF Editors |
| Best for | Accessible PDF work across devices | Free, full-platform PDF editing |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Free |
| Starting price | — | Free |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Cloud, Desktop, Mobile | Cloud, Desktop, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Support | Email, Docs | Email, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features iLovePDF 5/5 · PDFgear 5/5 | ||
| Text editing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Annotation tools | ✓ | ✓ |
| OCR | ✓ | ✓ |
| PDF conversion | ✓ | ✓ |
| Form creation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Supported platforms | web, windows, macos, ios, android | web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | iLovePDF is a PDF productivity service for individuals, professionals, and businesses that need to edit, annotate, convert, organize, sign, protect, and compare documents. Its toolkit includes adding text, shapes, comments, and highlights;… Read the review → |
PDFgear is a free PDF software suite for individuals, educators, and businesses that need more than basic viewing or annotation. It covers editing existing PDF text and images, adding highlights, notes, comments, stamps, shapes, and… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
iLovePDF — where it wins
- OCR, form creation, annotations, conversion, and PDF security tools
- Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android applications
- Desktop app supports local and offline document processing
Where it doesn't
- Free access includes limited document processing
- Existing PDF text editing is not explicitly confirmed
- Business features are oriented toward organizational buyers
PDFgear — where it wins
- Free access to editing, OCR, conversion, forms, signatures, and AI tools
- Supports Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, web browsers, and Linux
- Includes batch conversion and page organization tools
Where it doesn't
- Direct replacement of existing PDF text is limited to desktop software
- ChatGPT is the listed integration
- No paid tier adds premium features or expanded capabilities
- iLovePDF9.2/10 · Free plan
A broad PDF toolkit with free access, offline desktop processing, and cross-device apps.
Visit iLovePDFFull verdict → - PDFgear8.6/10 · Free plan
A broad free PDF suite for editing, conversion, OCR, forms, and document analysis.
Visit PDFgearFull verdict →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update






