MergeCraft vs iLovePDF: which PDF merger should you use in 2026?
TL;DR
If you need to merge or split a PDF once a month and don't mind uploading the file to a third-party server, iLovePDF is the established default and works fine. If your file is confidential, you need it done frequently, or you don't want to create yet another account, MergeCraft processes the file entirely in your browser and stays out of your way.
The single technical difference that drives almost everything else: iLovePDF uploads your file to its servers; MergeCraft does not.
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | MergeCraft | iLovePDF |
|---|---|---|
| Where files are processed | Your browser only (Web Workers + WebAssembly) | iLovePDF's servers |
| Files uploaded to a server | No | Yes |
| Account / sign-up required | No | Required for many features beyond the free quota |
| Free file limit per day | None | Limited tasks per day on the free tier |
| File size limit (free) | Limited only by your browser memory | ~100 MB on the free tier |
| Watermark on output | None | None on basic merge; added on some advanced features |
| Works offline | Yes (installable PWA) | No — server-side |
| Inputs supported | PDF + JPG + PNG + WebP in the same merge | PDF (images need a conversion step) |
| Merge, split, extract, compress, rotate in one tab | Yes | Separate pages per tool |
| Price | Free, no paid tier | Free tier + Premium (~$7/month) |
| OCR | Not yet | Yes (paid) |
| Edit PDF text | Not yet | Yes (paid) |
How to read this table: MergeCraft wins on privacy, friction, and free-tier limits. iLovePDF wins on advanced editing features (OCR, text editing, e-signature) that require server-side compute.
When to choose MergeCraft
- The PDF contains sensitive information — contracts, medical records, financial documents, client work, internal HR.
- You are on a corporate or school network where uploading files to unknown SaaS may be blocked or against policy.
- You merge or split PDFs frequently and don't want to hit a daily cap or sign up.
- You want one tool that does merge + split + compress + extract + rotate in the same tab, without switching pages.
- You are on a flight or weak Wi-Fi and need it to work offline (MergeCraft works as an installed PWA).
- You don't want to add another SaaS account to your life.
When to choose iLovePDF
- You need OCR (extract searchable text from a scan).
- You need to edit text inside a PDF, sign a PDF electronically, or password-protect it server-side.
- You're processing PDFs as part of a larger workflow that iLovePDF already integrates with (Google Drive, Dropbox, Word).
- The file is small, non-sensitive, and you only need it done once.
Privacy in detail — what "client-side" actually means
iLovePDF's privacy policy states that uploaded files are stored on its servers for a limited time (typically a few hours) and then deleted. That is a normal and reasonable policy for a server-side service, but it still means:
- The file leaves your computer.
- It is in transit on the public internet (TLS-protected, but still in transit).
- It sits on a server you do not control for some period of time.
- It is, in principle, accessible to staff, subpoena, or any compromise of the service.
MergeCraft's design removes all four steps. Your file is opened by your browser, manipulated in JavaScript and WebAssembly running on your device, and saved by your browser. There is no network request that contains the file's bytes. You can verify this yourself: open browser DevTools → Network tab while you merge a file — you will see zero upload traffic.
This is what "client-side" means in practical terms: the difference between a tool you trust and a tool you don't need to trust. Read more about why client-side processing matters.
Speed and file-size limits
Server-side tools like iLovePDF are bounded by their server tier (free ≈ 100 MB) and by upload bandwidth — for a large PDF on home Wi-Fi, the upload itself can take longer than the actual processing.
Client-side tools are bounded by your device's memory. On a modern laptop with 16 GB RAM you can comfortably merge PDFs into the hundreds of megabytes. On older hardware, very large PDFs may slow the browser; in that case use the compress tool first to bring the size down before merging.
For typical workflows (10–50 page documents) MergeCraft is noticeably faster end-to-end because there is no upload + queue + download round-trip.
Pricing
MergeCraft: $0, no paid tier, no upgrade prompts, no email collection.
iLovePDF: free tier with daily limits and a ~100 MB file cap. Premium starts at around $7/month (annual pricing) and unlocks larger files, OCR, batch processing, and PDF editing.
If you only need merge / split / compress / extract / rotate, MergeCraft's free is permanent and unlimited. If you need OCR or PDF editing, iLovePDF Premium is a cheaper path than buying Adobe Acrobat.
Common questions
Is iLovePDF safe?
For most use cases, yes — it is an established company with a normal privacy policy. The question is whether you want to send the file at all. For non-sensitive files, iLovePDF is fine. For confidential files, MergeCraft removes the question by not sending the file anywhere.
Is MergeCraft a fork or clone of iLovePDF?
No. MergeCraft is an independent project built around browser-native PDF processing libraries. It does not share code with iLovePDF.
Can I batch-merge many PDFs in MergeCraft?
Yes. Drop as many files as you like into the same session, drag to reorder, and export once. There is no daily task limit.
Does MergeCraft work on iPhone or iPad?
Yes — Safari on iOS supports all the APIs it uses. You can also install it as a PWA from the share sheet.
Verdict
If the privacy and friction model matters to you — and for most professional workflows it should — MergeCraft is the cleaner default and remains free without limits. iLovePDF stays valuable when you need OCR or PDF editing, both of which require server-side compute.
Most users land on MergeCraft for the privacy and stay because the five-tools-in-one-tab workflow is faster.
Also see: MergeCraft vs Smallpdf · MergeCraft vs Adobe Acrobat online · MergeCraft vs Sejda · MergeCraft vs PDF24