Is MergeCraft free to use?

Yes. MergeCraft is completely free. There is no sign-up, no paywall, no usage limit, no watermark on output files, and no premium tier.

Does MergeCraft upload my PDFs to a server?

No. MergeCraft processes everything entirely inside your browser using Web Workers and WebAssembly. Your files never leave your device, are never uploaded to a server, and are never seen by MergeCraft or any third party. Closing the tab clears the workspace.

How is MergeCraft different from iLovePDF, Smallpdf, or Adobe Acrobat online?

iLovePDF, Smallpdf and Adobe Acrobat online upload your files to their servers for processing. MergeCraft does not — it runs entirely in your browser, so files never leave your device. MergeCraft is also free with no sign-up, no daily file limit, and no watermark, which is the typical free-tier limitation on those services.

Can I merge PDFs and images together into one PDF?

Yes. MergeCraft accepts PDF, JPG, PNG, and WebP files in the same merge session. You can drag-and-drop them in any order, rotate or reorder pages, and export a single combined PDF.

Is there a file size limit?

Because MergeCraft runs locally, the only limit is the memory available in your browser. Most modern laptops can comfortably merge hundreds of pages. There is no artificial server-side cap or daily quota.

Is MergeCraft safe for confidential or GDPR / HIPAA-sensitive documents?

MergeCraft is designed for confidential documents. Because files are never uploaded, there is no data transfer, no server storage, and no log of file contents. This makes it well-suited for legal packets, medical records, contracts, and other sensitive material. Users should still verify compliance requirements for their specific use case.

What file formats does MergeCraft support?

Inputs: PDF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, WebP. Outputs: PDF (merge / split / compress) and PNG or JPEG with adjustable DPI (extract). ZIP bundles are available when exporting many images at once.

What is the best free privacy-first alternative to iLovePDF or Smallpdf?

MergeCraft is a free, browser-based alternative to iLovePDF and Smallpdf that processes files entirely on your device. Unlike those services, MergeCraft requires no upload, no account, and adds no watermark, while supporting merge, extract, compress, and split workflows.

Does MergeCraft require sign-up or installation?

No. MergeCraft works in any modern browser without an account, without an email address, and without installing software. It can optionally be installed as a PWA for offline use.

MergeCraft vs PDF24: which free PDF tool should you use in 2026?

TL;DR

This is the rare comparison where both tools are genuinely free with no paid tier. PDF24 (from Germany's Geek Software GmbH) is a deservedly popular suite of 30+ tools. The dividing line is platform: PDF24's local, offline processing lives in its Windows-only desktop app. Everyone else — macOS, Linux, phones — gets the web tools, which upload files to PDF24's EU servers.

MergeCraft does its processing inside the browser itself, so every platform gets local, no-upload handling with nothing to install.

Feature-by-feature comparison

Feature	MergeCraft	PDF24
Price	Free, no paid tier	Free, no paid tier
Where web tools process files	Your browser only (Web Workers + WebAssembly)	PDF24's servers in the EU (deleted after ~1 hour)
Local / offline processing	Yes — in the browser, any OS (installable PWA)	Yes — but only via the Windows-only desktop app
macOS / Linux / mobile users	Full local processing, nothing to install	Must use the web tools (upload to servers)
Account / sign-up required	No	No
Watermark on output	None	None
Inputs supported	PDF + JPG + PNG + WebP in the same merge	PDF and images via separate converters
Merge, split, extract, compress, rotate in one tab	Yes	Separate pages per tool
Tool breadth	5 focused tools	30+ tools incl. OCR and virtual PDF printer (desktop)
Company	Independent web project	Geek Software GmbH (Germany), ad-supported

How to read this table: on a Windows desktop, PDF24 Creator is a legitimate free powerhouse. Everywhere else, MergeCraft is the only one of the two that keeps files on your device.

The platform gap

PDF24's privacy story is really two stories. Install PDF24 Creator on Windows and everything runs locally — excellent. But there is no Creator for macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, iOS, or Android. On those platforms PDF24 means tools.pdf24.org, where your file is uploaded, processed on EU servers, and deleted after about an hour. A fair policy — but a fundamentally different privacy model than never uploading at all.

MergeCraft closes that gap with browser-native processing: Web Workers and WebAssembly do the work on your machine, whether that machine is a MacBook, a Linux workstation, or a phone. Install it as a PWA and it works offline, just like a desktop app. More on why client-side matters.

When to choose MergeCraft

You're on macOS, Linux, or mobile and want local processing without a Windows PC.
You can't install software (locked-down corporate machine, shared computer, kiosk).
The document is confidential and shouldn't be uploaded anywhere, even to EU servers with a deletion policy.
You want the everyday five — merge, split, compress, extract, rotate — in one tab with zero setup.

When to choose PDF24

You're on Windows and can install PDF24 Creator — its 30+ offline tools are hard to beat for free.
You need OCR or a virtual PDF printer (print-to-PDF from any application).
You need less common operations like overlay, N-up imposition, or PDF/A conversion.

Common questions

Isn't PDF24 also free and private?

PDF24 is genuinely free, and its Windows desktop app (PDF24 Creator) processes files locally. The catch is platform: on macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, or any phone, there is no desktop app — you're routed to the web tools, which upload your file to PDF24's servers (EU-hosted, deleted after about an hour). MergeCraft processes locally in the browser on every platform.

Is uploading to PDF24's EU servers a real problem?

For most files, no — PDF24 has a reasonable policy. But an upload is still an upload: the file leaves your device and briefly sits on infrastructure you don't control. For confidential documents, or on restricted networks, a tool that never uploads removes the question entirely.

When is PDF24 Creator the better choice?

On a Windows PC where you can install software, PDF24 Creator is excellent: 30+ tools including OCR, a virtual PDF printer, and full offline processing — all free. If that describes your setup and needs, use it.

Does MergeCraft work offline like PDF24 Creator?

Yes. MergeCraft is an installable PWA — open it once, install from the browser, and it works offline afterwards on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android alike.

Verdict

PDF24 and MergeCraft aren't enemies — they're the two honest free options in a market full of daily limits and upsells. The decision is simple: Windows desktop with install rights → PDF24 Creator is great. Anything else → MergeCraft is the one that keeps your files local.

Also see: MergeCraft vs iLovePDF · MergeCraft vs Smallpdf · MergeCraft vs Sejda