doPDF
Romanian virtual PDF printer that has stayed free since 1999, with a $14.99 Premium option
Quick Overview
| Company | S.C. Softland S.R.L. |
|---|---|
| Category | PDF Tools |
| Headquarters | Cluj-Napoca, Romania |
| Founded | 1999 |
| EU Presence | EU (Romania) |
| Open Source | No |
| Pricing | Free, no time limit; doPDF Premium a one-time $14.99 payment removes ads and adds password protection |
| Free Option | Free version has no time limit |
| Replaces | Adobe Acrobat, CutePDF, Bullzip PDF Printer |
Detailed Review
doPDF does one thing: it installs as a printer so that any Windows application can "print" a PDF instead of paper, converting hidden hyperlinks and bookmarks from Office documents in the process. It has been free since S.C. Softland S.R.L. released it in 1999, with no time limit, no page count restriction and no forced upgrade — a rarer combination in this category than the free tiers of Smallpdf or iLovePDF, which cap usage by design.
The honest comparison is with PDFCreator, the other virtual-printer tool added to this category alongside it: PDFCreator wraps the same trick in automation profiles, scripting and a Terminal Server edition for IT departments, while doPDF stays deliberately simple — install it, print to it, done. That makes doPDF the better fit for a single user who wants a PDF printer and nothing else, and PDFCreator the better fit for a business that wants to automate the same job at scale.
S.C. Softland S.R.L. is registered in Cluj-Napoca, Romania (J12/1244/1999), and also publishes novaPDF for buyers who need a print server. doPDF Premium removes the installer's ads and adds password protection for a one-time $14.99, which is priced in dollars rather than euros on the vendor's own order page. There is no OCR, no merging, no editing and no mobile app — for anything beyond turning a document into a PDF, look elsewhere in this category.
What doPDF does well
- Completely free, no time limit, since 1999
- Converts Office hyperlinks and bookmarks correctly
- Tiny, simple installer with no learning curve
- Premium removes ads for a one-time $14.99
- Romanian company operating for over two decades
Where doPDF falls short
- Windows only, a printer driver rather than an app
- No editing, merging, OCR or mobile version
- Free version carries ads
- Pricing shown in dollars, not euros
Standout feature. A PDF printer that has stayed free with no time limit since 1999 — no account, no cap, no catch.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Completely free, no time limit, since 1999
- Converts Office hyperlinks and bookmarks correctly
- Tiny, simple installer with no learning curve
- Premium removes ads for a one-time $14.99
- Romanian company operating for over two decades
Cons
- Windows only, a printer driver rather than an app
- No editing, merging, OCR or mobile version
- Free version carries ads
- Pricing shown in dollars, not euros
Alternatives to doPDF
Frequently Asked Questions
What is doPDF?
doPDF does one thing: it installs as a printer so that any Windows application can "print" a PDF instead of paper, converting hidden hyperlinks and bookmarks from Office documents in the process. It has been free since S.C. Softland S.R.L. released it in 1999, with no time limit, no page count restriction and no forced upgrade — a rarer combination in this category than the free tiers of Smallpdf or iLovePDF, which cap usage by design.
Where is doPDF based?
doPDF operates from Cluj-Napoca, Romania, which places it under EU (Romania).
What does doPDF cost?
Free, no time limit; doPDF Premium a one-time $14.99 payment removes ads and adds password protection. Free version has no time limit.
Who is doPDF best for?
A free, no-frills PDF printer for occasional use. A PDF printer that has stayed free with no time limit since 1999 — no account, no cap, no catch.
What are the drawbacks of doPDF?
Windows only, a printer driver rather than an app. No editing, merging, OCR or mobile version. Free version carries ads. Pricing shown in dollars, not euros.