PDF24
German PDF toolkit that is completely free with no page limits, including a Windows desktop version that works entirely offline
Quick Overview
| Company | Geek Software GmbH |
|---|---|
| Category | PDF Tools |
| Headquarters | Berlin, Germany |
| Founded | 2009 |
| EU Presence | Yes - Germany (EU) |
| Data Location | Germany (online) or entirely local (desktop) |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | Desktop version runs fully offline |
| Main Features | 30+ PDF tools, offline Windows desktop app, OCR, compress, convert, merge, split, sign, PDF printer, no page limits |
| Pricing | Completely free for both web and desktop |
| Best For | Anyone wanting full PDF capability at no cost, especially offline |
| Replaces | Adobe Acrobat, Smallpdf, iLovePDF |
Detailed Review
PDF24 is free. Not free-with-limits or free-for-two-operations-a-day — free, with no page caps, from a German company in Berlin that funds it through advertising on the website. That alone makes it the best value in this category.
The more important part is the Windows desktop application, which does everything locally. No upload, no account, no retention policy to evaluate, and it works without an internet connection.
The Offline Desktop App
The Windows application covers merge, split, compress, convert, OCR, sign, protect and more, processing everything on your machine. It also installs a virtual PDF printer, so anything printable becomes a PDF from any application.
For confidential documents this is the correct answer: the file never leaves the computer, so there is no processor, no upload and nothing to trust. That it costs nothing is remarkable.
The Web Tools
The online version offers the same toolkit for occasional use on any machine, hosted in Germany with files deleted after processing. It is ad-supported, which is the trade for the absence of limits.
No Account Required
Neither version requires registration. For an organisation deploying a PDF tool to staff, not having to manage accounts or licences is a practical simplification, and the desktop app can be rolled out through normal software distribution.
Limitations to Consider
The desktop application is Windows-only, so Mac and Linux users are limited to the web version or need Stirling PDF. The interface is dated and cluttered compared with Smallpdf, and the website carries advertising. In-PDF text editing is basic, and there is no team or enterprise management layer.
Who Should Use PDF24
Anyone who needs PDF tools without paying, particularly Windows users handling confidential documents who want everything processed locally. It is also a sensible default deployment for staff who occasionally need PDF operations.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Completely free with no page limits
- Windows desktop app works fully offline
- No account or registration needed
- Includes a virtual PDF printer
- German company, German hosting
Cons
- Desktop app is Windows only
- Dated, cluttered interface
- Website is ad-supported
Alternatives to PDF24
Other European pdf tools worth comparing before you decide:
Smallpdf
Switzerland · 21 PDF tools in one Swiss-hosted workspace
iLovePDF
Spain · Merge, split, compress and sign PDFs in the browser
Stirling PDF
United Kingdom · Self-hosted PDF suite that runs entirely on your own server
OnlyOffice
Latvia · Office suite with a full PDF editor and form filling
See all European pdf tools or compare them directly against Adobe Acrobat on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, both the web tools and the Windows desktop application, with no page or usage limits. The website is funded by advertising; the desktop app is simply free.
No. The Windows application processes everything locally without an internet connection, which makes it the right choice for confidential documents.
No, the desktop application is Windows only. Mac and Linux users can use the web tools, or self-host Stirling PDF for fully local processing.
A dated interface and advertising on the website. The functionality is genuinely unrestricted, which is unusual enough that people assume there must be a limit somewhere.