PDF24 is a generous free PDF toolkit with a huge range of features and a desktop app. Privatool offers a focused set of PDF tools that all run client-side in your browser. Both are free — the real difference is where your documents are processed.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Privatool | PDF24 |
|---|---|---|
| Merge / split / compress PDF | ✅ Client-side | ⚠️ Server-side (web) |
| Rotate / delete / reorder pages | ✅ Client-side | ⚠️ Server-side (web) |
| PDF to image | ✅ Client-side | ✅ |
| OCR / PDF-to-Word | ❌ | ✅ Server-side |
| Files uploaded to server (web) | ❌ Never | ✅ Yes |
| Fully offline option | ✅ In-browser | ✅ Desktop app only |
| Account required | ❌ Never | ❌ |
| Price | Free | Free |
The web vs. desktop distinction
PDF24 is genuinely private if you install their Windows desktop application, which processes files locally. But the popular web version (tools.pdf24.org) uploads your PDF to their servers like any other online tool.
Privatool gives you that local-processing privacy on the web, with nothing to install. Open the page, drop in your PDF, and every operation happens in the browser tab. It works the same on macOS, Linux, Chromebooks, and phones — no desktop download required.
When to choose PDF24
- You need OCR or PDF-to-Word/Excel conversion (Privatool doesn't do these)
- You're on Windows and happy to install the desktop app for local processing
- You want the widest possible feature list in one place
When to choose Privatool
- You want local, on-device privacy without installing anything
- You're not on Windows (Mac/Linux/Chromebook/mobile)
- Your PDFs contain sensitive or confidential information
- You need the tool to work offline straight from the browser
Bottom line
PDF24 is excellent, but its privacy depends on using the desktop app. Privatool delivers the same client-side privacy through any modern browser, with no install — ideal for sensitive documents on any device.