BentoPDF vs PDF24: a PDF24 alternative that doesn't upload your files
If you're looking for a PDF24 alternative, the biggest difference with BentoPDF is where your file goes.
PDF24's online tools upload your PDF and process it on PDF24's servers. BentoPDF processes it in your browser, on your own device. Both are free, and neither needs an account.
I build BentoPDF, so keep that in mind. Whenever I say what PDF24 does, I've linked to PDF24's own pages so you can check.
Why people look for a PDF24 alternative
PDF24 is a good, free tool. People usually look elsewhere for one of these reasons:
- Your file gets uploaded. PDF24's FAQ says its online tools process files on its servers, which are in EU data centers.
- The offline version is Windows only. PDF24 Creator keeps files on your PC, but the FAQ says "Users of other operating systems should continue to use PDF24 Tools." On a Mac, Linux machine or Chromebook, that means uploading.
- It's paid for with ads. PDF24's own homepage says the free tools are financed by advertising on its pages.
- It isn't open source. You can't check the code or run PDF24's online tools on your own server.
BentoPDF vs PDF24: side by side
Here's how BentoPDF compares with PDF24's online tools:
| Feature | PDF24 online tools | BentoPDF |
|---|---|---|
| Where your file is processed | Uploaded to PDF24's servers | In your browser, never uploaded |
| What happens to your files | Deleted from the server after one hour | Never uploaded in the first place |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Account needed | No | No |
| How it's paid for | Advertising on its pages | Commercial licenses |
| Works offline | Only with PDF24 Creator, on Windows | Yes, in your browser, once a tool has loaded |
| No-upload use on Mac, Linux or Chromebook | No | Yes |
| Open source | No | Yes, AGPL |
| Run it on your own server | No | Yes, with Docker or as static files |
| Workflow automation | No | Yes, the free Workflow Builder |
PDF24's details come from its FAQ and its Merge PDF page, which says "Files are automatically deleted from the PDF24 server after one hour."
Your files never leave your device
One hour on a server in the EU is a decent policy. But "we delete your file after an hour" is still a weaker promise than "we never get your file."
BentoPDF's tools run in your browser using WebAssembly, so your PDF doesn't go anywhere. You can check this yourself:
- Open your browser's developer tools and go to the Network tab.
- Process a file in BentoPDF.
- Watch the requests. Your PDF isn't in them.
Or load a tool, turn off Wi-Fi, and use it anyway. That works on a Mac, a Linux laptop or a Chromebook, not only on Windows.
BentoPDF tools for the PDF24 tools you use
Switching is easy. These are the BentoPDF versions of PDF24's most used tools:
| PDF24 tool | BentoPDF tool |
|---|---|
| Merge PDF | Merge PDF |
| Split PDF | Split PDF |
| Compress PDF | Compress PDF |
| Edit PDF and Annotate PDF | Edit PDF |
| Sign PDF | Sign PDF |
| PDF to Word | PDF to Word |
| Word to PDF | Word to PDF |
| PDF to Excel | PDF to Excel |
| Excel to PDF | Excel to PDF |
| PowerPoint to PDF | PowerPoint to PDF |
| Images to PDF | Image to PDF |
| PDF to JPG | PDF to JPG |
| PDF to PNG | PDF to PNG |
| PDF OCR | OCR PDF |
| Rearrange PDF pages | Organize PDF |
| Remove PDF pages | Delete Pages |
| Extract PDF pages | Extract Pages |
| Rotate PDF pages | Rotate PDF |
| Crop PDF | Crop PDF |
| Add page numbers | Page Numbers |
| Add watermark | Add Watermark |
| PDF Overlay | Overlay PDF |
| Pages per sheet | N-Up PDF |
| Create booklet | PDF Booklet |
| Protect PDF | Protect PDF |
| Unlock PDF | Unlock PDF |
| Redact PDF | Edit PDF |
| Fill out PDF | PDF Form Filler |
| Make PDF fillable | Create PDF Form |
| Flatten PDF | Flatten PDF |
| Repair PDF | Repair PDF |
| PDF to PDF/A | PDF to PDF/A |
| Compare PDFs | Compare PDFs |
| Verify PDF signatures | Validate Signature |
| Remove PDF metadata | Remove Metadata |
| Web optimize PDF | Linearize PDF |
Free tools you won't find on PDF24
BentoPDF has over 100 tools. These ones aren't in PDF24's list of all tools:
- More file types to PDF: MOBI, FB2, CBZ comics, Apple Pages, Visio, XPS, Photoshop PSD, emails and CSV.
- Certificate signatures: Digital Signature signs with your own X.509 certificate, and Timestamp PDF adds a trusted timestamp.
- Legal and office work: Bates numbering and table extraction into CSV, JSON or Markdown.
- Scans: Deskew PDF straightens crooked pages, and Remove Blank Pages drops empty ones.
- Double-sided scans: Duplex Collate and Alternate Merge put fronts and backs back in page order.
- Privacy clean-up: Sanitize PDF strips scripts, metadata and other hidden content before you share a file.
- Attachments: add, edit or extract files embedded in a PDF.
- Automation: the Workflow Builder chains tools together, so you can run the same steps on every file.
BentoPDF for teams and companies
Because BentoPDF runs in the browser, you can host your own copy for your whole team. Run it inside your company network with Docker, and nobody has to send files to an outside website. It works the same on every computer, whatever operating system your staff use.
If you want to put your own branding on it, or build it into a closed-source product, there's a commercial license. That's also what pays for the project.
When PDF24 is the better pick
- You want a Windows desktop app. PDF24 Creator is free and works offline on Windows. BentoPDF runs in the browser.
- You need a tool BentoPDF doesn't have. PDF24 can convert PDF to PowerPoint, EPUB and HTML, and it has e-invoice and invoice tools. BentoPDF doesn't do those.
Is there a PDF24 alternative for Mac?
Yes. PDF24 Creator only runs on Windows, so on a Mac you'd be uploading files to PDF24's online tools. BentoPDF runs in Safari, Chrome or Firefox on a Mac, processes files on the Mac itself, and keeps working offline once a tool has loaded.
Is PDF24 safe to use?
PDF24 is a legitimate service run by Geek Software GmbH, a German company. Its FAQ says its processing servers are in EU data centers and that uploaded files are deleted after one hour. The thing to know is that your file is uploaded to those servers. If you'd rather a file never leaves your device, use a tool that works in your browser, like BentoPDF.
Is PDF24 really free?
Yes. PDF24's homepage says its tools are free without restrictions, paid for by advertising on its pages. BentoPDF is free too, and it's paid for by commercial licenses for companies.
Does PDF24 work offline?
Only PDF24 Creator, the Windows desktop app. The online tools need a connection because they process files on PDF24's servers. BentoPDF works offline in your browser once a tool has loaded, on any operating system.
Is there an open source alternative to PDF24?
Yes. BentoPDF is open source under the AGPL, and you can run your own copy.
Which one should you use?
If you're on Windows and want a desktop app, or you need PDF to PowerPoint or e-invoices, use PDF24.
For everything else, try BentoPDF. Your files stay on your device, on any computer.
If I've got something wrong about PDF24, open an issue. I'll fix it and add a note to the post.