PdfCraft
testedThe official build's features are real (it can open and render PDFs, 16 feature entries),
Home / PDF Tools
Choosing PDF Tools alternatives: 6 free/open-source options
Reading, merge/split, annotations, signing, OCR. Below, 6 tools cover 6 vendors; 1 have been hands-on tested by us, the rest are marked "not tested yet" — no invented verdicts.
Compare at a glance
| Tool | Replaces | License | Runs on | Chinese UI | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PdfCraft | Adobe Acrobat | Apache-2.0 (commercial use OK) | online / desktop | yes | online, ready to use |
| PDF.js not tested yet | PDF readers | Apache-2.0 (commercial use OK) | online | no (English UI) | official online |
| PDF24 not tested yet | Adobe Acrobat | Proprietary & free | online / desktop | yes | official online |
| Sejda not tested yet | Adobe Acrobat | Proprietary, free with paid tiers | online | yes | official online |
| Stirling PDF not tested yet | Adobe Acrobat | MIT (commercial use OK) | online | yes | official online |
| iLovePDF not tested yet | Adobe Acrobat | Proprietary, free with paid tiers | online | yes | official online |
Pick by need (conclusions first)
- Want it now, no install: prioritize the "Online" column; for tools without an online build, use the official online version.
- Need a Chinese UI: pick only rows with Chinese UI = yes; an English UI still works, but you will be reading menus by icon.
- Commercial use / second-party development: check the license column — MIT / Apache-2.0 are the most permissive; GPL derivatives must stay open source.
- Sensitive files: pick self-hosted or desktop tools that process files locally; avoid online services that require uploads.
All 6 tools
PDF.js
not tested yetFully free and open source; read-only rendering
waiting for hands-on test
PDF24
not tested yetFree; the online version processes files on a server
waiting for hands-on test
Sejda
not tested yetFree: up to 3 tasks per hour, single file up to 50 MB
waiting for hands-on test
Stirling PDF
not tested yetOpen source; self-host via Docker; the official demo site has usage limits
waiting for hands-on test
iLovePDF
not tested yetBasic features free; batch / large-file features require a subscription
waiting for hands-on test