The privacy difference explained
iLovePDF is a well-established service based in Barcelona with a solid reputation. However, like most online PDF tools, it processes files on remote servers. When you upload a PDF to iLovePDF to merge, split, or compress, that file travels over the internet to their servers in the EU, is processed there, and is then deleted. iLovePDF says they delete files immediately after processing — and there is no specific reason to doubt this — but the fundamental fact is: your file left your device.
HugMyPDF takes a different approach. The basic PDF operations — merge, split, compress, rotate, reorder, watermark, protect — are implemented in JavaScript using the PDF-lib and PDF.js libraries and run entirely within your browser tab. Your file is loaded into your browser's memory and processed there. No network request is made. You can verify this yourself in your browser's DevTools Network panel.
Where iLovePDF has the edge
iLovePDF has been around since 2010 and has a more polished mobile experience with dedicated iOS and Android apps. Their tool library covers some specialized PDF operations that HugMyPDF does not yet have. iLovePDF also has stronger brand recognition — millions of people trust and use it daily, which is meaningful as a proxy for reliability.
If you are looking for a tool you can recommend to someone who is not technical and may be confused by a less-familiar brand, iLovePDF is a safer recommendation from a brand-familiarity standpoint.
Where HugMyPDF has the edge
HugMyPDF wins on privacy, AI features, price, and total free tool availability. The AI features — Chat with PDF, AI Summarize, and OCR — are a genuine differentiator. iLovePDF does not offer document AI interaction at any price point. For users who frequently need to extract information from PDFs, ask questions about documents, or make scanned files searchable, HugMyPDF adds meaningful value that iLovePDF cannot match.