Honest Comparison 2026

HugMyPDF vs PDF24 — Which is Better for Privacy?

PDF24 is excellent free software with strong offline capability. HugMyPDF wins on browser-based online use, AI features, and no-install convenience.

Bottom Line

HugMyPDF is the best PDF24 alternative for users who need browser-based tools without installing software. PDF24 is better if you need a powerful free desktop app that works fully offline. HugMyPDF wins on AI features — Chat with PDF, AI Summarize, and OCR — which PDF24 doesn't offer.

✅ 47 free PDF tools
✅ No account required
✅ Browser-based processing
✅ AI features included
Feature Comparison
HugMyPDF vs PDF24
An honest look at what each tool offers
Feature HugMyPDF PDF24
Basic tool processingBrowser-based (no upload)Server-based (upload required)
Price✅ Free (Pro $5.99/mo)✅ Completely free
Account required✅ No✅ No
Browser-based (basic tools)✅ Yes⚠️ Web version uploads; desktop app is local
Desktop app❌ Web only✅ Free desktop app
Offline use⚠️ Basic tools only✅ Full offline with desktop app
AI Chat with PDF✅ Yes (Pro)❌ No
AI Summarize PDF✅ Yes (Pro)❌ No
OCR PDF✅ Yes (Pro)✅ Yes (free)
Remove Background✅ Yes❌ No
No daily limits✅ Yes✅ Yes
File size limitUp to 50MBVaries by tool
Windows app❌ No✅ PDF24 Creator
The key privacy difference: for basic tasks like merging, splitting, compressing, and rotating PDFs, HugMyPDF processes files entirely in your browser. This means your files are never sent to any server for these operations. You can verify this yourself by opening browser DevTools and watching the Network tab while using any basic tool.

The Key Differences

Where each tool wins and where it falls short — honestly.

PDF24 — Limitations
Web tools upload files to servers
No AI features (Chat, Summarize)
Desktop app requires Windows installation
Web interface less polished than desktop app
HugMyPDF — Advantages
Browser-based basic tools — no upload for most operations
AI Chat with PDF and Summarize (Pro)
No install required — works on any device
Image tools: Remove Background, Compress Image
Cleaner, faster web interface
All Free Tools
What You Get with HugMyPDF
50 tools. No account. No daily limits on core tools.
📋Merge PDF
✂️Split PDF
📦Compress PDF
🔄Rotate PDF
📝PDF to Word
📊PDF to Excel
📊PDF to PowerPoint
🖊️Watermark PDF
✍️Sign PDF
🔒Protect PDF
🔢Add Page Numbers
🔑Remove Password
🖼️JPG to PDF
🖼️PDF to JPG
📸Compress Image
🔍OCR PDF
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best PDF24 alternative?
HugMyPDF is the best PDF24 alternative for users who need browser-based tools without installing software. PDF24 is better if you need a powerful free desktop app that works fully offline. HugMyPDF wins on AI features — Chat with PDF, AI Summarize, and OCR — which PDF24 doesn't offer.
Is PDF24 better than HugMyPDF?
PDF24's desktop app (PDF24 Creator) is more powerful for offline use and handles very large files better. HugMyPDF is better for quick browser-based use, AI features, and users who don't want to install software.
Does PDF24 upload your files?
PDF24's web tools upload files to their servers. PDF24 Creator (the desktop app) processes entirely locally — no upload. HugMyPDF's basic tools process in your browser with no upload required.
Is PDF24 completely free?
Yes — PDF24 is entirely free with no paid tiers. HugMyPDF has a free tier (no account, no limits on basic tools) and a Pro tier ($5.99/mo) for AI features like Chat with PDF and Summarize.
Can I use HugMyPDF offline like PDF24 Creator?
HugMyPDF is browser-based and requires an internet connection to load the page. After loading, browser-based tools process locally without sending data to servers. PDF24 Creator works fully offline after installation.

Try HugMyPDF Free

50 PDF tools. No account required. Browser-based processing for basic tools.