comparison
iLovePDF watermark vs our browser tool
iLovePDF is one of the most trusted names in online PDF work, with a 4.9 out of 5 rating from more than 13,000 reviews, and its free watermark tool handles text and image marks on files up to 100 MB. Our free browser tool keeps that core job and adds no account to try, but iLovePDF wins on brand trust and the sheer number of tools.
How we compared
We compared iLovePDF with our browser tool on the criteria that decide whether a free tool is actually usable: what you must do first, what the free tier allows, what the watermark can do, where your file goes, what the paid plan costs and who each option suits. Sources are listed under the table.
iLovePDF vs our browser tool
iLovePDF publishes its free watermark limits clearly, so this part of the comparison is on firm ground. Its exact daily cap is the one figure it does not publish, and we say so below.
| iLovePDF | Our browser tool | |
|---|---|---|
| Paid plan price | Premium $9/mo, or $5/mo billed annually ($60/year), from iLovePDF's own pricing page | Free |
| Free file size | 100 MB per task | 100 MB |
| Free batch | 2 files per batch | One file at a time |
| Free daily limit | Publishes 'limited document processing' but no exact number | 6 watermark jobs a day |
| Account needed | No account to process one-off files | No account to try it |
| Watermark types | Text and image, with typography, transparency and position | Text or image, plus diagonal, behind-text, footer and tiled styles |
| Retention | Files deleted within 2 hours; signed documents kept up to 5 years | Upload deleted after 1 hour |
iLovePDF figures from https://www.ilovepdf.com/pricing, https://www.ilovepdf.com/pdf_add_watermark and https://www.ilovepdf.com/help/security. iLovePDF does not publish an exact free daily cap, so treat its daily allowance as unverified. Accessed 6 October 2026; figures change — verify at the source.
Where iLovePDF is the better choice
iLovePDF earns its reputation. If you want one place for every PDF job, it is a stronger pick than a single-purpose tool.
- Trust at scale: 4.9 out of 5 from 13,769 Trustpilot reviews, the highest score in this comparison.
- Breadth: merge, split, convert, compress, sign and more, plus desktop and mobile apps.
- Signatures: eIDAS-based signing, which a watermark tool does nothing about.
- Certification: ISO/IEC 27001:2022, GDPR compliance and regional processing options.
What we do, and what we do not
We watermark PDFs in the browser. No account is needed to try it, files are limited to 100 MB and 300 pages, the free tier allows 6 watermark jobs a day, and your upload is deleted automatically after one hour.
We do not merge, split, convert, compress or sign documents. We also do not offer a desktop or mobile app. If those matter to you, iLovePDF is the better fit; if you only need a watermark, ours is simpler and free.
Frequently asked questions
Is iLovePDF's watermark tool free?
Yes, within limits. The free tier watermarks text and images on files up to 100 MB and handles 2 files per batch. iLovePDF describes free use only as 'limited document processing' and does not publish an exact daily cap, so the daily ceiling is unverified.
Is iLovePDF safe for sensitive PDFs?
iLovePDF uploads your file to its servers and says it deletes files within two hours, keeping signed documents up to five years. It holds ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and GDPR claims. Our tool also processes on a server, but we publish a shorter one-hour deletion and a clearer free limit.
Why choose our tool over iLovePDF Premium?
Only if watermarking is all you need. Ours is free with a 5-job daily limit and a one-hour deletion, so you avoid the $9 monthly plan. If you also want conversions, batch above two files or a mobile app, iLovePDF Premium is the more capable choice.