Comparison
CrispPDF OCR PDF vs iLovePDF
Both CrispPDF and iLovePDF let you make searchable online. The difference is where the work happens and what it costs you. Here's an honest, side-by-side look at how the two stack up in 2026 — no affiliate links, no sponsored placement.
| Feature | CrispPDF | iLovePDF |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free forever | Free tier + Premium $4/mo |
| Free-tier limit | Unlimited | Daily task limit, file size cap |
| Signup required | Never | Required for Premium features |
| Watermark on output | Never | No watermark |
| File upload | In-memory, discarded after | Files uploaded to server |
| Works offline | Yes (after first load) | No |
| Open source friendly | Yes — MIT-style terms | Proprietary |
// FAQ
Frequently asked
+Is CrispPDF really free vs iLovePDF?
Yes — every CrispPDF tool including OCR PDF is free forever, with no daily task limit, no email gate, and no watermark.
+Why would I use iLovePDF instead?
iLovePDF makes sense if your team needs enterprise SSO, audit logs, or batch automation via API. For one-off and freelance work, CrispPDF is usually faster.
+Is my file private with CrispPDF?
Files are processed in-memory and discarded immediately on CrispPDF; iLovePDF retains files per its cloud retention policy.