An iLovePDF alternative that keeps files on your device
FilesStay compresses, merges, splits and converts images to PDF inside your browser. Fewer tools than iLovePDF, but nothing is uploaded and nothing is metered.
Compress PDF
Make a heavy file smaller by recompressing its images. Set a target size if you need one.
Open Compress →Merge PDFs
Drop several files, put them in order, and combine them into one document.
Open Merge →Split PDF
Keep the pages you want, remove pages, or download every page as its own PDF.
Open Split →JPG / PNG to PDF
Drop one photo or a stack. Each image becomes a page, sized to fit.
Open JPG to PDF →We make FilesStay. Details about iLovePDF come from its own pricing page and security page, checked in October 2026. Their limits change from time to time, so check there for current numbers.
The short version
iLovePDF is a large, well-made toolkit with many tools and a generous free plan. Its free plan has per-task limits (for example, its pricing page lists merging up to 25 files and compressing up to 2 files per task) and “limited document processing”. Files are uploaded to iLovePDF’s servers and, by its own policy, deleted within two hours. FilesStay does four jobs only, in your browser, with no task limits.
| FilesStay | iLovePDF (free) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where files are processed | In your browser; never uploaded | Uploaded to iLovePDF servers; deleted within 2 hours, or right away if you click delete |
| Usage limits | None | Limited processing; per-task file count and size limits |
| Account needed | No | No for basic tools |
| Compress, merge, split, JPG to PDF | Yes | Yes |
| Office conversion, OCR, sign, edit, watermark, rotate | No | Yes (some Premium only) |
| Desktop and mobile apps | No (works in mobile browsers) | Yes |
| Works offline | Yes, once the page is loaded | Via its desktop app |
Choose FilesStay when
- Your files are sensitive and company policy, or common sense, says not to upload them. See merge without uploading.
- You want to batch through many files without watching a counter.
- You need a hard size target, like under 100 KB, and want to see the exact result.
Choose iLovePDF when
- You need anything beyond our four jobs: Word or Excel conversion, OCR, signing, page numbers, watermarks, rotating, repairing.
- You prefer a desktop or mobile app, or need team features.
- Your PDF is mostly text and fonts. FilesStay only recompresses images, so a server-side compressor may squeeze that kind of file further.
Both are free to try. For private documents, we think “never uploaded” is worth a lot. For everything else, use whichever gets the job done.
Questions
Is FilesStay connected to iLovePDF?
No. iLovePDF is a trademark of its owner. We are a separate, independent site.
How can I tell FilesStay does not upload files?
Load a tool, turn off your internet connection and run it. It still works, because the work is done in your browser.