Smallpdf vs iLovePDF vs MyTools: The Best Way to Merge PDFs?

You have three PDFs that need to become one — a contract and its two appendices, or a batch of scanned pages that should live in a single file. Which online merger do you reach for? This is a Smallpdf vs iLovePDF comparison with a third option most people haven't tried, MyTools, and the goal is a fair read on all three: what each does well, where each makes you pay or wait, and which one fits the job in front of you.

What Merging PDFs Actually Involves

Merging is deceptively simple: take several PDF files and stitch their pages into one document, in a specific order. The tricky parts aren't the merge itself — they're everything around it.

Order and preview. If page 12 lands before page 3, you've made the problem worse. A good merger lets you see and rearrange files before committing.
Free-tier ceilings. Most online PDF tools are free until you hit a wall — a per-file size cap, a daily task limit, or a "you've used your two free operations" message.
Where your file goes. A merged contract or bank statement is sensitive. Some tools upload every file to a server; others do the work on your own machine.

People reach for an online tool instead of desktop software because the job is usually a one-off. You don't want to install Acrobat to combine three PDFs once — you want a browser tab, a merge button, and a download.

The Three Contenders

Smallpdf and iLovePDF are the two names that dominate the search results for "merge PDF" — both are polished, Swiss- and Spain-based freemium suites with dozens of PDF tools each. MyTools is the newer, privacy-first option that runs the merge in your browser instead of on a server. Here's how each holds up.

Smallpdf: The Polished Suite With a Tight Free Tier

Smallpdf is a well-designed PDF platform with a merge tool that's genuinely pleasant to use. It's aimed at people who want a clean interface and don't mind the freemium model.

What it gets right

Excellent, uncluttered interface — arguably the nicest of the three to look at and use.
A full ecosystem: compress, convert, sign, and edit all live in the same account.
Cloud integration with Google Drive and Dropbox for pulling files in.

Where it falls short

The free tier is restrictive: reports point to a 5 MB per-file cap and a limit of roughly two tasks per day before you're prompted to upgrade.
Every file is uploaded to Smallpdf's servers for processing (they state files are deleted after an hour), which some users would rather avoid for sensitive documents.
Getting the most out of it effectively means a Pro subscription.

iLovePDF: Feature-Rich, Freemium, Server-Based

iLovePDF offers a similarly broad toolkit and a merge tool that handles multiple files well. It leans a little more generous than Smallpdf on casual use, but the paid tier is where the friction disappears.

What it gets right

A huge range of PDF tools, plus desktop and mobile apps if you want them beyond the browser.
The merge flow itself is quick and handles several files in one go.
Free for light, occasional merging without much fuss.

Where it falls short

Free use is capped by daily task limits, and some users report limits on how many files you can merge at once — the exact thresholds aren't always clearly published.
Like Smallpdf, files are uploaded to iLovePDF's servers rather than processed locally.
Premium runs around $9/month, and features like OCR and unlimited processing sit behind it.

MyTools: Local, Free, and Private by Design

MyTools takes a different technical route. Instead of uploading your PDFs, the merge runs entirely inside your browser — your files never touch a server. It's free with no account, and it's built around not asking you for anything.

What it gets right

Nothing is uploaded. The merge happens on your device, so sensitive contracts and statements stay with you. There's no server copy to delete because there was never a copy.
Genuinely free, no signup, no daily cap. No two-tasks-a-day wall, no email, no upgrade prompt.
Drag files into the exact order you want, with a first-page thumbnail preview for each so you can confirm before merging — up to 20 files at once.

Where it falls short

Each file must be under 50 MB, and very large batches can strain browser memory on older phones — the trade-off of processing locally instead of on a server farm.
It can't merge password-protected PDFs directly; you'd need to unlock a PDF first, then merge.
It's a focused tool, not a full suite — no OCR, no cloud-drive import, no signing or editing in the same place.

At a Glance

	Smallpdf	iLovePDF	MyTools
Free tier	~2 tasks/day	Daily task limits	Unlimited
Free file size limit	~5 MB/file	Not clearly stated	50 MB/file
Signup required	Not for basic tools	Not for basic merge	Never
Files uploaded to server	Yes	Yes	No — runs in browser
Best for	An all-in-one suite	A broad toolkit	Fast, private merges

So Which One Should You Use?

If you want a single account that handles every PDF chore — merging today, signing tomorrow, OCR next week — Smallpdf or iLovePDF earn their keep, and a paid plan on either removes the limits entirely. Smallpdf edges ahead on interface polish; iLovePDF gives you desktop and mobile apps.

If your merge involves anything sensitive — a signed contract, a bank statement, an ID scan — or if you just don't want to hand your files to a server and hit a daily wall, MyTools is the better fit. It's free with no ceiling, and because the work stays in your browser, there's genuinely nothing to upload and nothing to delete.

Be honest about the trade-off, though: if you need to merge a password-protected PDF in one click, or pull files straight from Google Drive, the suite tools do that and MyTools doesn't.

The Bottom Line

For an occasional, private, no-strings merge, the local approach is hard to beat — no signup, no daily limit, and your files never leave your device. For an all-day PDF workflow across many tools, the established suites still have the deeper toolbox.

Want to combine your PDFs without an upload or a signup? Open the MyTools PDF merger in your browser →