PDF24 is completely free — why would I switch?

You might not, for one-off jobs on a Windows PC where you can run their local Creator. But PDF24's online tools (and every tool on Mac, Linux, or mobile) upload your file to their servers. If your document is sensitive, AttachKit does the same jobs in your browser with nothing uploaded — also free for the everyday tools.

Doesn't PDF24's desktop app keep my files local?

Yes — the PDF24 Creator processes files locally and offline. The catch is it's Windows-only. On a Mac, a Chromebook, Linux, or a phone, you're left with the upload-based online tools. AttachKit's local processing runs in any modern browser, on any OS.

What does AttachKit do that PDF24 doesn't?

AI auto-fill from a saved profile, AI PII redaction, and an offline-verifiable signature anyone can check — none of which PDF24 offers. PDF24 wins on raw tool count and being entirely free; AttachKit wins on keeping the file on your device and the AI/verification features.

Alternative · PDF24

AttachKit vs. PDF24 — free either way; only one keeps the file on your device

PDF24: A free, ad-supported German PDF toolbox — ~30 online tools plus a local Windows app.

PDF24 is a genuinely free, ad-supported PDF toolbox from a German company — around 30 online tools and a free Windows desktop app. It's a great deal, so this isn't a price comparison: it's an architecture one. PDF24's online tools upload your file to their servers (EU, deleted after about an hour); their only local option is a Windows-only desktop app. AttachKit runs in any browser, on any OS, with nothing uploaded and nothing to install.

Why pick AttachKit for these cases

PDF24's online tools upload your file; AttachKit's run in any browser with nothing uploaded.
PDF24's only local option is Windows-only; AttachKit is local on every OS, no install.
AI auto-fill and AI redaction PDF24 doesn't have.
An offline-verifiable signature, free.

Side-by-side

A marks the side with the genuine advantage on that row — honestly, including the few where PDF24 wins.

Price

PDF24Free — ad-supported, no accounts, no watermarks, no feature caps.

AttachKitFree tier (unlimited in-browser fill, edit & redact + 15 signed PDFs/mo); Pro $12/mo unlocks unlimited signing (AI included — 200 Claude actions/mo; Max adds 500 Claude actions/mo). PDF24 is free across the board.

Where your PDF is processed

PDF24Online tools upload your file to PDF24's EU servers (deleted ~1 hour after processing). Local processing is available only via the Windows-only desktop Creator.

AttachKitIn your browser, on any OS — Mac, Windows, Linux, ChromeOS, mobile. The file never leaves your device; nothing to install.

AI features

PDF24None — PDF24 has no AI tools.

AttachKitAI auto-fill from your saved profile + AI PII redaction, with the PDF staying on-device (only extracted text is sent to the model).

Verifiable signatures

PDF24Sign PDF places a drawn/typed signature — no independent verification.

AttachKitAn offline-verifiable cryptographic signature anyone can check on any device, free.

PDF → Word / Excel

PDF24Yes — server-side (uploaded).

AttachKitYes — in your browser, nothing uploaded, with images/tables/links in Word and typed cells in Excel.

Tool breadth

PDF24~30 online tools — convert, compress, merge, OCR, sign, redact, protect, and more.

AttachKitA focused no-upload toolkit covering the same everyday jobs — fill, sign, redact, convert, compress, merge, watermark, OCR, compare.

	PDF24	AttachKit
Price	Free — ad-supported, no accounts, no watermarks, no feature caps.	Free tier (unlimited in-browser fill, edit & redact + 15 signed PDFs/mo); Pro $12/mo unlocks unlimited signing (AI included — 200 Claude actions/mo; Max adds 500 Claude actions/mo). PDF24 is free across the board.
Where your PDF is processed	Online tools upload your file to PDF24's EU servers (deleted ~1 hour after processing). Local processing is available only via the Windows-only desktop Creator.	In your browser, on any OS — Mac, Windows, Linux, ChromeOS, mobile. The file never leaves your device; nothing to install.
AI features	None — PDF24 has no AI tools.	AI auto-fill from your saved profile + AI PII redaction, with the PDF staying on-device (only extracted text is sent to the model).
Verifiable signatures	Sign PDF places a drawn/typed signature — no independent verification.	An offline-verifiable cryptographic signature anyone can check on any device, free.
PDF → Word / Excel	Yes — server-side (uploaded).	Yes — in your browser, nothing uploaded, with images/tables/links in Word and typed cells in Excel.
Tool breadth	~30 online tools — convert, compress, merge, OCR, sign, redact, protect, and more.	A focused no-upload toolkit covering the same everyday jobs — fill, sign, redact, convert, compress, merge, watermark, OCR, compare.

Switching questions, answered

PDF24 is completely free — why would I switch?: You might not, for one-off jobs on a Windows PC where you can run their local Creator. But PDF24's online tools (and every tool on Mac, Linux, or mobile) upload your file to their servers. If your document is sensitive, AttachKit does the same jobs in your browser with nothing uploaded — also free for the everyday tools.
Doesn't PDF24's desktop app keep my files local?: Yes — the PDF24 Creator processes files locally and offline. The catch is it's Windows-only. On a Mac, a Chromebook, Linux, or a phone, you're left with the upload-based online tools. AttachKit's local processing runs in any modern browser, on any OS.
What does AttachKit do that PDF24 doesn't?: AI auto-fill from a saved profile, AI PII redaction, and an offline-verifiable signature anyone can check — none of which PDF24 offers. PDF24 wins on raw tool count and being entirely free; AttachKit wins on keeping the file on your device and the AI/verification features.

Try AttachKit now

Drop a PDF — no signup. Unlimited fill & redact in your browser, plus 15 free signed PDFs every month.

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