iLovePDF Alternative for Multi-Step File Jobs
Describe a whole file job in one sentence and get finished files back. Free to run. See where iLovePDF is still the better pick.
iLovePDF gives you a tool per job. Uncomplex covers any file type: CSVs, images, video, archives, in as many steps as the job needs.
The short version
Choose iLovePDF if
- You have one PDF job: merge, compress, convert, and you're done.
- The job needs a PDF tool Uncomplex doesn't have: editing, OCR, redaction, signing.
- You want mobile or desktop apps. Premium includes them.
- You'd rather click through options than describe anything.
Choose Uncomplex if
- The job has more than one step and you want it in one run.
- The files aren't all PDFs: CSVs, spreadsheets, images, video, archives.
- You want free to be the whole price. There is no paid plan today.
- You'd rather type the outcome than hunt for the right tool.
Side by side
Checked on 7 Oct 2026. Every iLovePDF figure comes from the sources listed at the bottom of this page.
| iLovePDF | Uncomplex | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | One PDF tool per job | A whole job in one sentence |
| File types | PDFs, plus conversions to and from office formats and images | PDFs, CSVs, spreadsheets, images, video, archives |
| Free plan | Limited document processing, limited batch, not ad-free, no AI credits | Free. No paid plan exists. |
| Batch on free | Merge up to 25 files; image to PDF up to 20 files; other limits vary by tool | Up to 50 files per task |
| Largest file, free | 100 MB for most tools (200 MB compress, 15 MB Office conversions, 40 MB image to PDF, 400 MB redact and compare) | 200 MB per task |
| Usage cap, free | Not stated on their site | 10 custom tasks per 5 hours |
| Paid plan | $5 per month billed annually, $9 per month billed monthly (USD) | None. No billing exists. |
| Apps | Web, mobile and desktop (Premium) | Web only |
| Ads on the free plan | Free plan is not ad-free | No ads |
| File retention | Deleted within 2 hours of processing | Browser tasks stay on your device. Cloud uploads deleted within 24 hours; public tools within 1 hour. |
Where iLovePDF is the better pick
PDF-specific tools. Their site lists editing, OCR, redaction, signing, forms, watermarks, page numbers and repair (checked 7 Oct 2026). Uncomplex has none of those. It merges, splits, converts and compresses. Structural work only, and nothing beyond it.
Apps. Mobile for iOS and Android, desktop for Mac and Windows (their site, as of 7 Oct 2026). Premium includes the apps. Uncomplex is web only.
Shorter cloud retention. Their files are deleted within 2 hours of processing (their terms, as of 7 Oct 2026). Our cloud uploads are held for up to 24 hours. If that window is the thing you care about most, they delete sooner. Browser tasks on Uncomplex never leave your device at all, so for those there is no upload and nothing to delete.
Reusable workflows. iLovePDF advertises custom workflows that chain their tools together (their homepage, as of 7 Oct 2026). You still build the chain tool by tool. Uncomplex takes the chain as one sentence.
Where Uncomplex is the better pick
One sentence for the whole job. "Merge these 20 client PDFs into one file, then compress it under 5 MB." On a tool-per-job site that is two tools, two uploads, and starting over between them.
Files that aren't PDFs. CSVs, spreadsheets, images, video and archives can sit in the same task, in the same run.
Bigger batches on free. Up to 50 files per task. Their free merge takes up to 25 files (their pricing page, as of 7 Oct 2026).
Free is the whole story. No paid plan, no ads, no credits. Their free plan is not ad-free and has no AI credits (their pricing page, as of 7 Oct 2026).
Files and privacy
| iLovePDF | Uncomplex | |
|---|---|---|
| Where files are processed | Not stated on the pages we checked | Browser tasks: your device. Cloud tasks: an isolated sandbox. |
| Deleted after | Within 2 hours of processing | 24 hours for cloud tasks; 1 hour for public tools |
| Files never leave your device | Not stated | Yes, for browser tasks |
For cloud work, iLovePDF's 2-hour window is shorter than our 24 hours. The bigger difference is the browser path: those tasks run on your device, so there is no upload and no retention window. Their terms say files are deleted within 2 hours of processing (as of 7 Oct 2026).
Pricing and limits
| iLovePDF | Uncomplex | |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Limited document processing, limited batch, ads, no AI credits | Everything, within fair-use limits |
| Paid | $5 per month billed annually; $9 per month billed monthly (USD, as of 7 Oct 2026) | No paid plan exists |
| What the paid plan adds | Unlimited document processing, web, mobile and desktop apps, up to 4 GB for most tools, 2,000 AI credits, no ads | Not applicable |
A solo user who wants unlimited processing on iLovePDF pays $5 a month billed annually, or $9 month-to-month (USD, as of 7 Oct 2026). On Uncomplex the price is $0, and the cap is 10 custom tasks per 5 hours, with 50 files and 200 MB per task.
FAQ
What can't Uncomplex do?
No PDF editing, signing, redaction or OCR. No mobile or desktop app. No saved workflows yet. Limits: 10 custom tasks per 5 hours, 50 files and 200 MB per task. If your job needs those, iLovePDF is the better pick. That is what the section above is for.
Is Uncomplex really free?
Yes. There is no billing today: no plans, no card, no credits. Fair-use limits (10 custom tasks per 5 hours) keep it running for everyone.
Do I need an account?
The single-purpose tools run without one. Custom tasks require sign-in, and everything on them is free. No paid plan behind it.
How is this different from iLovePDF?
iLovePDF is a suite of single-purpose PDF tools. Uncomplex takes the whole job as one sentence, runs it as one task across file types, and hands back the finished files.
What happens to my files?
Browser tasks never leave your device. Cloud uploads are deleted automatically within 24 hours (1 hour for public tools). iLovePDF deletes files within 2 hours of processing (as of 7 Oct 2026).
Comparison checked on 7 Oct 2026. Figures come from each company's own pages, linked below, and can change. iLovePDF is a trademark of its owner. Uncomplex isn't affiliated with or endorsed by iLovePDF. Spot something out of date? Tell us at hello@uncomplex.run.
Sources: https://www.ilovepdf.com/pricing · https://www.ilovepdf.com/help/terms · https://www.ilovepdf.com/
Got a file job? Describe it.
Client exports, PDFs, invoices and spreadsheets: cleaned and delivered without the clicking.
Free · Sign in to run a custom task · Files are deleted automatically (within 24 hours)
Client exports, PDFs, invoices and spreadsheets: cleaned and delivered without the clicking.