Last updated: November 8, 2026. Latest Creator version at the time of writing: 11.33.0, released November 6, 2026.
Table of contents
- PDF24 at a glance
- PDF24 Tools vs PDF24 Creator
- What PDF24 can do
- Is PDF24 safe? Where your files go
- What changed in PDF24 Creator in 2026
- Mac, Linux, Android and iPhone
- Can PDF24 edit existing PDF text?
- PDF24 vs Smallpdf, iLovePDF, Sejda and Acrobat
- How to do common jobs
- Common problems and fixes
- Pros and cons
- Who should use PDF24
- Verdict
- FAQ
PDF24 at a glance
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Company | geek Software GmbH, Berlin, Germany, founded in 2006 according to PDF24’s About page |
| Products | PDF24 Tools (browser) and PDF24 Creator (Windows software) |
| Price | Free. The online tools are paid for by advertising |
| Account | Not required for the online tools |
| Online file handling | Encrypted transfer, files deleted from the server one hour after processing, servers in Germany |
| Creator systems | Windows 10 or later for version 11. Version 9 is a lighter edition that also runs on Windows 7 |
| Creator license | Proprietary freeware |
| Latest Creator version | 11.33.0, November 6, 2026 |
PDF24 Tools vs PDF24 Creator
The name PDF24 covers two products that share a toolbox but handle your files differently. Choosing between them matters more than any single feature.
| Question | PDF24 Tools (online) | PDF24 Creator (Windows) |
|---|---|---|
| Where does it run? | In your browser | As a program on your PC |
| Where are files processed? | On PDF24’s servers | On your computer |
| Needs internet? | Yes | No for most tools |
| Installation | None | Required |
| Works on Mac, Linux, phones? | Yes, in a browser | No |
| Virtual PDF printer? | No | Yes, print from any Windows program to create a PDF |
| Best for | One-off jobs on any device | Regular work and private documents |
What PDF24 can do
| Task | Where | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Merge and split | Both | Creator can add a clickable table of contents and a cover page before each file (version 11.32.0) |
| Compress | Both | The normal mode lowers image quality to cut size; the lossless mode keeps quality but saves much less. Creator can watch a folder and compress new files automatically |
| Convert PDF to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Markdown | Both | Creator converts offline. Version 11.33.0 improved Word conversion for tables and scans with a text layer |
| Images to PDF | Both | Supports WebP images in recent Creator versions |
| OCR (make scans searchable) | Both | Creator can also watch a folder and recognize new files automatically |
| Sign PDF | Both | Creator signs with PAdES signatures and can add a timestamp (version 11.32.0) |
| Protect and unlock | Both | Locking with only an open password now uses that password as the owner password too |
| Redact (blacken) | Both | Creator also removes metadata, attachments and scripts that could hold the hidden text (version 11.31.0) |
| Compare two PDFs | Both | Shows the differences between versions of a document |
| Make a PDF fillable | Both | Form editor added to Creator in version 11.30.0 |
| Electronic invoices (XRechnung, ZUGFeRD) | Both create them | Creator also checks XRechnung, ZUGFeRD/Factur-X and Peppol invoices on your computer without uploading them |
| Fax | Creator | Faxes are sent through PDF24’s online fax service |
If you run a small business in Germany and send invoices in the XRechnung or ZUGFeRD format, PDF24 is one of the few free tools that both creates and checks them. If you are a student merging five assignment files into one upload, the online Merge tool does it in a minute, and Compress shrinks the result if the portal has a size limit.
Is PDF24 safe? Where your files go
PDF24 is a legitimate service run by a registered German company, and it publishes how it handles files. Safety depends on which version you use.
| You use | What happens to the file |
|---|---|
| Any online tool | The file is uploaded to PDF24’s servers in Germany over an encrypted connection, processed, and deleted after one hour. You have that hour to download the result |
| Creator: merge, compress, convert, OCR, sign | The file stays on your computer |
| Creator: fax | The fax is sent to PDF24’s online fax service. Creator shows a notice before it sends |
| Creator: invoice validation | Runs on your computer, and the invoices are not uploaded |
If you are merging a tenancy agreement with scanned ID cards, use Creator so nothing leaves your computer. If you are compressing a public brochure, the online tool is fine. Companies that process personal data through the online tools can request a data processing agreement from PDF24. Creator needs none, because it works locally.
Local processing has one history worth knowing. Version 11.30.1, released April 24, 2026, fixed a case where the PDF form editor inside Creator tried to upload a file to the online service even though that was unnecessary. PDF24 describes the upload as incorrect behavior and fixed it. Versions 11.31.0 and 11.31.1 also closed security problems in which a crafted PDF or invoice file could run script inside the toolbox, and PDF24 recommends that all users update. Download Creator only from the official PDF24 site, and keep it updated.
What changed in PDF24 Creator in 2026
| Version | Date | Main changes |
|---|---|---|
| 11.30.0 | April 9, 2026 | Markdown to PDF converter, PDF form editor, three pages per sheet |
| 11.30.1 | April 24, 2026 | Stopped the form editor from uploading files unnecessarily |
| 11.31.0 | October 5, 2026 | Dark mode, a built-in PDF engine so many jobs no longer need Ghostscript or qpdf, a printer for Windows 11 Protected Print, a better Reader, security fixes |
| 11.31.1 | October 8, 2026 | Choice between the driverless and the classic PDF printer, macros blocked during Office conversion, security fix |
| 11.32.0 | November 2, 2026 | New toolbox start page, invoice and PDF/A checkers, attachment extraction, PDF to Markdown, timestamped signatures |
| 11.33.0 | November 6, 2026 | PDF24 in the Windows 11 right-click menu, Save writes to the opened file, online converter removed from Creator, more accurate Word conversion |
Two changes affect everyday use. In Windows 11, a right-click on a PDF now shows PDF24 in the main menu, so you no longer open “Show more options” to merge or compress. And Creator no longer has an online converter as a fallback, so a file that cannot be converted on your computer now produces a message that explains why, such as “unpack the ZIP first” or “Office documents need Microsoft Office or LibreOffice”.
The installer is large. The 11.31.0 EXE is about 355 MB according to ComputerBase. If you only need basic tasks on an older PC, version 9 leaves out the toolbox, Java and WebView2 and is much smaller, and it still runs on Windows 7.
Mac, Linux, Android and iPhone
| Device | PDF24 Tools (browser) | PDF24 Creator |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 and 11 | Yes | Yes, including an ARM64 installer |
| Windows 7 and 8 | Yes | Version 9 only |
| Mac | Yes | No |
| Linux | Yes | No |
| Android | Yes | No |
| iPhone and iPad | Yes | No |
If you use a Mac and handle private files, PDF24 cannot give you an offline option, so check a Mac-based tool instead. The browser tools work on any device, but every file goes to PDF24’s servers.
Can PDF24 edit existing PDF text?
No. PDF24’s Edit PDF tool lets you add text, drawings and images, and it can cover content with shapes, but you cannot click a sentence in the original PDF and retype it. PDF24’s own editing page tells you to convert the PDF to Word if you need to change the text.
The workaround is better in 2026 than before. Version 11.33.0 improved PDF to Word: scans with a text layer become editable text, tables become real Word tables, and layouts with two columns keep their shape. For a scan with no text at all, run OCR first. Creator now points this out when you try to extract text from an image-only PDF.
PDF24 vs Smallpdf, iLovePDF, Sejda and Acrobat
| Tool | Free limits | Offline option | Edits existing text |
|---|---|---|---|
| PDF24 | No task or page limits listed on its tools, ads on the site | Yes, Creator on Windows | No |
| Smallpdf | Reviews in 2026 report two tasks per day | Desktop app available | Reported as a paid feature |
| iLovePDF | Limits differ by tool, with file size caps | Desktop app available | Reported as a paid feature |
| Sejda | Reviews report a 50 MB and 200 page cap per file plus a task limit | Desktop app for Windows, Mac and Linux | Yes, with limits on the free plan |
| Adobe Acrobat | Full editing needs a paid plan | Yes | Yes |
Competitor limits come from 2026 reviews and change often, so check each service’s pricing page before you rely on a number. PDF24 wins on free volume and on having a free Windows program. It loses to Sejda and Acrobat for rewriting text, and it has no Mac program.
How to do common jobs
| Job | Tool to open | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Make a PDF small enough to email | Compress PDF | Start with the normal mode. Use the lossless mode if image quality matters more than size |
| Combine several files | Merge PDF | Put the files in order before you start. Creator can name the result after the first file |
| Make a scan searchable | PDF OCR | Check the language setting. If a scan already has hidden text, “Remove existing text” in Creator now removes only the invisible layer |
| Open a locked PDF | Unlock PDF | You need the password for an open password. Permission-only restrictions can be removed without it in Creator’s document tool |
| Turn photos into one PDF | Images to PDF | Compress the result if the file is large |
| Hide private details | Redact PDF | Use it instead of drawing a black box, which leaves the text underneath |
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Online download link no longer works | Files are deleted one hour after processing | Run the job again and download within the hour |
| Creator does not install on Windows 7 | Version 11 needs Windows 10 or later | Install the version 9 edition |
| PDF24 printer missing after installation | The printer could not be set up | Update to the latest version. The installer now reports the failure and names a log file called pdfPrnInst.log |
| Printing from a Remote Desktop session fails | The driverless printer does not support it | Choose the classic printer in the installer (version 11.31.1 or later) |
| Merged file is named Document1 | Default naming | Turn on the setting that names the merged file after the first document |
| Word file from a scan is not editable | The scan has no text layer | Run OCR first, then convert |
| “Could not convert” message | Archives and unsupported types cannot be printed to PDF | Unpack ZIP files first, and install Microsoft Office or LibreOffice for Office documents |
Pros and cons
| Advantages | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
| Free online tools with no account | Online tools upload your files |
| Free Windows program that works offline | Creator runs on Windows only |
| Wide range of tools in one place, including OCR, signing and e-invoices | You cannot retype existing text in a PDF |
| Files deleted from the server after one hour, servers in Germany | The online site shows ads |
| Frequent updates, with security fixes published in the changelog | The Creator installer is large |
Who should use PDF24
| You are | Use | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| A student on any device | PDF24 Tools | Merge and compress assignments with no account |
| A freelancer on Windows | PDF24 Creator | Sign and organize client files without uploading them |
| A small business owner in the EU | PDF24 Creator | Create and validate e-invoices locally |
| Someone handling IDs or contracts | PDF24 Creator | Files stay on your PC |
| A Mac user | PDF24 Tools, or another app | No Mac program exists |
| Someone who must rewrite PDF text | Sejda or Acrobat | PDF24 cannot edit existing text |
Verdict
PDF24 is the best free option for Windows users who handle PDFs often, because Creator removes the upload step and the daily limits that other free tools impose. In a browser it remains a solid choice for quick jobs. Use Creator for anything private, keep it updated, and pick another tool if your main job is rewriting text inside PDFs or if you work on a Mac and need offline processing.
FAQ
Is PDF24 really free?
Yes. The online tools are free and show ads, and PDF24 Creator is freeware for Windows. PDF24 does not list page or task limits on its tools.
Is PDF24 safe for confidential documents?
Use PDF24 Creator for confidential files. It processes files on your computer. The online tools upload files to PDF24’s servers in Germany, delete them after one hour and offer a data processing agreement for businesses.
Does PDF24 upload my files?
The online tools do. PDF24 Creator does not for its normal tools, with one exception: faxes are sent through PDF24’s online fax service.
How long does PDF24 keep uploaded files?
One hour after processing. After that the files and the result are deleted, so download your result within that hour.
Is PDF24 Creator offline?
Yes for its normal tools. You need internet only to download the software, check for updates or send a fax.
Does PDF24 work on Mac?
Only in a browser. PDF24 Creator has no Mac version.
Does PDF24 work on Android and iPhone?
Yes, through the online tools in a mobile browser. Creator is not available on phones.
Does PDF24 require registration?
No. You can use the online tools and download Creator without creating an account.
Can PDF24 edit existing PDF text?
No. You can add text, drawings and images, or convert the PDF to Word, edit it there and save it back to PDF.
Does PDF24 have OCR?
Yes. Its OCR tool turns scanned pages into searchable PDFs, online and in Creator.
Is PDF24 better than Adobe Acrobat?
For free everyday tasks such as merging, compressing and converting, PDF24 is enough for most people. Acrobat is the better choice when you need to rewrite text inside a PDF or need advanced business features, and it requires a paid plan.
Does PDF24 add watermarks to PDFs?
PDF24 lists no watermark on its free tools. You can add your own watermark with its Watermark tool.
What is the latest version of PDF24 Creator?
Version 11.33.0, released on November 6, 2026. It adds PDF24 to the Windows 11 right-click menu and improves PDF to Word conversion.
Does PDF24 Creator run on Windows 7?
Version 11 needs Windows 10 or later. The lighter version 9 edition still runs on Windows 7.
Sources checked
- PDF24 Creator official changelog, versions 11.28 to 11.33
- PDF24 Tools FAQ, covering data processing agreements and local processing
- PDF24 online services terms of use, covering deletion after one hour
- PDF24 Compress PDF tool page, covering file protection and server location
- ComputerBase PDF24 Creator download page, covering the 11.31.0 release and installer sizes
