PDF Workdesk vs Adobe Acrobat online
Adobe invented PDF, and its free online Acrobat tools are often the first result people find. They're built to lead to a subscription, though, and free use is limited. Here's how they compare with PDF Workdesk.
Updated
At a glance
| PDF Workdesk | Adobe Acrobat online | |
|---|---|---|
| Where files are processed | Most tools run in your browser: the file never leaves your device. Office, iWork, eBook, DXF, EPS, PDF/A and print conversions run on our server and the file is deleted as soon as the result is sent back. | Uploaded to Adobe cloud storage. The Acrobat desktop app works on your device. |
| Free use | Browser tools: unlimited, no account. Server conversions: free account, 25 a day. | Without signing in, most tools allow one free task and one download. With a free Adobe ID, premium tools allow one free task every 30 days. |
| Watermark | None. | None. |
| Paid plans | None: everything here is free. | Acrobat Standard $14.99/month, Pro $19.99/month, Studio $24.99/month on annual plans billed monthly; $24.99, $29.99 and $34.99 billed month to month. |
| OCR, editing text, e-signatures | Not yet. | Yes. |
| Workflows (chain tools) | Yes, free. | Not in the free online tools. |
Free limits
Adobe's help pages say most online tools let you complete one free task and download the result once without signing in. Signing in with a free Adobe ID unlocks filling, signing and commenting, and one free use of each premium tool every 30 days.
PDF Workdesk's browser tools have no such limits: merge, split, compress, convert PDFs to Word or images, protect and redact as often as you like.
Privacy
Acrobat online uploads files to Adobe's cloud. If you don't sign in, Adobe says it deletes them soon after; if you do, they're saved to your Adobe account. PDF Workdesk's browser tools never upload the file.
Subscription terms to know
Adobe's cheapest monthly prices are for annual plans billed monthly. According to Adobe's pricing page, cancelling one of those after the first 14 days can cost up to half of the remaining year. Month-to-month plans cost more but can be cancelled freely.
Where Adobe Acrobat is the better choice
- You edit PDFs heavily, need professional OCR, or work with complex forms and e-signature workflows every day.
- Your organisation already pays for Acrobat or Creative Cloud.
- You want Adobe's AI Assistant for chatting with and summarising documents.
Where PDF Workdesk is the better choice
- You need everyday PDF tasks more than once a month, for free.
- You'd rather not create an account or upload documents.
- You want to chain tasks into one workflow without a subscription.
Tools for this
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free alternative to Adobe Acrobat online?
Yes. PDF Workdesk's tools are free with no transaction limit, and most need no account.
Does Adobe's free PDF compressor add a watermark?
No. Adobe's free online tools don't add watermarks, but free use is limited. PDF Workdesk doesn't add watermarks either.