Best PDF Converter
Which PDF Converter do reviewers rate highest? Smallpdf, iLovePDF, Acrobat, Wondershare PDFelement, FreeConvert, ranked on the themes customers mention most. Every claim below comes from verbatim customer reviews on public portals, quoted with sources.
Smallpdf
★★★★☆ 4.2
113 reviews across 5 portal(s)
Converts PDFs to and from various formats like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, JPG, HTML, and more.
iLovePDF
★★★★☆ 4.2
182 reviews across 5 portal(s)
Converts PDFs into various formats like Word (DOC/DOCX), PowerPoint (PPT/PPTX), Excel (XLS/XLSX), JPG, HTML, and PDF/A.
FreeConvert
★★★★☆ 4.5
74 reviews across 1 portal(s)
Convert files to and from PDF.
Key findings
- Reviewers rate FreeConvert highest overall at 4.47★ (recency-weighted) across 74 reviews.
- On customer service, reviewers favor FreeConvert: 100% positive of 9 mentions, versus 80% of 10 mentions.
- On ordering & website, reviewers favor FreeConvert: 77% positive of 13 mentions, versus 62% of 13 mentions.
Best PDF Converter for Quick, Free Conversions
For users seeking the best PDF converter, FreeConvert stands out with a 4.47★ average rating and strong feedback on reliability. Reviewers praise its fast, no-frills conversion process, especially for common tasks like turning PDFs into Word documents or HEIC files into JPGs. The platform works well on mobile and avoids intrusive pop-ups, making it ideal for quick, one-off conversions without signing up.
What customers said:
- „It worked! It was quick and easy and free!“
- „Quickly and easily converted a HEIC file to a jpg!“
- „Converted my pdf to word no probs, easy to do“
- „Free to use and works smoothly mobile 🔥“
Best Free PDF Editor for Simple, Reliable Tasks
iLovePDF earns high marks for simplicity and performance, particularly among users who want a free, no-account-needed tool. It handles basic edits like removing pages or combining files quickly and reliably. The interface is praised for being straightforward, and many users appreciate the lack of forced sign-ups. However, some report technical issues, including failed conversions and app crashes.
What customers said:
- „Used it to remove pages from a pdf.“
- „Simply lovely web app.“
- „se queda procesando y se sale la app“
- „I try to convert 1 PDF to word, and doesn't even work,“
Best PDF Editor for Speed and Ease of Use
Smallpdf delivers fast processing and a clean interface, with many users calling it easy and time-saving. It excels in speed and usability, especially for users who need to compress or edit PDFs regularly. However, multiple complaints highlight serious billing issues, including unexpected charges after canceling trials and poor customer service. These problems make it risky for users who value transparency.
What customers said:
- „What an amazing, easy to use service.“
- „I cancelled my free trial the very same day yet they charged me for 3 months!!“
- „I started a free trial, cancelled right after but I have been charged since then“
- „I've been trying to sort out a simple billing issue with SmallPDF for weeks.“
Best Free PDF Tools Without Hidden Costs
FreeConvert is the top choice for users who want a truly free, no-strings-attached experience. It consistently delivers on its promise of free conversion without requiring credit card details. The platform is praised for its clean design and lack of spam. However, some users report issues with premium features, including misleading charges and password-locked files not unlocking as expected.
What customers said:
- „It worked! It was quick and easy and free!“
- „Converted my pdf to word no probs, easy to do“
- „Free to use and works smoothly mobile 🔥“
- „I paid for an PREMIUM ACCOUNT then tried to UNLOCK a password protected pdf file and…“
„I paid for an PREMIUM ACCOUNT then tried to UNLOCK a password protected pdf file and this stupid site requires me to enter the password for that pdf file!“
Avoid These Tools for Free or Budget Use
Acrobat and Wondershare PDFelement receive low ratings due to poor value and user experience. Acrobat is criticized for unexpected charges and lack of a free option, while Wondershare is seen as bloated, with frequent interruptions from upgrade prompts and poor handling of large files. Neither tool delivers consistent quality or fair pricing.
What customers said:
- „Charged $73.84 without warning“
- „Your one-time payment is too expensive!“
- „Mesmo a versão paga é um show de janelas e pedidos para usar AI, para fazer upgrade,…“
„Mesmo a versão paga é um show de janelas e pedidos para usar AI, para fazer upgrade, para avaliar, e nisso a minha concentração e fluxo de trabalho (sem falar na paciência) são interrompidos o tempo…“
- „ai does not work“
Theme-by-theme: what reviewers say
| Theme | Smallpdf | iLovePDF | Acrobat | Wondershare PDFelement | FreeConvert |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality | 83% positive strength · 54 mentions | 81% positive strength · 88 mentions | 67% positive mixed · 6 mentions | 58% positive mixed · 19 mentions | 84% positive strength · 38 mentions |
| Customer service | 57% positive mixed · 7 mentions | 80% positive strength · 10 mentions | not enough data | not enough data | 100% positive ✓ strength · 9 mentions |
| Value for money | 59% positive mixed · 17 mentions | 75% positive ✓ strength · 28 mentions | 33% positive pain point · 6 mentions | 33% positive pain point · 9 mentions | 69% positive mixed · 13 mentions |
| Ordering & website | 62% positive mixed · 13 mentions | 59% positive mixed · 29 mentions | 20% positive pain point · 10 mentions | 14% positive pain point · 7 mentions | 77% positive ✓ strength · 13 mentions |
How we compare: theme sentiment uses only reviews classified by our analysis (coverage: Smallpdf 113/113 (100%), iLovePDF 182/182 (100%), Acrobat 25/25 (100%), Wondershare PDFelement 29/29 (100%), FreeConvert 74/74 (100%)); we compare positive/negative shares, not raw counts, weight recent reviews more, and mark themes with fewer than 5 classified mentions as insufficient data instead of naming a winner. Star ratings cover all public reviews and are recency-weighted. Product comparison: each brand is measured only on reviews from the last 24 months that concern PDF Converter (minimum 25 reviews per brand). Awards are purely data-derived; no award is given when the gap is not significant.
In reviewers’ own words
Ordering & website
“This site is very fast in conversion”
· Trustpilot ·
“can't able to convert to pdf after scanning”
· Google Play ·
“does not even has a free trial”
· Google Play ·
“I had been trying for hours to convert a ppt to a pdf and it just didn t work”
· Apple App Store ·
“I drop in my file, click convert, and it just works.”
· Trustpilot ·
Quality
“The image as clear as the original”
· Trustpilot ·
“It only converted the first 2 pages of my PDF to Excel”
· Trustpilot ·
“Can turn photos into pdf”
· Apple App Store ·
“convert any chat pdf in to beautiful sellable books in high resolution images”
· Google Play ·
“Quickly and easily converted a HEIC file to a jpg!”
· Trustpilot ·
Value for money
“rather than going through the steps and at the end presenting you with payment options rather than a download”
· Trustpilot ·
“A big thank you to a marvellous FREE product”
· Trustpilot ·
“it should be more free options”
· Google Play ·
“this is easier than finding and setting up a dedicated program”
· Trustpilot ·
Customer service
“That their Support Team is friendly and helpful.”
· Capterra · translated
“Good experience with ilovePDF always”
· Capterra ·
“I appreciate your help in converting my mov to mp4 so fast and free!”
· Trustpilot ·
FAQ
What is the best PDF converter based on user reviews?
Reviewers favor FreeConvert for fast, no-frills free conversions, while Smallpdf and iLovePDF are praised for ease of use and speed, though both face criticism over errors and ads. Acrobat and Wondershare PDFelement receive mixed feedback, with Acrobat criticized for lack of free trials and privacy concerns, and PDFelement seen as overpriced and inconsistent in performance.
FreeConvert
Reviewers report FreeConvert as the top choice for simple, quick conversions with minimal hassle. It’s praised for handling file types like HEIC to JPG without pop-ups or spam, and users appreciate the straightforward interface that just works. The free tier allows 10 conversions per day, which many find sufficient for light use.
Smallpdf
Smallpdf is frequently commended for its speed and ease of use, especially for batch conversions like turning multiple JPGs into a single PDF. However, users also report recurring technical issues, such as unexpected errors and failed conversions, along with intrusive ads and billing confusion after free trials.
iLovePDF
iLovePDF earns high marks for being genuinely free and fast, with users noting quick processing and no hidden costs. Yet, some reviewers complain about the free version failing to convert files properly, freezing during processing, or only converting partial content, which undermines its reliability.
What customers said:
- „always the same unexpected error, why can't an app like iLove PDF do it without the…“
„always the same unexpected error, why can't an app like iLove PDF do it without the errors that SmallPDF has“
Original„siempre lo mismo unexpect error para que una app si ilove pdf lo puede hacer sin los errores que tiene smallpdf“
- „It only converted the first 2 pages of my PDF to Excel“
- „It was amazing to use Smallpdf for converting multiple jpg files in one pdf, Thank you.“
- „It’s not free-er than other online converters with only 10 convertions/day.“
What is the best free PDF converter based on user reviews?
FreeConvert is rated the highest by users for its free PDF conversion service, praised for being fast, simple, and reliable without intrusive ads. Smallpdf and iLovePDF also receive strong positive feedback for ease of use, but FreeConvert stands out for consistently delivering on its free promise.
FreeConvert
Reviewers report that FreeConvert delivers a clean, fast conversion experience with no pop-ups or spam. It is especially praised for handling file types like HEIC and for working reliably every day without complex settings. Some users note the 10 free conversions per day limit is restrictive, but overall it is seen as the most trustworthy free option.
Smallpdf
Users appreciate Smallpdf for its simplicity and speed in converting files like JPGs to PDFs, with many calling it very useful and easy to use. However, some reviewers report issues with unexpected errors, poor handling of scanned PDFs, and misleading billing practices that led to frustration and negative ratings.
iLovePDF
iLovePDF is praised for being genuinely free and fast, with quick conversions and no hidden costs. Yet, some users report technical problems like the app freezing, failing to convert full files, or not working at all. The free version is criticized for being limited, and some feel it does not deliver on its promises.
What customers said:
- „Just a quick, easy convert for free.“
- „Fooled me with the « free » convert advertising !“
- „always the same unexpected error, why can't an app like iLove PDF do it without the…“
„always the same unexpected error, why can't an app like iLove PDF do it without the errors that SmallPDF has“
Original„siempre lo mismo unexpect error para que una app si ilove pdf lo puede hacer sin los errores que tiene smallpdf“
- „free version is useless“