The free PDF Candy alternative that never uploads your files
PDF Candy offers a big set of PDF tools with a free tier that has hourly and file-size limits, plus a Windows app. Mediaextractr works in your browser with no upload and no hourly caps.
- Files never uploaded
- No daily limits
- 600+ tools, not just PDF
- Free plan
- Everything, free
- Paid plans
- Free: All tools, no sign-up, no daily limits
- Your files
- Never leave your device
- Account
- Not needed
- Works on
- Any modern browser, desktop and phone
- Free plan
- Free web plan with hourly, page and file-size limits
- Paid plans
- Web Monthly $6/month; Desktop + Web Yearly shown as $4/month
- Your files
- Online: yes, kept up to 2 hours. Windows app works offline
- Account
- Not required per their pages; a sign-in prompt is shown
- Works on
- Web and Windows desktop app (works offline)
Why people look for a PDF Candy alternative
PDF Candy is a collection of online PDF tools covering conversion, editing, OCR, signing, and AI features such as summaries and chat. It also sells a Windows desktop app that works offline. A free web tier is available, and paid plans remove hourly limits and raise file-size limits.
Hourly limits on the free plan
Their pricing and tool pages describe a cap on operations per hour and smaller file sizes on the free plan, with no hourly limits on paid plans. Mediaextractr has no hourly or daily limits.
Online files are uploaded
PDF Candy says it keeps uploaded files on its servers for no longer than two hours, with GDPR compliance. If you want files to never leave your device, Mediaextractr runs in your browser. Their Windows app is an offline option.
Bigger files and batch need a paid plan
Paid plans raise the per-task limit to 500 MB and add no hourly limits and priority processing, from about $4 to $6 a month as shown on their pricing page.
You need video or audio tools together
Video and image tools sit on separate Candy sites named on their pricing page. Mediaextractr has video, audio, image, archive and JSON tools on one site.
Real recordings, not mock-ups
Each clip was recorded on our live tools. Watch the upload counter in the first one stay at zero.
Mediaextractr vs PDF Candy, feature by feature
Checked against PDF Candy's own pages. The rows that matter most for privacy and cost come first.
| Feature | Mediaextractr | PDF Candy |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy and access | ||
| Files stay on your device (no upload) | Yes | PartlyThe online tools upload files and keep them up to 2 hours. The Windows desktop app is described as working fully offline. |
| Free to use without an account | Yes | YesTheir pricing page says the free plan has no account requirement; tool pages also show a sign-in prompt. |
| No daily limit on free use | Yes | Hourly limits applyPaid plans advertise "no hourly limits", which implies the free tier has hourly caps; no number is given. |
| No watermark on free results | Yes | ? |
| Works in a phone browser | Yes | ? |
| Beyond PDF | ||
| Video tools (trim, compress, convert) | Yes | Video Candy named on pricing pageVideo Candy is named as a product on their pricing page; we did not check how it relates or what it costs. |
| Audio tools (cut, convert, MP3) | Yes | No |
| Image tools (HEIC, resize, compress) | Yes | Image Candy named on pricing pageImage Candy is named as a product on their pricing page; we did not check its tools. |
| ZIP, RAR and 7Z tools | Yes | NoOnly ZIP to PDF appears in their tool list. |
| JSON, CSV and XML tools | Yes | NoOnly PDF to CSV and CSV to PDF appear in their tool list. |
| Everyday PDF tasks | ||
| Merge PDF | Yes | Yes |
| Split PDF | Yes | Yes |
| Compress PDF | Yes | Yes |
| Rotate, reorder and delete pages | Yes | Yes |
| PDF to JPG / PNG | Yes | Yes |
| JPG to PDF | Yes | Yes |
| PDF to Word | PartlyText, headings and lists; no images or tables | Yes |
| Word to PDF | No | Yes |
| PDF to Excel | No | Yes |
| Protect and unlock PDF | Yes | Yes |
| Add watermark | Yes | Yes |
| Add page numbers | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced PDF | ||
| Sign a PDF yourself | YesVisible signature, not a certificate | Yes |
| Send documents for others to sign | No | ? |
| Fill PDF forms | Yes | Yes |
| Redact text | Yes | ?A Whiteout PDF tool is listed; no redact tool in the list we read. |
| Compare two PDFs | Yes | ?Not in the tool list we read. |
| Edit existing text in a PDF | No | YesTheir Edit PDF page says you can change text, replace paragraphs and fix typos; the free limit is 50 MB. |
| OCR (scans to searchable text) | No | Yes |
| AI chat / summaries | No | Yes |
| Apps and extras | ||
| Several files at once | Yes | PartlyPricing page lists no batch processing on free, yet Merge PDF accepts up to 100 PDFs per session. |
| Desktop app | No | Yes |
| Mobile app | No | ? |
| Google Drive / Dropbox import | No | YesMerge PDF accepts files from Google Drive and Dropbox. |
| Developer API | No | ? |
Yes Yes Partly Partly No No, or not offered on their site ? Not stated on their site
What you pay
PDF Candy's prices as published on their site on October 30, 2026. Prices can change and may vary by country.
MMediaextractr
CPDF Candy
Why Mediaextractr is the better choice
Everything people like about PDF Candy's everyday tools, without the uploads, limits or accounts.
Your files never leave your device
Every tool runs inside your browser. Nothing is uploaded, stored or seen by anyone, so private documents stay private.
Free, with no limits or sign-up
No daily task caps, no trial, no watermark and no account. Use any tool as often as you like.
Starts instantly
No waiting for uploads and downloads. Work begins the moment you add a file, even on slow connections.
600+ tools, not just PDF
Video, audio, images, Word, Excel, ZIP and JSON tools sit next to the PDF tools, all free and all private.
Ready to leave PDF Candy? Your first file takes seconds and needs no account.
Try Mediaextractr freeStart with these free tools
PDF Candy alternative: questions
Is there a free alternative to PDF Candy?
Yes. Mediaextractr is free with no account and no hourly or daily limits, and it covers merge, split, compress, PDF to JPG, JPG to PDF, protect and sign. It has no OCR, Word to PDF or PDF to Excel.
Does PDF Candy upload my files?
The online tools do. PDF Candy says it keeps files on its servers for no longer than two hours. Its Windows desktop app is described as working fully offline.
Is PDF Candy free?
There is a free web plan with hourly, page and file-size limits, per their pricing page. Paid plans start around $4 to $6 a month, and a $99 lifetime desktop + web option is also listed.
What is the PDF Candy free limit?
Their site mentions a cap on operations per hour but gives no number. It lists file-size limits such as 200 MB for Merge PDF and 50 MB for Edit PDF, and paid plans go up to 500 MB.
Can I use PDF Candy without signing up?
Their pricing page says the free plan has no account requirement, and Merge PDF says no registration is required, although tool pages also show a sign-in prompt.
What can PDF Candy do that Mediaextractr cannot?
PDF Candy offers OCR, Word to PDF, PDF to Excel, editing of existing text, AI summaries and chat, cloud-drive import and a Windows app. Mediaextractr has none of these.
Mediaextractr vs other PDF sites
Switch to a simpler, private way to work with files
Free, no account, and your files never leave your device.
Explore all toolsInformation about PDF Candy was checked on October 30, 2026 from its public pages: PDF Candy pricing, PDF Candy home (tool list), PDF Candy Merge PDF, PDF Candy Edit PDF, PDF Candy desktop, PDF Candy tools help. Features and prices change; tell us if something is out of date. PDF Candy is a trademark of its owner. Mediaextractr is not affiliated with or endorsed by PDF Candy.