A PDFgear alternative with nothing to install
PDFgear is a free PDF app for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android with a smaller set of online tools. Mediaextractr needs no install at all: every tool runs in your browser, and PDFs, video, audio and images share one site.
- 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
- Everything is free; no sign-up, no watermark
- Paid plans
- No paid plan published; one page says some may come later
- Your files
- Apps run locally; online PDF to Word uses cloud servers
- Account
- Not required
- Works on
- Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, web, Chrome extension
Why people look for a PDFgear alternative
PDFgear is a PDF editor and reader offered free, with no sign-up and no watermark, as apps for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android, plus a set of online PDF tools and a Chrome extension. It includes text editing, OCR and an AI assistant.
Full features need an app install
PDFgear's online tools are a subset of the apps. Its page says the online editor can only add text boxes and has a 50 MB file limit, while editing existing text and offline use need the desktop software. Mediaextractr needs no download.
Some processing leaves your device
Its merge tool runs in the browser, but its PDF to Word page says files go to cloud servers and are deleted when you close the window or after a short time. AI features may send PDF content to an AI provider after you consent in the app.
PDF only
PDFgear is built around PDFs and a few office and image conversions. For video trimming, audio conversion, archives or JSON in the same place, Mediaextractr covers them.
Possible future paid features
A PDFgear page from April 2024 says most features will stay free but some advanced ones, such as cloud-based AI, may be charged for in future. No paid plan was listed when we checked.
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 PDFgear, feature by feature
Checked against PDFgear's own pages. The rows that matter most for privacy and cost come first.
| Feature | Mediaextractr | PDFgear |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy and access | ||
| Files stay on your device (no upload) | Yes | PartlyDesktop tasks and its online merge run locally; online PDF to Word uses cloud servers |
| Free to use without an account | Yes | Yes |
| No daily limit on free use | Yes | YesNo cap stated; online editor has a 50 MB file limit |
| No watermark on free results | Yes | Yes |
| Works in a phone browser | Yes | YesIts online merge page says it works in iPhone, iPad and Android browsers |
| Beyond PDF | ||
| Video tools (trim, compress, convert) | Yes | No |
| Audio tools (cut, convert, MP3) | Yes | No |
| Image tools (HEIC, resize, compress) | Yes | PartlyHEIC, JPG and PNG to PDF only; no general image tools |
| ZIP, RAR and 7Z tools | Yes | No |
| JSON, CSV and XML tools | Yes | No |
| 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 | ?Online Unlock PDF is listed; password protection not confirmed |
| Add watermark | Yes | YesListed with stamps in its editor features |
| Add page numbers | Yes | ? |
| Advanced PDF | ||
| Sign a PDF yourself | YesVisible signature, not a certificate | Yes |
| Send documents for others to sign | No | PartlyVia eSignGear, a separate e-signing service |
| Fill PDF forms | Yes | Yes |
| Redact text | Yes | ? |
| Compare two PDFs | Yes | ? |
| Edit existing text in a PDF | No | YesWindows app edits existing text; the online editor only adds text boxes |
| OCR (scans to searchable text) | No | Yes |
| AI chat / summaries | No | YesFree; PDF content may be sent to an AI provider after you consent in the app |
| Apps and extras | ||
| Several files at once | Yes | YesDesktop app converts and compresses several files at once |
| Desktop app | No | Yes |
| Mobile app | No | Yes |
| Google Drive / Dropbox import | No | ? |
| Developer API | No | ? |
Yes Yes Partly Partly No No, or not offered on their site ? Not stated on their site
What you pay
PDFgear's prices as published on their site on October 30, 2026. Prices can change and may vary by country.
MMediaextractr
PPDFgear
Why Mediaextractr is the better choice
Everything people like about PDFgear'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 PDFgear? Your first file takes seconds and needs no account.
Try Mediaextractr freeStart with these free tools
PDFgear alternative: questions
Is PDFgear really free?
Its site says the software is free with no sign-up and no added watermark, and it lists no paid plans. A page dated April 2024 says some advanced features, such as cloud-based AI, may become paid later, with no timeline set.
What is a free PDFgear alternative that needs no download?
Mediaextractr runs entirely in your browser: merge, split, compress, rotate, sign, fill forms and more, with no install, sign-up or watermark. It does not edit existing text, run OCR or offer AI.
Does PDFgear upload my files?
It depends on the tool. Desktop editing is done locally, and its online merge page says files are processed in your browser. Its PDF to Word page says files are processed by cloud servers and deleted afterwards. Mediaextractr never uploads.
Does PDFgear have AI?
Yes. PDFgear includes an AI assistant for summaries, explanations and translation, which needs an internet connection. Its Windows FAQ says PDF content and chat input may be sent to an AI provider after you give consent. Mediaextractr has no AI features.
Can PDFgear edit existing PDF text?
Yes, in the desktop app, which lets you change fonts, sizes and colors. Its online editor only adds text boxes. Mediaextractr cannot edit existing text.
Which operating systems does PDFgear support?
Windows 10 and 11, macOS, iOS and Android, plus online tools that work in a browser. Mediaextractr works in any modern browser on any 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 PDFgear was checked on October 30, 2026 from its public pages: PDFgear home page, Is PDFgear really free?, PDFgear for Windows, PDFgear online tools, PDFgear online merge, PDFgear PDF to Word. Features and prices change; tell us if something is out of date. PDFgear is a trademark of its owner. Mediaextractr is not affiliated with or endorsed by PDFgear.