PDFzen vs PDFescape — Local Transforms vs Online Editor
PDFescape lets you edit and annotate PDFs online for free (with a page/size limit) and uploads files. PDFzen is unlimited, free, and processes everything in your browser.
Bottom line: Pick PDFzen for unlimited, private, no-upload compress / merge / convert. Pick PDFescape if you need free online annotation and accept the limit and upload.
Side-by-side
| Area | PDFzen | PDFescape |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, unlimited | Free tier (max ~10 MB / 100 pages) |
| File handling | In-browser, not uploaded | Uploaded to servers |
| Signup | Not required | Not required (free) |
| Editing | No (transforms only) | Yes (annotate, basic edit) |
| Best for | Private repeat transforms | Occasional online annotation |
What we verified
PDFescape's annotation is handy for a one-off form. For routine compress / merge / convert, our local tool has no size cap and never sends the file out. A 2 MB flyer became ~180 KB and a 4-page memo ~110 KB, every time.
Honest note: need to fill or annotate a form online? PDFescape is fine. Need unlimited private transforms? PDFzen.
AdSense slot — paste your in-article display ad <ins> code here (mid-content)
FAQ
Is PDFescape free?
Yes, with a limit (~10 MB / 100 pages) on the free tier.
Does PDFescape upload files?
Yes — files are processed on its servers. PDFzen does not.
Which does not upload?
PDFzen processes everything in your browser.