Is iLovePDF safe?
iLovePDF is an established European service with good published practices. For confidential PDFs, the safer question is whether they need to be uploaded at all.
The short answer
iLovePDF is one of the most popular PDF websites, a Europe-based company. It is legitimate, holds ISO/IEC 27001 certification and operates under the EU’s GDPR. For ordinary PDFs it is a sensible choice.
Its online tools work by uploading your PDF to its servers, processing it there and handing the result back. That means the document spends up to two hours outside your control. For payslips, bank statements, identity documents, medical or legal files, you may prefer tools that never send the file anywhere.
What iLovePDF says it does with your PDFs
As of October 2026, per iLovePDF’s security page and desktop page:
- Deletion. Processed files are automatically and permanently deleted within two hours; you can also delete them from the download screen straight away.
- Signatures. Documents signed through its e-signature service are kept for up to five years, for legal compliance.
- Encryption. Data is protected with HTTPS in transit, and the company says it is also encrypted at rest.
- Certification and law. ISO/IEC 27001 certified, GDPR compliant, and a Europe-based company.
- Desktop option. iLovePDF Desktop is available for Windows and Mac and processes files on your own computer.
What that means in practice
Two-hour deletion and a certified security programme are good practice for a web PDF service. The limit is that deletion and access controls are promises about a server you cannot inspect. That is true of every upload-based tool, not a criticism of iLovePDF in particular.
Many workplaces and professions set the rule for you: client files, HR records and patient data may not be uploaded to unapproved third-party services, however reputable. If that applies to you, an offline or in-browser tool is the way to stay within policy.
Merge, split and compress PDFs without uploading
Stayput’s PDF tools run entirely in your browser tab. Merge PDF joins files in the order you choose, Split PDF extracts pages or splits every page, Compress PDF shrinks scanned documents, and Sign PDF places a drawn or typed signature. The PDF is read from your disk and the result is written back; there is no upload, no account and no daily limit.
iLovePDF offers a wider set of tools and e-signature options. If you need those, its desktop app processes files on your machine; for the common jobs, a browser tool does the same without installing anything.
Check it yourself
You can verify where your PDF goes on any site with the browser’s network panel or a quick airplane-mode test. Our five-minute guide shows how, and Is it safe to merge PDFs online? covers the general risks of uploading documents.
Questions
Is iLovePDF legit?
Yes. It is an established Europe-based service with ISO/IEC 27001 certification and GDPR compliance, according to its security page.
How long does iLovePDF keep my files?
As of October 2026, its security page says processed files are deleted automatically within two hours. Documents signed with its e-signature service are kept for up to five years.
Does iLovePDF have an offline version?
Yes. Per its desktop page, iLovePDF Desktop for Windows and Mac processes files offline. Browser tools like Stayput’s are another option that needs no installation.
How can I merge PDFs without uploading them?
Use a tool that runs in the browser. Stayput’s Merge PDF joins files inside the page; after one visit and a short wait, it keeps working with the network switched off.