kitio.aiPDFgear vs LightOn
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. PDFgear is completely free, while LightOn is paid.
At a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- PDF editing and annotation
- AI document summaries
- PDF conversion
- Merge, split and compress
- Form filling and signing
- Apps for desktop and mobile
- Enterprise document search
- Document comparison
- Extraction and cross-checking
- OCR for scans and handwriting
- Evidence-linked answers
- Developer API
| Feature | PDFgear | LightOn |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Free PDF editor with a built-in AI assistant for documents | Enterprise AI search that makes company documents agent-readable |
| Category | Productivity | Productivity |
| Pricing model | Free | Paid |
| Starting price | Free | See pricing page |
| Free plan | Yes, fully free | No |
| Made by | PDFgear | LightOn |
| Based in | – | France |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
PDFgear is completely free, while LightOn is paid.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
Prices in USD, checked Oct 29, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
PDFgear
- Free without signing up
- Works on desktop, mobile and web
- Full editing, not just viewing
- AI features are less detailed than dedicated tools
- Few details on how the AI handles your data
- Team features are limited
LightOn
- Handles scans and handwriting
- Answers linked to source pages
- European AI provider
- No public pricing
- Demo-led sales process
- Aimed at large organizations
Which one should you choose?
Choose PDFgear if you want:
- Free without signing up
- Works on desktop, mobile and web
- Full editing, not just viewing
Watch out: ai features are less detailed than dedicated tools.
Choose LightOn if you want:
- Handles scans and handwriting
- Answers linked to source pages
- European AI provider
Watch out: no public pricing.
PDFgear vs LightOn FAQ
What is the difference between PDFgear and LightOn?
PDFgear: Free PDF editor with a built-in AI assistant for documents. LightOn: Enterprise AI search that makes company documents agent-readable. Both are productivity tools.
Is PDFgear or LightOn cheaper?
PDFgear is completely free, while LightOn is paid.
Do PDFgear and LightOn have free plans?
PDFgear: Yes, fully free. LightOn: No.
Who makes PDFgear?
PDFgear is made by PDFgear.
Who makes LightOn?
LightOn is made by LightOn, based in France.
Which should I choose, PDFgear or LightOn?
Choose PDFgear if you value free without signing up and works on desktop, mobile and web. Choose LightOn if you value handles scans and handwriting and answers linked to source pages.