kitio.aiPDFgear vs LightPDF
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. PDFgear is completely free, while LightPDF is freemium.
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
- Chat with PDF
- AI document summaries
- OCR
- PDF editing and conversion
- E-signatures
- Apps on all major platforms
| Feature | PDFgear | LightPDF |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Free PDF editor with a built-in AI assistant for documents | AI PDF editor for chatting with, summarizing and converting files |
| Category | Productivity | Productivity |
| Pricing model | Free | Freemium |
| Starting price | Free | $5.99/mo |
| Free plan | Yes, fully free | Yes |
| Made by | PDFgear | LightPDF |
| Based in | – | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
|
Both offer: AI document summaries.
Pricing compared
PDFgear is completely free, while LightPDF is freemium.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
4 plans
Free
Free
- Web only
- 10MB maximum file size
- Selected features
Monthly
$5.99/mo
- Web, mobile and desktop
- Unlimited file size
- 1,000 AI credits per month
Yearly
$15.99/yr
- Web, mobile and desktop
- 1,000 AI credits per month
- 3-day free trial
Lifetime
$39.99 one-time
- One-time payment
- 40,000 AI credits until used
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
LightPDF
- Low price for editing plus AI
- Works on web, desktop and mobile
- Lifetime license option
- Free plan is web only with a 10MB limit
- Monthly AI credits don't roll over
- AI tools spend credits per use
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 LightPDF if you want:
- Low price for editing plus AI
- Works on web, desktop and mobile
- Lifetime license option
Watch out: free plan is web only with a 10mb limit.
PDFgear vs LightPDF FAQ
What is the difference between PDFgear and LightPDF?
PDFgear: Free PDF editor with a built-in AI assistant for documents. LightPDF: AI PDF editor for chatting with, summarizing and converting files. Both are productivity tools.
Is PDFgear or LightPDF cheaper?
PDFgear is completely free, while LightPDF is freemium.
Do PDFgear and LightPDF have free plans?
PDFgear: Yes, fully free. LightPDF: Yes.
Who makes PDFgear?
PDFgear is made by PDFgear.
Who makes LightPDF?
LightPDF is made by LightPDF.
Which should I choose, PDFgear or LightPDF?
Choose PDFgear if you value free without signing up and works on desktop, mobile and web. Choose LightPDF if you value low price for editing plus ai and works on web, desktop and mobile.