PDF24 and Pagestays serve different document needs. Choose Pagestays for supported local page tasks; choose PDF24 when its documented strengths match the work.
What the source says
| Question | PDF24 | Pagestays |
|---|---|---|
| Free access | The publisher describes the tools as free without usage restrictions. | Listed tools are free, with no daily task counter. |
| Paid price | Free; online tools are supported by advertising. | No paid plan available. Pro is in development. |
| File handling | Online files deleted within 1 hour. PDF24 Creator processes locally on Windows. | Local browser processing; document contents are not uploaded. |
Where PDF24 is a better fit
The Windows Creator application is an established offline option with a broader tool collection.
PDF24 has an important split between its online tools and Creator. The web service processes uploaded files, while Creator offers local desktop processing. Both are described as free by the publisher. If you already use Windows and want a tool available without loading a website, Creator deserves consideration. Pagestays provides a local browser workflow without an application installation.
Choose based on the output
Decide whether you can install software. If you can, compare a Creator workflow with the browser workspace using the same file. Check the actual output and the setup needed, rather than treating all free PDF tools as interchangeable.
Pagestays can rearrange pages, fill supported existing fields, add a visible signature, and convert pages to images. It cannot edit existing paragraphs, create certificate signatures, or validate archival conformance. If one of those is the actual task, a broader product can be the better choice even when a free page tool is available.
How to read this comparison
This is a source review, not a claim that every paid feature was personally tested. Vendor statements are dated, and account-specific limits can differ. An unverified amount is left unquoted. A deletion window for processed files should not be applied to saved account documents or backups unless the vendor explicitly says so.
Prices and features checked on 2026-10-29. Spotted something out of date? Email contact@pagestays.com.
Product update, October 30, 2026: Pagestays also offers printed-text OCR and smart split locally. Vendor facts and their checked dates above are unchanged.