Question 1

Is the PDF comparison of PDF files free and secure?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the service is completely free. No registration is required, there are no hidden fees, and PDFs are created without watermarks. For more information, please see here: ilovepdf.com/en/help/security

Question 2

Are my files saved or automatically deleted after upload?

Accepted Answer

Your PDF files remain protected throughout the entire process. They are used exclusively to create your desired output file (e.g. PDF), and all data is always transmitted encrypted.

If you do not delete them manually, the system automatically and permanently deletes your files after a maximum of 2 hours. Access by third parties is thus excluded. There is no permanent storage. For more information, please see here: ilovepdf.com/en/help/legal

Question 3

How does the PDF comparison work at iLovePDF?

Accepted Answer

The tool analyzes both PDF files line- and object-based and automatically marks all differences. Visual changes, text variations, and formatting deviations are highlighted in color. This way you quickly see what has changed in the new version without manual checking.

Question 4

What types of differences are detected?

Accepted Answer

Text changes, deleted or new passages, layout shifts, and formatting changes are detected. Even small adjustments such as spaces, line breaks, or font changes can be identified. The tool displays all differences clearly structured in the result PDF.

Question 5

Does the comparison work with scanned PDFs?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but only if the scanned PDF has been made searchable via OCR beforehand. Pure image PDFs without text information cannot be reliably compared. After OCR conversion (ilovepdf.com/en/ocr_pdf), the comparison works like with a normal document.

Question 6

What affects the PDF comparison quality?

Accepted Answer

The more structured and text-based the PDF is, the more precisely the tool detects differences. Complex layouts, many tables, or embedded images can slow the comparison somewhat but remain reliable. Especially clear results are obtained with PDFs that have a real text layer.

If you have further questions, you can always contact support. ilovepdf.com/en/contact

Question 7

Can I export the differences or save them as a new PDF?

Accepted Answer

Yes. After the comparison, you receive a new PDF in which all changes are color-coded. You can download, share, or further process it. This makes the document perfect for revision, quality control, or project approvals.

Question 8

Can I compare two completely different PDFs?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but it only makes sense to compare if the documents have a similar structure or represent an earlier and later version. The tool highlights differences, even if they are very large. It is ideal for version control, revision, and document monitoring.

Compare PDF

Compare two PDF files online. Automatically detect all differences. Changes directly highlighted in color.

Short video tutorial in 3 steps

Tutorial

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Support

Privacy & Security (GDPR)