You scanned five pages of a form. You have a folder of product photos for a catalog. You photographed receipts for your accountant. They all need to become one PDF.
Image-to-PDF is a common task — and like most PDF tools, the popular options upload your images first.
What We Compared
- Processing — server upload vs browser-local
- Input formats — JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF
- Page ordering — drag-and-drop reorder
- Page size settings — A4, Letter, fit to image
- Batch support
- Free limits
- Privacy
The Comparison
| Tool | Processing | Formats | Reorder pages | Page size | Batch | Free limits | Privacy |
|------|------------|---------|---------------|-----------|-------|-------------|---------|
| BrowserStay | Browser (local) | JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF | Yes | Yes | Yes | None | Never uploaded |
| iLovePDF | Server upload | JPG, PNG | Yes | Limited | Yes | Daily limit | Uploaded |
| Smallpdf | Server upload | JPG, PNG | Yes | Limited | Yes | 2/day | Uploaded |
| jpg2pdf.com | Server upload | JPG | No | Auto | Yes | Unlimited | Uploaded |
| Adobe Acrobat Online | Server upload | JPG, PNG, TIFF | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Uploaded |
| PDF24 | Server upload | JPG, PNG | Yes | Yes | Yes | Generous | Uploaded |
| Mac Preview | Desktop (Mac) | Most formats | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unlimited | Offline |
*Based on publicly available information as of 2026.*
Server-Upload Converters
iLovePDF, Smallpdf, jpg2pdf.com, Adobe, PDF24 all require uploading your images.
Strengths:
- Mature interfaces with page preview
- Adobe and PDF24 offer fine page size control
- jpg2pdf.com is simple and unlimited for JPG
- Handle large batches on server hardware
Weaknesses:
- Images uploaded to third-party servers — scanned IDs, receipts, personal photos
- Smallpdf: 2 tasks/day
- jpg2pdf.com: JPG only, no reordering
- Privacy depends on deletion policies
Best for: Non-sensitive images, marketing materials, public documents.
Browser-Based: BrowserStay
Combines images into a PDF locally with drag-and-drop page ordering.
Strengths:
- Images never leave your device
- JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF input
- Reorder pages before generating
- Page size and margin settings
- No limits, no account, no watermarks
Weaknesses:
- No TIFF input
- Very large batches may take time on older devices
Best for: Scanned documents, receipt photos, client images, anything sensitive.
Desktop: Mac Preview
Mac users can select images in Preview and export as PDF.
Strengths: Built-in, offline, unlimited
Weaknesses: Mac only, less intuitive for batch reordering
Best for: Mac users with a few images already open in Preview.
Tips for Better PDFs
- Reorder before generating — fix page sequence now, not after
- Consistent orientation — rotate images before converting if needed
- Choose page size — A4 or Letter for documents; fit-to-image for photos
- Compress after if the PDF is too large — convert heavy pages to images, compress, rebuild
How to Choose
| Situation | Best choice |
|-----------|-------------|
| Scanned personal documents | BrowserStay |
| Receipt photos for taxes | BrowserStay |
| Product catalog images | BrowserStay or PDF24 |
| Quick JPG-only, public images | jpg2pdf.com |
| Mac user, few images | Mac Preview |
| Need TIFF input | Adobe or PDF24 (accept upload) |
Try It Yourself
Convert images to PDF with our free Image to PDF tool. Drag and drop, reorder pages, customize settings, download. No uploads, no limits.
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