The short answer
Choose PDFWisely when the document is private (CVs, contracts, letters, bank or medical papers) or when it is a scan, because the file never leaves your device and OCR is free. Choose iLovePDF when you want to open files straight from Google Drive or Dropbox, or you already pay for its Premium plan.
We make PDFWisely, so we have tried to keep this comparison factual. Everything about iLovePDF below was checked on its PDF to Word page on 13 November 2026; features change, so check its site for the latest.
Used PDFWisely? Read and write reviews on Trustpilot.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | PDFWisely | iLovePDF |
|---|---|---|
| Where your file is processed | On your device, in the browser. Nothing is uploaded. | On iLovePDF’s servers (the file is uploaded). |
| OCR for scanned PDFs | Free, built in (English, Urdu, Arabic, Hindi) | Premium feature on PDF to Word |
| Conversion modes | 3: keep layout, reflowed text, exact look | 1 standard conversion (plus OCR on Premium) |
| Tables | Real Word tables with borders, merged cells and shading | Converted by its server engine (test your own file) |
| Several files at once | Yes, results in one ZIP | Yes |
| Google Drive and Dropbox import | Not yet; open the file from your device | Yes |
| Ads on the tool page | None | Shown to free users |
| Sign-up or watermark | None | Not required for basic use |
| Works offline after loading | Yes for text PDFs, once the file is added | No, needs the server |
Privacy: upload vs on-device
Most online converters, iLovePDF included, upload your PDF to their servers, convert it there and let you download the result. Reputable services delete files after a few hours, but the document still travels to and sits on someone else’s computer for a while.
PDFWisely works differently. The converter is downloaded to your browser and runs on your own device, so the PDF is read and converted locally. There is nothing for us to store, read or delete. That matters most for documents with personal details, such as CVs, ID papers, payslips and contracts.
Quick check: open PDF to Word and add a text PDF, then switch off Wi-Fi or mobile data and press Convert. It still converts, which shows the file is not being sent anywhere.
Scanned PDFs and OCR
A scanned PDF holds pictures of pages, not text. To get editable Word text, a converter must run OCR (optical character recognition). On iLovePDF’s PDF to Word tool, OCR is a Premium option. PDFWisely includes it free, reads tables cell by cell for better accuracy, and recognises bold and italic text from the letter shapes.
For the best results with either tool, scan at 200–300 DPI in good light. See how to get accurate OCR and scanned vs native PDFs.
Layout and tables
PDFWisely offers three modes. Editable, keep layout keeps the page size, text positions, fonts, bold, italic and underline, and turns bordered tables into real Word tables with merged cells and shaded header rows. Editable text gives clean paragraphs that are easy to restyle. Exact look places each page as a picture when nothing may change.
After converting, PDFWisely shows a preview of the Word file on the page, so you can check headings and tables before you download.
When iLovePDF is the better choice
- You keep your PDFs in Google Drive or Dropbox and want to open them without downloading first.
- You already have an iLovePDF Premium plan and use its desktop or mobile apps.
- Your device is very old or low on memory, and the PDF has hundreds of pages. Server conversion does not depend on your device’s power.
How to convert with PDFWisely
- Open PDF to Word.
- Drag in one PDF, or several at once for a ZIP of Word files.
- Choose Editable, keep layout and keep Read scanned pages with OCR ticked.
- Press Convert to Word, check the preview, then download.
Frequently asked questions
Is PDFWisely a good iLovePDF alternative?
Yes, especially if you convert scanned PDFs or private documents. PDFWisely includes OCR for free and converts files in your browser, so nothing is uploaded. iLovePDF is a strong choice if you need its wider set of cloud features.
Does iLovePDF upload my files?
Yes. iLovePDF processes files on its own servers, so your PDF is uploaded for conversion. PDFWisely converts the file on your device instead.
Is OCR free on iLovePDF?
On the PDF to Word tool, OCR for scanned PDFs is marked as a Premium feature. PDFWisely includes OCR for scanned pages and phone scans at no cost.
Can I convert several PDFs at once?
Both tools support it. In PDFWisely, select several PDFs together; each is converted with the same settings and you download one ZIP file.
Which one keeps tables better?
It depends on the PDF, so try your own file in both. PDFWisely turns bordered tables into real Word tables with merged cells and shaded header rows, and shows a preview of the Word file before you download it.