Sejda Online Free vs Desktop Free

Choose where the PDF may be processed before comparing convenience. Sejda Online Free uploads the file for server processing, states automatic deletion after two hours, and limits free use to 200 pages or 50 MB and three tasks per hour. Sejda Desktop Free documents local processing, but its free allowance is three tasks per day and includes separate document limits. Both document existing-text editing; scanned-image text requires a separate OCR workflow. The browser editor's numeric build was not exposed, and WhatsNew2Day could not complete a controlled upload in its remote test browser on 26 September 2026, so no hands-on output or fidelity result is claimed.

Vendor sources and our tests are labelled separately. Independent tests that have not been run are not implied.

Vendor documentation is shown below. Independent tests are pending. Totals show known charges in each product’s currency; no currency conversion, tax or future price increase is assumed. List charges exclude volume discounts.

Sejda PDF

Desktop Free

PlatformWindows · macOS · Linux

Purchase basisFreePrice checked: 12 Sept 2026

Known 1-year cost · 1 person$0.00Tax excluded. Future upgrades and optional maintenance are not included unless stated.

Edit existing textAvailable · official sourceOfficial source · 12 Sept 2026Existing PDF text editing is documented; scanned-image text must first be recognized.

Read scanned text (OCR)Available with limitsOfficial source · 12 Sept 2026Free OCR is limited to 10 pages; the edition also allows only three tasks per day.

Create fillable formsAvailable · official sourceOfficial source · 12 Sept 2026Creates form fields; the source links the offline Desktop workflow. Free daily and document limits still apply.

Fill existing formsNot established

Annotate & signAvailable · official sourceOfficial source · 12 Sept 2026Highlights, shapes and typed, drawn or uploaded signatures are documented.

Merge & organize pagesAvailable with limitsOfficial source · 12 Sept 2026Free merge is limited to 30 files and 50 pages, within three tasks per day.

Permanently redact textSource reviewed · not establishedOfficial source · 12 Sept 2026Whiteout is documented. Concealing a region does not establish permanent removal of underlying text; extraction testing is outstanding.

Offline core taskLocal core task documented · task test pending

Three tasks per day; OCR up to 10 pages; other document limits apply.

View evidence and details

Sejda PDF

Online Free · browser

PlatformBrowser

Purchase basisFreePrice checked: 26 Sept 2026

Known 1-year cost · 1 person$0.00Tax excluded. Free browser service within the stated hourly, page and file-size limits. Paid plans and other Sejda tools are separate.

Edit existing textAvailable · official sourceOfficial source · 26 Sept 2026The official editor page documents clicking existing text to edit it; scanned PDFs are excluded from that existing-text workflow.

Read scanned text (OCR)Not supportedOfficial source · 26 Sept 2026This editor workflow does not edit text inside scanned images. OCR is a separate Sejda tool and task.

Create fillable formsAvailable · official sourceOfficial source · 26 Sept 2026The editor documents creating text, multiline, dropdown, checkbox and radio fields.

Fill existing formsAvailable · official sourceOfficial source · 26 Sept 2026The editor documents filling existing form fields.

Annotate & signAvailable · official sourceOfficial source · 26 Sept 2026Highlights, shapes, text and signatures are documented.

Merge & organize pagesNot supportedOfficial source · 26 Sept 2026Merging is a separate Sejda tool, not this exact editor task.

Permanently redact textTool documented · outcome test neededOfficial source · 26 Sept 2026Whiteout is documented, but covering content is not evidence that underlying text was permanently removed.

Offline core taskOnline required · task test pending

Files are uploaded for server processing and automatically deleted after two hours. Free use is limited to 200 pages or 50 MB and three tasks per hour. Scanned-image text is not editable as existing text in this tool.

View evidence and details

FILE-PATH DECISION

Online convenience or local processing?

Use the online editor only when uploading the document is acceptable. Choose Desktop when the file needs to stay on the computer. The two free editions also count tasks differently, so neither is automatically the better free choice.

Diagram comparing Sejda Online server processing with Sejda Desktop local processing

Documentation-derived diagram, checked 26 September 2026. It is not a screenshot or a hands-on software-test result.

Decision	Online Free	Desktop Free
Where the PDF is processed	Uploaded to Sejda servers	Local processing on the computer
Free task allowance	3 tasks per hour	3 tasks per day
Editor document limit	200 pages or 50 MB	Separate per-tool limits; check the task
Existing text	Vendor documented; scans excluded	Vendor documented; saved-output test pending
Numeric build in this review	Not exposed on the web page	Record the installed build before testing

Hands-on test status

The public web editor loaded, but the controlled PDF fixture could not be transferred through the remote test browser on 26 September 2026. No output PDF was produced, so this comparison does not claim editing fidelity, a successful save or a test pass.

Download the same public test fixture and record the browser, date, exact task, saved output and limitations if you repeat the check.

Choose the file path before the interface

Online means an upload

The Online Free editor sends the PDF to Sejda for processing and states automatic deletion after two hours. Desktop Free documents local processing. If the file is sensitive or cannot leave the device, the browser edition is the wrong path regardless of its convenience.

The free limits use different clocks

Online Free states three tasks per hour, with a 200-page or 50 MB document limit. Desktop Free states three tasks per day and separate limits such as 10 OCR pages. Confirm the exact task and document size rather than treating both free editions as interchangeable.

No hands-on winner is claimed

The web editor was reachable, but a controlled fixture upload could not be completed in the remote test browser on 26 September 2026. This page therefore reports vendor documentation only; it does not claim saved-output fidelity or a successful existing-text edit.