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QPDF VS iSafePDF

Compare QPDF VS iSafePDF and see what are their differences

QPDF logo QPDF

QPDF is a command-line program that does structural, content-preserving transformations on PDF...

iSafePDF logo iSafePDF

iSafePDF is a free open source PDF protection software.
  • QPDF Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-01-16
  • iSafePDF Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-19

QPDF features and specs

  • Open Source
    QPDF is an open-source project, allowing users to access, modify, and distribute the source code freely under the Apache License. This transparency can be an advantage for developers who need to integrate PDF features into their applications.
  • PDF Transformation
    QPDF offers robust functionality for transforming PDFs such as splitting, merging, and rotating, which can be crucial for users needing to manipulate PDF documents extensively.
  • Encryption and Decryption
    The tool provides strong support for encrypting and decrypting PDFs. This feature is valuable for users who need to protect sensitive information within PDF files.
  • Content Preservation
    QPDF focuses on retaining the original content and structure of a document even after transformations, ensuring that the integrity of the data is preserved.
  • Command-line Interface
    The tool's command-line interface makes it suitable for automated processing scripts and batch operations, which is helpful for advanced users and system administrators.

Possible disadvantages of QPDF

  • Complexity
    For users who are not familiar with command-line tools, QPDF can have a steep learning curve, making it less accessible to non-technical users.
  • Limited GUI
    QPDF lacks a graphical user interface, which may limit its usability for users who prefer visual interactions over command-line inputs.
  • Specific Use Case
    QPDF is mainly focused on serving developers and advanced users who need detailed PDF manipulations and may not provide the comprehensive feature set available in fully-fledged PDF editing applications.
  • Documentation Depth
    While QPDF provides documentation, it may not be exhaustive for all use cases, potentially requiring users to experiment or seek community assistance for complex tasks.
  • Dependency on Other Tools
    Certain transformations might require additional tools to perform tasks that go beyond QPDF’s capabilities, potentially complicating its use when a comprehensive solution is needed.

iSafePDF features and specs

  • Open Source
    iSafePDF is an open-source project, allowing users to modify and improve the software as needed. This fosters a collaborative environment and can lead to more robust and secure features over time.
  • Free to Use
    Being open source, iSafePDF is free to download and use, making it accessible for individuals and organizations with limited budgets.
  • Ease of Use
    The user interface of iSafePDF is designed to be straightforward and user-friendly, making it easy even for non-technical users to interact with the application.
  • Strong PDF Encryption
    iSafePDF offers strong encryption techniques for securing PDF files, which helps in protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access.
  • Signature Creation and Verification
    iSafePDF supports creating and verifying digital signatures, which adds an extra layer of security and authenticity to PDF documents.

Possible disadvantages of iSafePDF

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Compared to some commercial alternatives, iSafePDF might lack some advanced features such as cloud storage integration, extensive document editing, or batch processing.
  • Community Support
    As an open-source project, the level of support may vary and depend largely on community involvement. This could result in slower resolutions to issues and fewer updates.
  • Platform Dependence
    iSafePDF may not be as platform-agnostic or optimized for all operating systems compared to some of the more widely adopted commercial PDF security tools.
  • User Interface Design
    While functional, the user interface might not be as polished or modern-looking as some commercial alternatives, which could affect user experience.
  • Training and Documentation
    The availability of comprehensive training materials and documentation might be limited compared to paid software, which can present a learning curve for new users.

Analysis of QPDF

Overall verdict

  • QPDF is considered a good tool, especially for users who need a robust solution for handling PDFs in a command-line environment. Its performance and range of features make it a reliable choice for technical users.

Why this product is good

  • QPDF is a powerful open-source command-line tool for manipulating PDF files. It is highly regarded for its ability to efficiently process and convert PDFs, offering features like linearization, encryption, decryption, and content extraction. Its open-source nature allows for transparency and customization, which appeals to developers and those concerned about software reliability and security.

Recommended for

  • Developers who require integration of PDF processing in their applications
  • System administrators who prefer command-line tools
  • Users needing to perform batch processing of PDFs
  • Security-conscious users who want an open-source PDF solution

Analysis of iSafePDF

Overall verdict

  • iSafePDF is a good choice for individuals and small businesses who need a user-friendly and accessible way to enhance the security of their PDF documents without the need for complex software solutions.

Why this product is good

  • iSafePDF is a convenient tool for users looking to secure their PDF documents with encryption and other security features. It allows users to apply passwords and permissions to their PDFs, ensuring that sensitive information remains protected. The service is straightforward to use and does not require any software installation, making it accessible from any device with internet access.

Recommended for

  • Individuals who need to secure personal documents
  • Small businesses looking to protect sensitive information
  • Educators and students who want to control access to academic materials
  • Non-profits and organizations managing confidential reports

QPDF videos

qPDF

iSafePDF videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to QPDF and iSafePDF)
PDF Tools
52 52%
48% 48
PDF Editor
58 58%
42% 42
PDF Creator
58 58%
42% 42
Office & Productivity
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, QPDF seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 11 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

QPDF mentions (11)

  • Ask HN: What Underrated Open Source Project Deserves More Recognition?
    Qpdf[1], and, in particular, libqpdf, is the most useful PDF tool I've ever used, because it was the first library I found that works at the proper level of abstraction for dealing with the PDF file format on its own terms. In other words, the library directly exposes the essential PDF object structure (pages, dictionaries, strings, numbers, streams, etc.) for easy editing, while abstracting away as much of... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Insecure Features in PDFs
    Given how well Preview.app and Safari work for viewing >99% of PDFs I actually encounter in the wild, this article makes Apple's engineering decisions look good. It also confirms many suspicions I've had over the years that have led me to, e.g., running all PDFs from questionable sources through VirusTotal before viewing on platforms where I wouldn't normally run antivirus software. The original article also... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Jim Keller criticizes Nvidia CUDA, x86 – 'CUDA's a swamp, not a moat, like x86'
    I know you're talking about GUI editing, but I've found libqpdf[1] incredibly useful for making programmatic PDF edits with minimal (typically no) structural disturbance. [1] https://qpdf.sourceforge.io. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Is ExifCleaner still okay to use? No updates in over a year.
    Exiftool edits to PDFs are reversible. The file needs to be re-linearized by a utility such as qpdf. See the exiftool PDF tags page and exifcleaner issue #111. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Is there any Adobe Acrobat DC/Pro-like PDF reader application in Linux?
    Page organization => If you want a gui, you could use pdfshuffler or pdfsam, though I usually use command like tools like qpdf (or pdftk, stapler, pdfjam, or even ghostscript). Source: about 3 years ago
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iSafePDF mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of iSafePDF yet. Tracking of iSafePDF recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing QPDF and iSafePDF, you can also consider the following products

PDF Unshare - pdf unshare, pdf protection, protect, share, updf, prevent, Lock PDF, Encrypt PDF, PDF Access, Lock, PDF, Encrypt, Access

Foxit PhantomPDF - Edit PDF files with our feature-rich PDF Editor. Download Foxit PDF Editor to convert, sign, scan / OCR & more. A speedy PDF Editor alternative to Adobe Acrobat.

PDFsam - PDFsam Basic, a free, open source, multi-platform software designed to split, merge, extract pages, mix and rotate PDF files

PDF24 PDF Creator - Create PDF and convert documents to PDF for free with the free PDF24 PDF Creator.

PDFTK Builder - PDFTK Builder is a free graphical interface to for PDFTK, making it much easier to use.

PDF Letterhead - PDF Letterhead for macOS converts your PDF file as if it has been printed on letterhead. Free, fast, and easy.