Paplume vs Sejda
We respect Sejda: it prints its privacy policy and free limits right under the upload button — “Files stay private. Automatically deleted after 2 hours”, 200 pages / 100 MB / 3 tasks per hour. That transparency shaped our own design. The remaining difference: Sejda still uploads your file for web processing (desktop app excepted); Paplume local tools never upload it.
Where files are processed
Sejda
Uploaded to Sejda servers (observed: /api/files/upload → /api/tasks); files auto-deleted after 2 hours per their policy
Paplume
Local tools run entirely in your browser — no file upload (verify in DevTools → Network)
Price
Sejda
Week Pass $5, Web Monthly $7.50, Desktop+Web Annual $63 at verification time
Paplume
Free during Beta (full-release preview: $6.9/mo or $49/yr)
Free limits
Sejda
200 pages or 100 MB, 3 tasks per hour (stated under the upload button)
Paplume
Daily free quota, shown before you start
Sign-up
Sejda
Not required for free use
Paplume
No sign-up for local tools; free account only for AI features
Watermark
Sejda
No watermark observed
Paplume
No watermark
Works offline
Sejda
Via the paid Sejda Desktop app
Paplume
Local tools keep working once the page is loaded
| Sejda | Paplume | |
|---|---|---|
| Where files are processed | Uploaded to Sejda servers (observed: /api/files/upload → /api/tasks); files auto-deleted after 2 hours per their policy | Local tools run entirely in your browser — no file upload (verify in DevTools → Network) |
| Price | Week Pass $5, Web Monthly $7.50, Desktop+Web Annual $63 at verification time | Free during Beta (full-release preview: $6.9/mo or $49/yr) |
| Free limits | 200 pages or 100 MB, 3 tasks per hour (stated under the upload button) | Daily free quota, shown before you start |
| Sign-up | Not required for free use | No sign-up for local tools; free account only for AI features |
| Watermark | No watermark observed | No watermark |
| Works offline | Via the paid Sejda Desktop app | Local tools keep working once the page is loaded |
Competitor facts verified in our own hands-on walkthrough on 2026-07-31. Prices and limits change over time — always check the competitor’s current pages. We state only what we observed; no ratings or scores are invented.
The honest part
Sejda’s week-pass pricing is genuinely user-friendly for one-off needs, and its desktop app is a real offline option. If you need heavy-duty desktop batch processing, Sejda Desktop is worth the money. Paplume’s edge is that the browser version itself is local — no upload, no 2-hour deletion window to rely on.
Try it yourself
Free during Beta · no sign-up · no watermark · processed locally in your browser.
FAQ
How can I check that Paplume really does not upload my file?
Open your browser DevTools → Network tab, then process a PDF with any local tool. You will not see a single file-upload request — processing happens in your browser via WebAssembly.
Is 3 tasks per hour enough?
For occasional use, often yes. Paplume uses a daily quota instead, shown before you start, and failed runs are automatically refunded.