A post featuring a man named Marco Grossi has gone viral on social media. The post claims that he “said no to millions of dollars to keep the most-used website for editing PDFs free.” It further states that Marco Grossi created iLovePDF as a personal project and decided to make it available for free.
Some parts of this story are true, but the viral post also contains claims that are exaggerated or not sufficiently supported by evidence. After checking the available official and reliable sources, here is the factual picture.
What Is iLovePDF ?
is an online platform that provides a wide range of tools for working with PDF files.
Users can perform tasks such as merging, splitting, compressing, converting, editing, signing, organizing, and protecting PDF files.
According to iLovePDF's official press information, the platform started in 2010 as a simple website for merging and splitting PDFs and has since expanded to offer more than 25 PDF tools.
Who Is Marco Grossi ?
Marco Grossi is the Founder and CEO of iLovePDF.
He is also described by the PDF Association as the founder and software engineer behind iLovePDF.
Grossi is based in Barcelona and started iLovePDF in 2010.
This part of the viral post is supported by iLovePDF's own official information, which identifies Marco Grossi as its Founder & CEO.
How Did the Idea for iLovePDF Begin ?
This is one of the most interesting parts of the story.
In 2010, Marco Grossi needed to work with a PDF file and wanted to combine two PDF documents. He felt that this should be a simple task, but at that time he could not find an easy and free online solution.
He decided to create his own solution, which eventually led to the creation of iLovePDF.
According to iLovePDF's official story, the project began because of a personal need.
In a 2025 interview with La Vanguardia, Grossi explained that in 2010 he needed to combine two PDF files and did not know how to do it easily. This problem inspired him to create a tool for merging and splitting PDFs. He later decided to work on the project full-time in 2014.
Therefore, the viral post's claim that “iLovePDF started as a personal project” is essentially correct.
Did He Keep iLovePDF Free ?
This is where the viral post needs some clarification.
iLovePDF started as a free service, and many of its major PDF tools are still available for free today. The company has stated that its aim has been to make PDF-related tasks free, accessible, and easy to use.
However, this does not mean that every iLovePDF feature is completely free.
Today, iLovePDF offers free tools as well as Premium and business-oriented services. Its business model has developed around a combination of free and paid services.
A 2024 report by El PaÃs stated that much of the company's revenue comes from Premium subscriptions, while free services remain available to ordinary users. The report also said that Grossi had not relied on outside investors and was not interested in selling the company.
Did Marco Grossi Turn Down “Millions of Dollars” ?
This is the most important fact-check regarding the viral post.
Reliable reports confirm that Marco Grossi received offers from parties interested in acquiring iLovePDF and that he was not interested in selling the company.
According to El PaÃs, Grossi said that there were no investors behind the company and that he was not looking for investors. He also indicated that he was not interested in acquisition offers because he did not want to sell the company.
However, there is no reliable evidence publicly confirming that he rejected a specific offer worth “millions of dollars.”
Therefore, the statement in the viral image:
“said NO to millions of dollars”
should not be presented as a verified financial fact.
The accurate version is that Grossi received acquisition offers and showed no interest in selling the company, but the exact financial value of those offers has not been publicly verified.
Is iLovePDF the Most-Used PDF Website in the World ?
This claim also needs to be treated carefully.
iLovePDF is certainly one of the world's most popular PDF services. According to the company's official press information, it has millions of users and has processed more than 500 million files.
A 2024 El PaÃs report, citing Ahrefs data, stated that iLovePDF received around 150 million visits in October 2024 and ranked among the world's most visited websites.
However, saying that it is “the most-used PDF editing website in the world” is a much broader claim.
There is no universally accepted independent ranking that conclusively proves this statement. Therefore, it is better to describe iLovePDF as one of the world's most widely used PDF platforms rather than definitively calling it the world's most-used PDF website.
How Did a Small Personal Project Become a Major Platform ?
This is perhaps the most inspiring part of iLovePDF's story.
Grossi worked on the project with a very small team for several years. According to El PaÃs, he was working alone from home until 2017. When the website began receiving around 200,000–300,000 visits per day, he hired his first employee.
Over time, a simple PDF merge-and-split tool evolved into a major global PDF platform.
Today, iLovePDF offers services including:
- PDF Merge
- PDF Split
- PDF Compress
- PDF Convert
- PDF Edit
- PDF Sign
- PDF Organize
- PDF Protect
- Mobile App
- Desktop App
- API and business solutions
According to the company, its platform now includes more than 25 PDF tools.
How Does iLovePDF Make Money ?
This is another aspect that the viral post does not explain.
iLovePDF is not a completely free service with no revenue model. Instead, it operates largely through a freemium model—many basic services are free, while additional features and higher usage limits are available through paid plans.
According to El PaÃs, around 80–90% of the company's revenue came from Premium subscriptions, with other revenue coming from sources such as advertising.
This model allows ordinary users to access free PDF tools while businesses and users who need additional features can pay for premium services.
Does iLovePDF Have Outside Investors ?
According to available reliable reporting, Grossi has said that iLovePDF did not depend on external investors and that he was not looking for venture capital investment.
The 2024 El PaÃs report quoted Grossi saying that there were no investors behind the company and that he was not interested in seeking investors.
This makes iLovePDF's development somewhat different from the traditional Silicon Valley startup model, where companies often depend heavily on venture capital funding.
Is iLovePDF Still Free ?
Yes, but not entirely.
Many of iLovePDF's major online tools remain available for free, while additional features, higher limits, and business services are available through paid options.
Therefore, the viral post's statement that iLovePDF provides “free PDF editing” is broadly correct, but it should not be interpreted as meaning that every feature has always been completely free.
What Can We Learn From This Story ?
The story of Marco Grossi and iLovePDF demonstrates that a major business does not always begin with a huge investment or a large company.
It began with a simple problem:
How can I easily combine two PDF files ?
Grossi first created a solution for his own problem and then made that solution available to other people.
Over time, that small personal project developed into a global PDF platform used by people around the world.
According to iLovePDF's official information, the service's origins were indeed connected to a personal need.
Fact Check: Which Claims Are True ?
| Viral Claim | Fact |
|---|---|
| Marco Grossi created iLovePDF | ✅ True |
| iLovePDF started in 2010 | ✅ True |
| It began as a personal project/need | ✅ True |
| Many iLovePDF tools are free | ✅ True |
| Grossi received acquisition offers | ✅ Supported by reliable reports |
| He was not interested in selling the company | ✅ Supported |
| He definitely rejected “millions of dollars” | ⚠️ The specific amount is not verified |
| iLovePDF is the world's most-used PDF website | ⚠️ Its popularity is enormous, but the “most-used” claim is not independently established |
| iLovePDF is completely and permanently free | ❌ Incomplete/incorrect; it also has Premium paid services |
There is a real and inspiring story behind the viral post, but social media has made some parts of it more sensational.
Marco Grossi started iLovePDF in Barcelona in 2010 after encountering a personal problem involving PDF files. The project gradually developed into a global PDF platform. Grossi has stated that he did not rely on outside investors and was not interested in selling the company. Reliable reporting also confirms that he received acquisition offers.
However, the claim that “he turned down millions of dollars simply to keep iLovePDF free” is not fully supported by publicly available evidence.
The most accurate conclusion is:
Fact-check result: 🟡 Partly True / Misleading Presentation
The basic story is genuine, but claims about “millions of dollars” and iLovePDF being the world's most-used PDF website should not be presented as established facts without stronger evidence.
This article is based on available official iLovePDF information and independent reporting. Any statement attributed to Marco Grossi should be distinguished from the official policies of iLovePDF itself.
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