FileTally makes one of the products compared here. Competitor facts were checked on October 6, 2026 against the linked sources.
Quoting a production, pricing a scanning job, answering opposing counsel's "how many pages?": litigation support and records teams need that number fast and they need to defend it. Here is how the usual options compare. When another tool is the better fit, we say so.
What legal teams need from a page counter
- Batch counting across a folder tree, not one file at a time.
- Mixed formats: PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, TIFF, images and email.
- A per-file export the client, vendor or court can check.
- Local processing for confidential client material.
- Visible exceptions: password-protected and damaged files listed, not silently dropped.
The comparison table
| Capability | FileTally | Acrobat Pro | Tiff Teller | eDiscovery platforms | Scripts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Folder page counts | Yes, whole tree | With a custom JavaScript Action | Yes | Yes, after processing | If you write it |
| Word, Excel, PowerPoint | Yes | Convert to PDF first | No, PDF and TIFF only | Yes | A library per format |
| Multi-page TIFF | Yes, every frame | Convert to PDF first | Yes | Yes | Custom code |
| Email (MSG, EML) | Yes | No | No | Yes | Custom code |
| Exact vs Estimated marking | Yes, plus Action needed | No | Detects corrupted files | Varies | If you build it |
| Per-file export | CSV, XLSX, PDF summary | Copy from the JavaScript Console | PDF, XLS, CSV, ODS, TXT | Inside the platform | If you build it |
| Runs locally | Yes, no upload | Yes, desktop | Yes, Windows | Often hosted | Yes |
| Price | $24.99 one-time | US$19.99/mo on an annual plan, or US$29.99/mo monthly | $49.90 lifetime | Quote-based | Staff time |
Sources: Adobe Acrobat pricing, Adobe Community page-count Action, CoolUtils Tiff Teller, Everlaw pricing, Logikcull pricing. Checked October 6, 2026.
Tool by tool
Adobe Acrobat Pro
The best tool here for editing, redacting and combining PDFs. For counting, the common method is an Action Wizard step with JavaScript that writes each file's page count to the JavaScript Console, which you copy into a spreadsheet (Adobe Community). Non-PDF files need converting first. Use it when the set is PDF-only and you already pay for Pro. Full breakdown: FileTally vs Adobe Acrobat.
Tiff Teller
A mature Windows tool that counts PDF and TIFF files, reports image details such as DPI and compression, detects corrupted files, has a command line and costs $49.90 for a lifetime license (CoolUtils). Use it when folders are only TIFF and PDF and you need imaging metadata. See FileTally vs Tiff Teller.
eDiscovery platforms
Relativity, Everlaw, Logikcull and similar platforms process, review and produce. They count pages as part of processing, priced by quote or by data volume; Logikcull's pay-as-you-go plan bills per GB per month with a 10 GB minimum (Logikcull). Use them when you are running review. Use a local count before you upload, to check the quote. See FileTally vs eDiscovery platforms.
PowerShell or Python scripts
A script can count PDF pages with a PDF library. Word, Excel print areas, TIFF frames, email and damaged files each need more code, an export layer and someone to maintain it and explain its numbers. Use one when you have developer time and a narrow, stable job.
Online page counters
Convenient for a single personal file. Many work by uploading your document to a server, which raises confidentiality questions for client material. See what to check before using one.
FileTally
A Windows 10 and 11 app that counts every page in a mixed folder: PDF, Word, Excel (printed pages by print area), PowerPoint, multi-page TIFF, JPG/PNG/BMP images, MSG and EML email and text, with local ZIP extraction. Every number is marked Exact or Estimated, files it couldn't count are listed as Action needed, and results export to CSV, XLSX or a PDF summary. 100% local, no account, $24.99 one-time with 12 months of updates.
The verdict
Already running a review platform for the matter? Count there. Editing PDFs all day? Acrobat. TIFF-only imaging work? Tiff Teller. A mixed folder that needs a defensible, per-file count today without uploading anything? That is the job FileTally was built for.
Ready to count a real matter folder? Start with counting pages across a folder of PDFs or the complete guide. FileTally includes a 7-day trial that starts on your first scan.
Questions people ask
What is the best page counting software for law firms?
It depends on the job. For counting pages across mixed folders locally with a per-file export, FileTally fits. For editing PDFs, Acrobat Pro. For TIFF and PDF-only imaging work, Tiff Teller. For full review, an eDiscovery platform.
Can Adobe Acrobat count pages in multiple PDFs?
Yes, in Acrobat Pro, with a custom Action that runs JavaScript. The per-file counts are written to the JavaScript Console, and you copy them into a spreadsheet yourself.
Is FileTally a subscription?
No. FileTally is a one-time purchase of $24.99 per license with 12 months of updates included. A 7-day full-feature trial starts on your first scan.
Does FileTally upload client documents?
No. FileTally runs entirely on your Windows PC. Documents are never uploaded and never modified, and no account is required.