Alternatives to Smallpdf
Simple online PDF tools
Smallpdf ranks #8 of 13 in PDF tools, with an Alt Score of 78. It is proprietary, freemium from $7.99/month and available on Web, Windows, iOS, Android and Browser extension. 10 of 10 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
Individuals, freelancers, and businesses (sales, finance, real estate, education, etc.) who need to create, convert, or edit PDF documents without desktop software.
A web and mobile platform with around 30 PDF tools covering conversion (PDF to/from Word, Excel, PPT, JPG), editing (text, annotations, watermarks), organization (merge, split, extract, rotate pages), e-signatures, and security features like password protection and redaction. It also includes AI features such as document summarization, chat, and translation.
Users upload a file via the browser or mobile app, choose a tool such as convert, compress, edit, or sign, let Smallpdf process the document in the cloud, then download or share the resulting file.
Why people leave Smallpdf
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
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Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Feature comparison
Rows come from the PDF tools checklist (14 rows). Human-verified cells only. ? means the value has not been verified.
| PDF tools checklist | Smallpdf | Foxit PDF Editor | Nitro PDF | UPDF | PDF-XChange | Adobe Acrobat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
| Starts at | ||||||
| License | ||||||
| Platforms | ||||||
| Edit text & images | ||||||
| Annotate & comment | ||||||
| Fill & sign forms | ||||||
| OCR | ||||||
| Merge / split / compress | ||||||
| Redaction | ||||||
| Batch processing | ||||||
| One-time purchase option | ||||||
| Runs offline | ||||||
| Self-hostable |
Every fact and feature listed for Smallpdf is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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License Proprietary verified 2026-07-11
Made in Switzerland in 2013, with a single tool to compress PDFs, Smallpdf provides a simple, secure, and reliable answer to the world's PDF challenges
https://smallpdf.com/about -
Pricing model Freemium verified 2026-07-11
Yes! All of our online PDF tools are free to use, though some limits apply.
https://smallpdf.com/pdf-ocr -
Starts at $7.99/month verified 2026-07-11
Monthly Plan $7.99
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/smallpdf-scanner-pdf-editor/id1485259500 -
Platforms Web, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension verified 2026-07-11
Get the best PDF software for your Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android device within seconds.
https://smallpdf.com/download -
Status active verified 2026-07-11
last updated on July 6, 2026
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.smallpdf.app.android&hl=en_US -
Edit text & images Yes verified 2026-07-11
Add new text, edit existing text, highlight, draw, insert shapes and images.
https://smallpdf.com/edit-pdf -
Annotate & comment Yes verified 2026-07-11
easily add text, shapes, images, highlights, sticky notes, and more
https://smallpdf.com/edit-pdf -
Fill & sign forms Yes verified 2026-07-11
You can add legally valid e-signatures directly to your forms, and save the hassle of printing or scanning.
https://smallpdf.com/pdf-form-filler -
OCR Yes verified 2026-07-11
Quickly convert your scanned, non-searchable PDFs into searchable and selectable text documents for free.
https://smallpdf.com/pdf-ocr -
Merge / split / compress Yes verified 2026-07-11
Drag & drop your file into our free PDF combiner.
https://smallpdf.com/merge-pdf -
Redaction Yes verified 2026-07-11
Permanently remove sensitive information from your documents with a free PDF redaction tool.
https://smallpdf.com/redact-pdf -
Batch processing Yes verified 2026-07-11
tools to convert, compress, merge, unlock and protect PDFs, and more—all offline
https://smallpdf.com/desktop -
One-time purchase option No verified 2026-07-11
Monthly Plan $7.99
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/smallpdf-scanner-pdf-editor/id1485259500 -
Runs offline Partial verified 2026-07-11
Get offline access to all the PDF tools you love for Windows.
https://smallpdf.com/desktop -
Self-hostable No verified 2026-07-11
Our servers are located in Ireland, so they fall under the data laws of the European Union, which are much stricter and more user-centric than other jurisdictions.
https://smallpdf.com/blog/is-smallpdf-safe
FAQ
Yes. PDFgear, iLovePDF and PDFsam have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
Stirling PDF, PDFsam and Sumatra PDF — every license claim links its source.