Alternatives to Smallpdf
Browser PDF tools for compressing, converting, editing and signing. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Smallpdf
Browser PDF tools for compressing, converting, editing and signing.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Smallpdf.
iLovePDF
Browser PDF toolkit for merging, splitting, compressing and converting.
iLovePDF covers nearly the same routine tasks in the browser with mobile apps and an API, limiting free use by file size and daily task count rather than document count.
Adobe Acrobat
Adobe's PDF software: the free Acrobat Reader for viewing and commenting, and paid Acrobat plans for editing and conversion.
Adobe Acrobat adds a free Reader on desktop, web and mobile for viewing and signing, but editing and conversion require a Standard or Pro subscription.
Sejda PDF
PDF editor available both online and as a desktop application.
Sejda PDF adds a desktop version for macOS and Linux that processes files locally, though free use is limited to a few tasks per hour and small documents.
PDF24 Tools
Free online PDF tools for merging, compressing, creating, editing and converting PDF files in a browser.
PDF24 Tools is free with no registration, limits or watermarks and includes a browser extension, but files still go to its servers and the site shows ads.
Stirling PDF
A self-hosted web PDF toolkit for merging, splitting, converting, signing and editing PDFs on your own server.
Stirling PDF is open source and self-hosted, so files stay on your own instance, but server setup needs Java, LibreOffice and Tesseract.
DeftPDF
A browser-based collection of more than 40 tools for editing, converting, splitting and signing PDFs.
DeftPDF offers more than 40 browser tools including translation and Bates numbering, with Android and iOS apps, but uploads files and limits free file and batch sizes.
Soda PDF
PDF editor with matching online and desktop applications.
Soda PDF pairs an online editor with a Windows desktop app on one account, but very little of it is usable without a paid subscription.
BentoPDF
Browser-based PDF toolkit that edits, merges and converts files locally.
BentoPDF is a free browser toolkit that processes files locally with no signup or file limits, but it has no mobile or desktop apps.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Smallpdf as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
CleverPDF
Set of free online and desktop PDF conversion tools.
Smallpdf offers browser, Windows and mobile apps for conversion and editing, with free use capped at a couple of documents per day.
DocHub
An online PDF editor for annotating, filling, signing and sharing documents in the browser.
Smallpdf offers browser, Windows and mobile tools for editing and signing, but caps free use at a couple of documents per day and processes files on its servers.
HiPDF
Wondershare's online PDF suite for converting, editing, compressing, merging and summarizing PDF files.
Smallpdf offers browser tools for compressing, converting, editing and signing with desktop and mobile apps, but free use is capped at a couple of documents per day.
LightPDF
Online and desktop PDF editor and converter with OCR and AI document chat.
Smallpdf is mainly a browser toolkit with desktop and mobile apps for compressing, converting and signing, with free use capped at a couple of documents daily.
Lumin
A cloud PDF editor for viewing, editing, annotating and signing PDFs, with Google integration.
Smallpdf provides browser tools for editing, signing, compressing and converting, with desktop and mobile apps and a low daily free cap.
PDF Candy
An online toolkit of more than 90 tools for converting, merging, splitting, compressing and editing PDF files.
Smallpdf is freemium with browser, Windows and mobile apps, but free use is capped at a couple of documents per day.
PDF Squeezer
A Mac app that shrinks large PDF files by dragging them onto its window.
Smallpdf is freemium in the browser and on Windows and mobile, covering compression plus conversion and signing, with files processed on its servers.
PDF2Go
An online PDF editor and converter for editing, compressing, merging, splitting and converting PDF files.
Smallpdf is freemium with browser, Windows and mobile apps, but free use is capped at a couple of documents per day.
PDFescape
A browser-based PDF editor and form filler, with a separate desktop editor for Windows.
Smallpdf provides browser tools for editing, converting, compressing and signing with mobile apps, but free use is capped at a couple of documents per day.
pdfFiller
Online PDF editor for filling out forms, e-signing, requesting signatures and managing documents.
Smallpdf covers editing, conversion and signing in the browser with desktop and mobile apps, and a free tier capped at a couple of documents per day.
Xodo
PDF reader and editor across web, desktop and mobile.
Smallpdf covers compressing, converting, editing and signing in the browser plus Windows and mobile apps, but free use is capped at a couple of documents daily.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
CloudConvert
An online file converter for more than 200 document, image, audio, video, archive and CAD formats.
Convertio
A browser-based file converter that handles documents, images, audio, video, ebooks and archives in over 300 formats.
Zamzar
A long-running online file converter supporting over 1100 formats, with no account needed for small files.
Docusign
A commercial electronic signature and agreement management platform for sending, signing and tracking documents.
PDF24 Creator
A free Windows PDF toolbox with a printer driver and dozens of tools for merging, converting, compressing and editing PDFs.
