Browser-based PDF toolkit for everyday document conversion and editing
Smallpdf is a Swiss-made web-based PDF toolkit that does the things Acrobat does, faster, in a browser, for a fraction of the price. Convert to and from Word, Excel, PowerPoint, JPG; merge, split, compress, sign, and redact. The interface is friendly and the tool list is the right length — not the kitchen sink.
You drag a PDF into the browser, pick a tool, and download the result. Pro users get an account that stores files, integrates with Dropbox and Google Drive, and unlocks unlimited usage. Smallpdf also has desktop and mobile apps and a Word add-in for Acrobat-style editing inside Word.
Files are processed on Smallpdf's servers in Switzerland and deleted after one hour by default. GDPR and SOC 2 covered.
Free tier allows two tasks per hour with file size limits. Pro is $9/month annual ($12 monthly), Team is $7.50/seat/month annual with admin controls, and Business is custom for SSO and on-premise. Most individuals settle on Pro; teams move to Team for shared billing.
Watch the free-tier limits — they hit fast for daily users.
| Tool | Starting price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Smallpdf | Free / $9 | Daily PDF tasks, friendly UI |
| iLovePDF | Free / $7 | Budget alternative, similar features |
| Adobe Acrobat Pro | $20/mo | Legal redaction, advanced editing |
| PDFgear | Free | Free desktop alternative |
Pick Smallpdf if you handle PDFs daily, hate Acrobat's interface, and want one subscription that covers the basics across browser, desktop, and mobile. Skip it if you need full legal-grade redaction, complex form workflows, or you already have an Acrobat licence sitting unused.
Agencies handle 200+ PDFs weekly from designers, writers, and vendors. Smallpdf batch-compresses folders, strips metadata, and watermarks with client logos. Deliverables shrink from 50MB to 5MB, cutting storage costs and speeding downloads.
Law firms assemble discovery packets and redact privileged sections without Adobe licenses. Smallpdf merges 50 documents, applies redaction overlays, and exports signed copies. Process drops from 2 hours to 15 minutes per deal.
Finance teams receive invoices as TIFF, JPG, and PDF from vendors and clients. Smallpdf converts all to searchable PDF, extracts OCR text for accounting software, and batches into monthly archives. No manual re-entry.
Quarterly access to product leadership.
Bonus credits redeemable on partner tooling.
We re-verify the offer every quarter so it never goes stale.
Hit the button on this page — opens the partner site in a new tab.
Check your investor or accelerator benefits portal for the Smallpdf partner code. Y Combinator, Sequoia, and most Tier 1 VCs have codes available.
Renewals stay at the same rate — verified by us, not the vendor.
| Feature | Smallpdf |
|---|---|
| Free trial | 14 days |
| Cheapest paid plan | $0/mo |
| Annual discount | Up to 25% |
| Refund window | 30 days |
| Setup time | < 1 hour |
| Best for | Founders |
“Good for everyday tasks, limitations for legal document work”
“Everything I need for PDF work in one affordable tool”
“The PDF tool everyone in our office actually uses”
Verified offer
25% CASHBACK
1 year Pro free (saves ~$900)
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