Free Smallpdf alternatives

Top PDF Editors like Smallpdf

Updated Oct 12, 2026

The most popular alternative to Smallpdf is iLovePDF, which has a free version. Other great alternatives to Smallpdf are PDF24 Tools, Adobe Acrobat, PDFgear, and Stirling-PDF.

Most alternatives to Smallpdf are in the PDF Editors category, compared here by price, platform and features.

Smallpdf alternatives

All Free Open source

6 apps

iLovePDF
4.8(51.9K) · App Store
iLovePDF is a web-based PDF toolkit from a company based in Barcelona, with single-purpose tools to merge, split, compress, convert, rotate, watermark, OCR and sign PDF files. Desktop and mobile apps cover the same tasks, and a developer API is offered separately. Most tools are free with file-size and usage limits, and a Premium subscription removes them.
8 iLovePDF alternatives
Pros
Simple single-purpose tools for merging, splitting and compressing
Most tools work free in the browser, with nothing to install
Developer API for automating PDF tasks
Cons
Free use has file-size and usage limits
Uploading files to a web service may not suit sensitive documents
Text editing is basic compared with desktop editors
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
PDF Editors
Platforms
Web Windows Mac iPhone Android
Features
API access Electronic signatures Merge and split PDFs OCR PDF conversion PDF text editing
Visit website More about iLovePDF
PDF24 Tools
PDF24 Tools is a free collection of PDF utilities from the German company Geek Software, covering merging, splitting, compressing, converting, OCR, editing, signing and redacting. The tools run in the browser, and the PDF24 Creator app for Windows offers the same features offline along with a virtual PDF printer. There is no paid tier, and the website shows ads.
10 PDF24 Tools alternatives
Pros
Completely free, with no paid tier
Wide range of tools, including OCR, redaction and signing
Windows app works offline and adds a virtual PDF printer
Cons
The website shows ads alongside the tools
The desktop app is Windows only
Interface is functional rather than modern
Cost / License
FreeProprietary
Categories
PDF Editors
Platforms
Web Windows
Features
Electronic signatures Merge and split PDFs OCR Offline mode PDF conversion PDF text editing
Visit website More about PDF24 Tools
Adobe Acrobat
2.2(646) · App Store
Adobe Acrobat is the PDF application from Adobe, the company that created the format. The free Acrobat Reader views, annotates and signs files, while paid Acrobat Standard and Pro add text and image editing, OCR, conversion to and from Office formats, redaction, comparison and e-signature requests. An AI Assistant can summarise documents and answer questions about them.
11 Adobe Acrobat alternatives
Pros
Reference PDF tool from the company that created the format
Free Reader for viewing, annotating and signing
Pro adds editing, OCR, redaction, comparison and signature requests
Cons
Editing and conversion require a costly subscription
Heavy app with frequent prompts to upgrade
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
PDF Editors E-signature
Platforms
Web Windows Mac iPhone Android Browser extension
Features
AI assistant Electronic signatures Merge and split PDFs OCR PDF annotation PDF conversion
Visit website More about Adobe Acrobat
PDFgear
4.7(8.8K) · App Store
PDFgear is a free PDF application from Singapore-based PDF Gear Tech for reading, editing, converting, merging, compressing and signing documents. It includes OCR for scanned files and a Copilot assistant that summarises PDFs and carries out edits from chat requests. It is available on Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android and the web, without watermarks or a required account.
10 PDFgear alternatives
Pros
Free editing, conversion and signing without watermarks
No account required to use the apps
Copilot assistant summarises PDFs and applies edits from chat
Cons
Text editing is less precise than in Acrobat or Foxit
Younger product with less of a track record than established editors
Cost / License
FreeProprietary
Categories
PDF Editors
Platforms
Web Windows Mac iPhone Android
Features
AI assistant Electronic signatures Merge and split PDFs OCR PDF conversion PDF text editing
Visit website More about PDFgear
Stirling-PDF
94Kstars
Stirling-PDF is an open-core PDF application you can run on your own server, typically with Docker, so documents never leave your infrastructure. It bundles tools to merge, split, compress, convert, OCR, sign, redact and edit PDFs, plus a REST API and pipelines for automating repetitive jobs. The core is MIT-licensed and free; paid plans add enterprise features such as SSO.
7 Stirling-PDF alternatives
Pros
Self-hosted, so documents never leave your infrastructure
Dozens of tools for merging, OCR, redaction and conversion
REST API and pipelines automate repetitive jobs
Cons
Requires running a server, typically with Docker
SSO and other enterprise features are paid
Cost / License
FreemiumOpen source
Categories
PDF Editors
Platforms
Web Self-hosted
Features
API access Electronic signatures Merge and split PDFs OCR PDF conversion PDF text editing
Visit website More about Stirling-PDF
PDF Expert
4.7(216.1K) · App Store
PDF Expert is a PDF app from Readdle designed for Apple devices. Reading, annotating, highlighting and filling forms are free, while a subscription unlocks text and image editing, OCR for scanned pages, page management, conversion and signatures. Its native interface is designed to stay responsive with large documents.
8 PDF Expert alternatives
Pros
Native Apple design that stays fast with large documents
Reading, annotation and form filling are free
Clean tools for editing text, images and pages
Cons
Editing, OCR and conversion require a subscription
Fewer enterprise and automation features than Acrobat
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
PDF Editors
Platforms
Mac iPhone
Features
Electronic signatures Merge and split PDFs OCR PDF annotation PDF conversion PDF text editing
Visit website More about PDF Expert

Smallpdf vs its alternatives at a glance

Pricing, platforms and the key features of Smallpdf, compared with its most popular alternatives.

Smallpdf vs its alternatives at a glance
App	Pricing	Platforms
Smallpdf	Freemium	Web, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android
iLovePDF	Freemium	Web, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android
PDF24 Tools	Free	Web, Windows
Adobe Acrobat	Freemium	Web, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, Browser extension
PDFgear	Free	Web, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android
Stirling-PDF	FreemiumOpen source	Web, Self-hosted

Smallpdf alternatives: frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to Smallpdf?

The most popular alternative to Smallpdf is iLovePDF: Online tools to merge, split, compress and convert PDFs. Other great alternatives are PDF24 Tools, Adobe Acrobat, PDFgear, and Stirling-PDF.