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Smallpdf alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Smallpdf: free use is capped daily, and files must be uploaded for most tasks. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Smallpdf, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. iLovePDF currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1iLovePDF logoiLovePDFFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +24 of 466.5
2PDF24 Tools logoPDF24 ToolsFreeNoWeb, Windows4 of 462.6
3Sejda logoSejdaFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +14 of 459.6
4Stirling PDF logoStirling PDFOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted, Windows +24 of 457.2
5PDFgear logoPDFgearFreeNoWindows, macOS, iOS +24 of 455.3
  1. iLovePDF logo

    1. iLovePDFTop pick

    Best for: Occasional users who want a quick free tool for common PDF tasks

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Smallpdf

    A near-identical online toolkit with a generous free tier and desktop apps.

    Pros

    • Free tier covers most everyday tasks
    • Each tool is simple and fast to use
    • Desktop and mobile apps as well as the website

    Cons

    • File size and task limits on the free plan
    • Upload-based processing for most tools
    • Not a full editor for changing body text
    Visit iLovePDF Compare with SmallpdfDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is iLovePDF a good Smallpdf alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    Core tools, limited use
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ilovepdf.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Desktop apps
    Mac and Windows
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ilovepdf.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Mobile apps
    iOS and Android
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ilovepdf.com(opens source in a new tab)
    E-signature
    Sign or request signatures
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ilovepdf.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. PDF24 Tools logo

    2. PDF24 Tools

    Best for: Anyone who wants free PDF tools without accounts, including offline use on Windows

    FreeWeb, Windows

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Smallpdf

    Completely free online tools and a free Windows app, with no paid tier at all.

    Pros

    • All tools free, with no account or upgrade tier
    • Offline Windows app with a virtual PDF printer
    • MSI installer for company-wide deployment

    Cons

    • Desktop app is Windows only
    • Website shows ads
    • Basic editing of existing text
    Visit PDF24 Tools Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is PDF24 Tools a good Smallpdf alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Desktop app
    Free for private and business use
    Checked Oct 25, 2026tools.pdf24.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Offline use
    Yes, Creator works offline
    Checked Oct 25, 2026tools.pdf24.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Desktop platforms
    Windows only
    Checked Oct 25, 2026tools.pdf24.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Online tools
    All current systems and browsers
    Checked Oct 25, 2026tools.pdf24.org(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Sejda logo

    3. Sejda

    Best for: Occasional users who want a real editor for a short job without a subscription

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Smallpdf

    Online and desktop tools with a pay-per-week option for occasional use.

    Pros

    • Week pass suits one-off projects
    • Desktop app on Linux as well as Mac and Windows
    • Good in-browser editing of existing text

    Cons

    • Free use has hourly and page limits
    • No mobile apps
    • Perpetual licences are no longer sold
    Visit Sejda Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Sejda a good Smallpdf alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, no sign-up, limited
    Checked Oct 25, 2026sejda.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Short-term pass
    7-day access, one-time payment
    Checked Oct 25, 2026sejda.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Desktop platforms
    Mac, Windows, Linux
    Checked Oct 25, 2026sejda.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Perpetual licence
    No longer offered
    Checked Oct 25, 2026sejda.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Stirling PDF logo

    4. Stirling PDF

    Best for: Teams that want online-style PDF tools without sending files to a third party

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted, Windows, macOS, Linux

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Smallpdf

    Self-host the same kind of toolkit so documents never leave your network.

    Pros

    • Runs on your own server, so files stay private
    • Dozens of tools plus automation and an API
    • Free open-source core with optional paid support

    Cons

    • Self-hosting needs Docker or server know-how
    • SSO and admin features sit in paid plans
    • Interface is more functional than polished
    Visit Stirling PDF Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Stirling PDF a good Smallpdf alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    $0, open-source edition
    Checked Oct 25, 2026stirlingpdf.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Deployment
    Web, desktop, self-hosted
    Checked Oct 25, 2026stirlingpdf.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Tools
    60+ PDF tools
    Checked Oct 25, 2026stirlingpdf.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.stirlingpdf.com(opens source in a new tab)
  5. PDFgear logo

    5. PDFgear

    Best for: Students and home users who want free editing and conversion without an account

    FreeWindows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Smallpdf

    A free desktop app that does conversions locally without uploading files.

    Pros

    • Free editing, conversion and signing with no sign-up
    • Apps on desktop, mobile and the web
    • Built-in AI summaries and chat

    Cons

    • Less proven on complex or unusual PDFs
    • No advanced preflight or accessibility tools
    • Long-term funding model is unclear
    Visit PDFgear Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is PDFgear a good Smallpdf alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Price
    Free, no sign-up
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pdfgear.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pdfgear.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Android
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pdfgear.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Business features
    Free on Windows
    Checked Oct 25, 2026pdfgear.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Smallpdf alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

iLovePDF logo

Best Smallpdf alternative for most people

iLovePDF

A near-identical online toolkit with a generous free tier and desktop apps.

PDF24 Tools logo

Best Smallpdf alternative for a free option

PDF24 Tools

Completely free online tools and a free Windows app, with no paid tier at all.

Sejda logo

Best Smallpdf alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Sejda

Online and desktop tools with a pay-per-week option for occasional use.

Stirling PDF logo

Best Smallpdf alternative for open source

Stirling PDF

Self-host the same kind of toolkit so documents never leave your network.

Stirling PDF logo

Best Smallpdf alternative for self-hosting

Stirling PDF

Self-host the same kind of toolkit so documents never leave your network.

PDFgear logo

Best Smallpdf alternative for Mac

PDFgear

A free desktop app that does conversions locally without uploading files.

iLovePDF logo

Best Smallpdf alternative for Windows

iLovePDF

A near-identical online toolkit with a generous free tier and desktop apps.

Sejda logo

Best Smallpdf alternative for Linux

Sejda

Online and desktop tools with a pay-per-week option for occasional use.

iLovePDF logo

Best Smallpdf alternative for iPhone and Android

iLovePDF

A near-identical online toolkit with a generous free tier and desktop apps.

iLovePDF logo

Best Smallpdf alternative for working in the browser

iLovePDF

A near-identical online toolkit with a generous free tier and desktop apps.

Smallpdf alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Smallpdf?

iLovePDF ranks first right now. A near-identical online toolkit with a generous free tier and desktop apps. PDF24 Tools and Sejda follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Smallpdf?

Yes. iLovePDF (free plan + paid), PDF24 Tools (free), Sejda (free plan + paid) and Stirling PDF (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Smallpdf?

Yes: Stirling PDF. Stirling PDF can also be self-hosted.

Which Smallpdf alternatives work on Linux?

Sejda and Stirling PDF run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Smallpdf?

The complaints we hear most: free use is capped daily; files must be uploaded for most tasks; deeper editing is limited compared with desktop editors.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Smallpdf, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.