iLovePDF vs Smallpdf

Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and ratings

Analysis reviewed Live tool data as of 2026-09-30
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At a glance

DimensioniLovePDFSmallpdf
Pricingfreemium · from Basic $0/mofreemium · from Free $0/mo
Best forStudents and academics (full year of Premium free), Freelancers and small businesses automating merge, split, convert, and e-sign with WorkflowsFreelancers and small businesses doing frequent PDF conversions and edits, Sales and real estate teams managing contracts, forms, and e-signature tracking
Standout featuresMerge PDF — combines PDFs; Desktop app also merges Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and image files · Split PDF with AI Smart Split range mode for multi-document scans · Compress PDF optimizing file size while preserving qualityCompress PDF with basic and strong compression · Batch Compress multiple files at once · Convert PDF to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and images
Viability score78/10078/100
APIYesYes

iLovePDF is the stronger pick for students and academics (full year of premium free); Smallpdf fits better for freelancers and small businesses doing frequent pdf conversions and edits.

Built from live tool data, last verified 2026-09-30.

iLovePDF
iLovePDF

Browser-based PDF toolkit with 30+ tools plus AI summarizer, translate, and forms detection — free for light use.

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Smallpdf
Smallpdf

Compress, convert, edit, e-sign, and chat with PDFs in your browser with Smallpdf.

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Pricing
Freemium
Freemium
Plans
$0/mo
525 JPY/mo billed annually (930 JPY/mo billed monthly)
Custom
$0/mo
$9/mo
$7.33/mo per seat
Custom
Popularity
6.3k views
4.4k views
Skill Level
Beginner-friendly
Beginner-friendly
API Available
Platforms
WebDesktopMobileAPI
WebMobileDesktop
Categories
📄 PDF & Document Tools
📄 PDF & Document Tools❓ Document Q&A & Summarizing⚖️ Contracts, E-Signature & Legal
Features
Merge PDF — combines PDFs; Desktop app also merges Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and image files
Split PDF with AI Smart Split range mode for multi-document scans
Compress PDF optimizing file size while preserving quality
Convert PDF to Word, PowerPoint, Excel, JPG, and PDF/A
Convert Word, PowerPoint, Excel, JPG, and HTML to PDF
OCR PDF converts scanned documents into searchable, selectable text
PDF Forms auto-detects form fields and builds fillable PDFs (1 task/day on Basic)
AI Summarizer with Standard and Advanced AI tiers
Translate PDF with AI, preserving fonts, layout, and formatting
PDF to Markdown — headings, tables, lists, and links preserved
Sign PDF — self-sign (SES), signature requests, and advanced eSignatures (AES)
Protect, Unlock, and Redact PDF with permanent removal of sensitive content
Compare PDF — side-by-side document diff between versions
Edit PDF — add text, images, shapes, and freehand annotations
Workflows — one-click custom automation that reuses your tool chains
Compress PDF with basic and strong compression
Batch Compress multiple files at once
Convert PDF to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and images
Batch Convert multiple files in one run
OCR on PDF to Word, Excel, and PPT
Merge, split, rotate, delete, and extract PDF pages
Edit PDF text, shapes, images, and freehand annotations
Redact, watermark, crop, number pages, and flatten PDFs
Sign PDF and request e-signatures via Sign.com
Track documents with IDs, activity timeline, and completion certificates
Chat with PDF using AI to answer document questions
AI PDF Summarizer for quick document overviews
Translate PDF into other languages with AI
AI Question Generator that builds quizzes from PDFs
Scan documents and organize files with the mobile app
Integrations
Zapier
Make
WordPress
Google Drive
Dropbox
Odoo
Google Workspace
Chrome Extension
Sign.com
iOS App
Android App
Windows App

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, iLovePDF or Smallpdf?

The best choice between iLovePDF and Smallpdf depends on your specific use case — we compare them independently on features, current pricing, integrations, and real-world signals (with an on-demand sentiment scan available for each). See the side-by-side breakdown above to match them to your needs.

What are the main differences between iLovePDF and Smallpdf?

The key differences include pricing model, feature set, platform support, and skill level requirements. Review the full comparison on RightAIChoice for a detailed breakdown.

Is there a free version of iLovePDF or Smallpdf?

Check the pricing section in the comparison for the latest pricing details on both tools, including free tiers, trial options, and paid plans.

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Pick Smallpdf if you need a Swiss-army knife for everyday PDF tasks—converting, compressing, editing, and signing—especially if you work across web and mobile. Choose PDF Inspector if your goal is tra

PDF Inspector vs iLovePDF comparison

Pick iLovePDF if you need a versatile, user-friendly PDF toolkit for everyday tasks like merging, converting, and signing—its free tier and low-cost Premium make it a no-brainer. Choose PDF Inspector

Explore each tool further

iLovePDF
View iLovePDF reviewiLovePDF alternatives
Smallpdf
View Smallpdf reviewSmallpdf alternatives

Browse these categories

Best AI PDF & Document Tools toolsBest AI Document Q&A & Summarizing toolsBest AI Contracts, E-Signature & Legal tools
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Last reviewed: May 12, 2026