iLovePDF vs Smallpdf

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

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At a glance

DimensioniLovePDFSmallpdf
PricingFree (limited daily tasks), Pro $12/mo, Teams $24/mo/userFree (limited daily tasks), Pro $18/mo, Business $36/mo/user
AI FeaturesAI Smart Split, PDF Forms AI, AI Summarizer, AI TranslateAI PDF Assistant (chat, summarize, translate, generate questions)
E-SignaturesiLoveSign (built-in branded signing, request signatures)Integrated with Sign.com (separate account needed)

For most users needing a free, full-featured PDF toolkit with advanced AI (Smart Split, Forms, Summarizer), iLovePDF offers better value at $12/mo Pro. Smallpdf edges ahead with its AI chat assistant and seamless web experience, but its Pro tier costs $6 more. If e-signatures are critical, iLovePDF’s built-in iLoveSign is more convenient than Smallpdf’s separate Sign.com integration.

Try iLovePDFTry Smallpdf
iLovePDF
iLovePDF

Free online PDF editor with AI-powered tools and desktop app.

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Smallpdf
Smallpdf

Online PDF platform for compress, convert, edit, sign & AI chat

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Pricing
Freemium
Freemium
Plans
$0/mo
$5/mo (annual) or $9/mo monthly
$7/user/mo (annual or monthly)
$0/mo
$9/mo per user billed annually
$7/mo per user billed annually
Custom
Popularity
6.3k views
4.4k views
Skill Level
Beginner-friendly
Beginner-friendly
API Available
Platforms
WebDesktopMobilePluginAPI
WebDesktopMobilePluginAPI
Categories
⚡ Productivity
⚡ Productivity
Features
Merge PDFs in any order
Split PDF by page or AI Smart Split (by document type)
Compress PDF with quality presets
Convert PDF to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, JPG, PDF/A
Convert Word, Excel, PowerPoint, JPG, HTML to PDF
Edit PDF: add text, images, shapes, annotations
PDF Forms: AI detect, create, fill fillable forms
Sign PDF and request e-signatures (iLoveSign)
Unlock and protect PDFs with passwords
Organize pages: reorder, delete, extract, rotate
Add page numbers, watermarks, crop PDFs
OCR PDF (scanned to searchable text) - Premium
AI Summarizer and AI Translate PDF
Redact and compare PDFs
Desktop app (Windows, Mac) with offline mode
Compress PDF without quality loss
Convert PDF to Word, Excel, PPT, JPG
Convert Word, Excel, PPT, JPG to PDF
Merge multiple PDFs into one
Split PDF into separate files
Edit PDF (add text, images, shapes, annotations)
Sign PDF with electronic signature
Request signatures via Sign.com
AI PDF Assistant (chat, summarize, translate, generate questions)
OCR (PDF to searchable text)
Protect PDF with password
Unlock PDF (remove password protection)
Crop, rotate, delete, extract pages
Redact sensitive information
Add watermark, number pages, flatten PDF
Integrations
Zapier
Make
WordPress
Google Drive
Dropbox
Chrome extension
Google Workspace
Chrome Extension
Sign.com
iOS App
Android App
Windows App
PDF Scanner App

Feature-by-feature

Both tools cover essential PDF operations: merge, split, compress, convert, edit, sign, and OCR. iLovePDF differentiates with AI Smart Split (splits documents by type like invoices) and a dedicated PDF Forms tool that uses AI to detect and create fillable forms from scanned documents. Its 2026 updates also introduced AI Summarizer and AI Translate, plus desktop merge now supports Office files and images. Smallpdf’s standout is its AI PDF Assistant—users can chat with the PDF to ask questions, get summaries, or translate content directly. For integrations, iLovePDF supports Zapier, Make, WordPress, and cloud drives, while Smallpdf integrates with Google Workspace and Dropbox but lacks native Zapier. Both have Chrome extensions; iLovePDF’s was refreshed in 2026. e-Signatures: iLovePDF offers a built-in iLoveSign tool with branded signing and requests, whereas Smallpdf relies on an external Sign.com account. OCR is available on both premium plans. Smallpdf claims 256-bit TLS and ISO 27001 certification for security. Overall, iLovePDF provides more advanced AI-powered PDF manipulation at a lower price point, while Smallpdf focuses on a user-friendly AI assistant and polished UX.

Pricing compared

iLovePDF follows a freemium model with a generous free tier (limited daily tasks). Pro is $12/mo billed annually ($120/yr), Teams is $24/mo/user with admin tools. Smallpdf’s free tier is similar but caps at 2 tasks per day for most tools. Pro costs $18/mo billed annually ($162/yr), Business $36/mo/user. For e-signatures, iLoveSign includes 10 free signatures/month on Pro; Smallpdf requires a separate Sign.com subscription for unlimited signatures. iLovePDF’s Desktop app is included in Pro and Teams; Smallpdf offers a Windows app but not a full desktop offline tool. Both have mobile apps. Given the feature set difference (AI Smart Split, PDF Forms, iLoveSign), iLovePDF provides a stronger value proposition at a lower cost per month.

Who should pick which

  • Solo founder
    Pick: iLovePDF

    iLovePDF Pro at $12/mo covers all PDF tasks plus AI Smart Split for organizing contracts, e-signatures via iLoveSign, and desktop offline access. Smallpdf’s AI Assistant is nice but costs $6 more.

  • Sales team needing e-signatures
    Pick: iLovePDF

    iLoveSign is built-in with branded templates and signing requests, no extra account. Smallpdf’s Sign.com integration is separate and may cost additional.

  • Legal team reviewing invoices/contracts
    Pick: iLovePDF

    AI Smart Split automatically separates documents by type (invoices, contracts), saving legal teams hours. Smallpdf lacks this feature.

  • Student summarizing research papers
    Pick: Smallpdf

    Smallpdf’s AI PDF Assistant lets students chat with PDFs to ask questions and get summaries, ideal for studying multiple papers.

  • Freelancer editing PDFs on the go
    Pick: Smallpdf

    Smallpdf’s mobile app and Chrome extension provide a seamless web-first experience. Its AI chat is handy for quick edits without desktop software.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which tool is cheaper for unlimited PDF tasks?

iLovePDF Pro at $12/mo (annual) is cheaper than Smallpdf Pro at $18/mo. Both have free tiers with daily limits.

Does iLovePDF have an AI chat feature like Smallpdf?

Yes, iLovePDF now includes AI Summarizer and AI Translate, but not a conversational chat. Smallpdf’s AI Assistant enables two-way chatting with PDFs.

Can I use e-signatures with iLovePDF without extra cost?

Yes, iLovePDF’s iLoveSign is built-in with 10 free signatures/month on Pro. Smallpdf requires a separate Sign.com subscription.

Which tool offers offline desktop access?

iLovePDF provides a Desktop app for Windows and Mac with offline capabilities. Smallpdf offers only a Windows app that is essentially a web wrapper.

How do their OCR capabilities compare?

Both offer OCR on premium plans. iLovePDF OCR is part of its Pro tier; Smallpdf OCR is available on Pro and higher.

Which tool integrates with Zapier?

iLovePDF integrates with Zapier and Make. Smallpdf does not have native Zapier integration; it relies on Google Workspace and Dropbox.

Are there file size limits on free tiers?

iLovePDF free tier allows files up to 10 MB. Smallpdf free tier allows files up to 5 MB.

Which tool is better for batch processing?

iLovePDF Pro offers batch processing for multiple files. Smallpdf Business ($36/mo/user) provides batch features; Pro tier is limited to single files.

More iLovePDF or Smallpdf comparisons

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If you need a free, web-first tool for occasional PDF tasks like merging, compressing, or e-signing, iLovePDF is the better budget pick with generous limits and recent AI upgrades. For teams requiring

Explore each tool further

iLovePDF
View iLovePDF reviewiLovePDF alternatives
Smallpdf
View Smallpdf reviewSmallpdf alternatives

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