Online2PDF vs Smallpdf (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Online2PDF if

• Fits if you convert or merge a PDF now and then
• Works for people who will not make an account

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you need to edit text or sign, which the pages read do not describe
• Watch out: form fields are removed when a PDF is edited or unlocked
• Not for you if you want an API or scripts, as the FAQ says heavy or scripted use is not allowed
• Skip it if you want an app, as there is no downloadable version
• Watch out: the site shows ads

Pick Smallpdf if

• Fits if you convert or shrink a PDF in the browser now and then
• Works for people who want PDF tools and e-signatures in one subscription

Look elsewhere if

• Tight if you use it daily on the free plan, as downloads are capped each day and Sign.com stops at 2 documents a month
• Skip it if you want a Mac desktop app, as the desktop app is Windows only and doesn't edit text
• Not for you if you build fillable forms or redact, as neither is on record
• Watch out: US prices couldn't be confirmed; Smallpdf's own comparison page gives Pro as $9 to $12 a month
• Pricey if your team passes 19 seats, as 20 or more are quoted by sales

Online2PDF

• Its editing is page-level (select, rotate, reorder, split, merge); the pages read describe no text editing or signing.
• Interactive form fields are removed when a PDF is edited or unlocked, according to the FAQ.
• The FAQ says there is no downloadable version and no web API, and heavy or scripted use is not allowed.
• PDF export is limited to 500 pages without OCR or 100 pages with OCR.

Smallpdf

• US dollar prices could not be read: the pricing page fills them in by location. Smallpdf's own comparison page gives Pro as $9 to $12 a month.
• The same comparison page gives Teams, for 2 to 19 seats, as $7 to $10 per seat a month; 20 or more seats are quoted by sales.
• The free plan limits downloads each day, so regular use of any tool needs Pro.
• The desktop app is for Windows only; Mac users work in the browser.

Online2PDF

Convert to PDF

Turns Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, OpenOffice files, images and XPS into PDF, merged together or one by one.

Export from PDF

Exports PDFs to Word, Excel, PowerPoint and JPG, up to 500 pages without OCR or 100 pages with OCR.

Page tools

Select, extract, rotate, reorder and split pages, and merge several files, using the options beside each file.

OCR

Character recognition for scanned PDFs and images, with about 30 languages listed on the page.

Compress and unlock

Reduces file size by lowering image quality and removes edit, copy and print restrictions; opening passwords need the password.

Header, footer and layout options

Sets header and footer, page layout and compression for the output PDF before conversion.

Smallpdf

Convert and compress

Converts PDFs to and from Word, Excel, PowerPoint and images, with basic compression on the free plan and strong and batch compression on Pro.

Edit text and OCR

Pro edits text in a PDF and recognizes text in scans, alongside tools to merge, split, rotate, unlock and protect files.

AI tools

An AI PDF assistant, summarizer and question generator, limited on the free plan and unlimited on Pro.

Sign.com included

Pro includes an unlimited Sign.com Premium subscription for sending documents for e-signature; the free plan's Sign.com account is capped at 2 a month.

Offline Windows app

A desktop app for Windows converts, compresses, merges, unlocks and protects PDFs without an internet connection.

Mobile scanning

The iOS and Android apps scan paper to PDF, run OCR and use the same tools, limited on the free plan.

Online2PDF

• Free$0

  All features at no charge; the FAQ says every service is completely free of charge.

Smallpdf

Pricing could not be confirmed. See smallpdf.com.