View all PDF Tools & Utilities Alternatives
Best Free Alternatives to Smallpdf Pro
Stop paying $9/mo (Annual) - $15/mo (Monthly). Discover professional-grade tools that won't break your budget.
Category: PDF Tools & UtilitiesVerified for 2025
Top Recommended Replacements
PDFgear
FREEBest Overall Free Alternative
Why we like it
100% free with no watermarks; features a built-in AI Copilot to summarize or edit docs; includes professional OCR and true text editing offline.
Keep in mind
The AI feature requires an internet connection; desktop-first focus (web tools are more limited).
iLovePDF
FREEBest Online Ease-of-Use
Why we like it
More generous free task limits than Smallpdf; incredibly fast processing for merging and splitting; excellent mobile app integration.
Keep in mind
The free version lacks OCR; privacy concerns with sensitive docs on a public cloud server.
Stirling-PDF
FREEBest for Privacy & Self-Hosting
Why we like it
A complete, self-hostable web UI that keeps files 100% private; includes every tool from Smallpdf plus advanced redaction and security; no limits.
Keep in mind
Requires basic technical knowledge (Docker) to set up the full server version; no official mobile app.
PDF24 Creator
FREEBest Offline Tool for Windows
Why we like it
Completely free for personal and business use; works entirely offline; features a high-quality 'Virtual Printer' and file compression engine.
Keep in mind
Windows only; the user interface looks dated compared to modern web apps.
Sejda PDF
FREEBest for Quick Web Edits
Why we like it
Allows for direct text editing in the browser (rare for free tools); sleek, simple interface; 3 tasks per day for free.
Keep in mind
Strict 200-page or 50MB limits on the free tier; pricing for the desktop version is similar to Smallpdf.
PDF Candy
FREEBest for Tool Variety
Why we like it
Offers 47+ different tools in one interface; excellent conversion quality for Word and Excel; supports direct upload from Google Drive/Dropbox.
Keep in mind
The free version is limited to 1 task per hour; web-interface is heavily ad-supported.
Xodo
FREEBest for Mobile & Tablets
Why we like it
World-class annotation and e-signature tools for iPad/Android; syncs across devices; includes a high-performance PDF viewer.
Keep in mind
Free web tier has been increasingly restricted in 2025; advanced editing requires a 'Pro' subscription.
Okular
FREEBest for Linux & Open Source Purists
Why we like it
Universal document viewer with annotation and digital signature support; 100% free; supports many formats like EPUB and Comics.
Keep in mind
Lacks the 'Word-like' text editing features of PDFgear or Smallpdf; interface is purely functional.
TinyWow
FREEBest No-Limit Web Tool
Why we like it
No hourly limits or file size caps for most tools; files are deleted after 1 hour for privacy; includes AI writing and image tools.
Keep in mind
Heavy use of CAPTCHAs and advertisements to keep the service free; can be slow during peak traffic.
Stellar PDF Editor
Best for Enterprise Value
Why we like it
Offers a one-time purchase option (stop the subscription drain); professional-grade OCR and redaction; excellent file repair for corrupted PDFs.
Keep in mind
No forever-free tier; primarily designed for Windows users.
Need more options?
Explore our full directory of PDF Tools & Utilities software alternatives.
Browse the PDF Tools & Utilities Hub