PDFs are everywhere — from contracts and resumes to scanned receipts and school assignments. But editing a PDF without the right tool can be frustrating. Two of the most popular free online PDF editors are Smallpdf and iLovePDF. We tested both extensively to help you decide which one deserves your time.
| Feature | Smallpdf | iLovePDF |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | 2 tasks per day | Unlimited (with ads) |
| Paid Plan | $12/month (Pro) | $7/month (Premium) |
| Tools Available | 21+ tools | 25+ tools |
| File Size Limit | 5 GB (Pro) / 500 MB (free) | 1 GB per file (free) |
| OCR Support | Yes (Pro only) | Yes (Premium only) |
| Desktop App | Windows & Mac | Windows only |
| Ads on Free Plan | Minimal | Frequent |
| Our Rating | ★★★★☆ 4.5 | ★★★★☆ 4.3 |
Smallpdf has grown from a simple PDF compressor into a full-featured document platform used by over 500 million people. Its interface is clean, modern, and remarkably easy to navigate — even if you have never edited a PDF before. The free tier allows two tasks per day, which is enough for occasional users who just need to merge a few files or convert a Word document to PDF.
One standout feature is Smallpdf's desktop application, which works offline and integrates directly with your file system. The Pro plan unlocks OCR (text recognition in scanned documents), batch processing, and digital signatures — features that business users will appreciate. The platform also offers strong security with 256-bit SSL encryption and automatic file deletion after one hour.
Best for: Professionals and businesses who value a polished interface, desktop access, and security. If you handle sensitive documents regularly, Smallpdf is worth the premium.
Try Smallpdf Free →iLovePDF takes a different approach — it gives you more for free, even if the experience is not as refined. With over 25 tools and no daily usage limits on the free plan, iLovePDF is the workhorse of online PDF editing. Need to compress 20 PDFs in a row? iLovePDF will not stop you. The trade-off is a more cluttered interface and frequent advertisements on the free tier.
Where iLovePDF truly shines is in its sheer variety of tools. Beyond the basics (merge, split, compress, convert), you get features like PDF page numbering, watermarking, PDF/A conversion, and even repair for corrupted PDFs. The Premium plan removes ads, adds OCR, and enables larger file uploads — all at a lower price point than Smallpdf.
Best for: Students, casual users, and anyone who needs to process many PDFs without hitting daily limits. If you can tolerate ads, the free tier is incredibly generous.
Try iLovePDF Free →Smallpdf wins for its unbeatable combination of usability, security, and offline capability. While it costs more, the polished experience and desktop apps make it the better long-term investment for anyone who works with PDFs regularly. The 2-task daily limit on the free tier is the only thing holding it back from perfection.
Get Smallpdf Pro →If your budget is tight, iLovePDF is the clear choice. Its unlimited free plan and extensive tool library make it perfect for students and occasional users. The ads are annoying, but they are a small price to pay for such a capable free service.
Try iLovePDF →At just $7/month, iLovePDF Premium removes ads, unlocks OCR, and increases file size limits — all for less than Smallpdf's entry plan. For most users, this is the sweet spot between features and affordability.
Upgrade to Premium →Both offer free tiers, but with limitations. Smallpdf limits you to 2 tasks per day on the free plan, while iLovePDF is unlimited but shows ads. For serious PDF work, both services offer paid plans that remove restrictions.
Yes — both services use SSL encryption and automatically delete uploaded files after processing (typically within 1 hour). Smallpdf adds an extra layer with GDPR compliance and ISO 27001 certification. However, for highly sensitive legal or medical documents, a desktop PDF editor may still be preferable.
Both Smallpdf and iLovePDF offer PDF-to-Word conversion, which is the most reliable way to edit existing text. For direct in-PDF text editing, you will need dedicated PDF software like Adobe Acrobat. These online editors excel at merging, splitting, compressing, and converting PDFs rather than complex text editing.
Disclosure: This review contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you. All opinions are our own based on hands-on testing.