OnlyDocs vs Smallpdf: Free PDF Editor Comparison (2026)

If you've ever searched for "free PDF editor," you've almost certainly come across Smallpdf. It's one of the most well-known online PDF tools on the market, and for good reason — it's been around since 2013 and has built a solid reputation.

But Smallpdf's free tier has become increasingly restrictive over the years. Daily task limits, features locked behind a $12/month paywall, and mandatory file uploads to their servers have pushed many users to look for a Smallpdf alternative.

Enter OnlyDocs. In this comparison, we'll give you an honest, side-by-side look at both tools so you can decide which one actually fits your workflow.

Quick Comparison Table

Here's the high-level overview before we dive into details:

• Pricing: OnlyDocs is free (Pro at $7/mo) vs Smallpdf at $12/mo for Pro
• Free tier limits: OnlyDocs has no daily task limits vs Smallpdf's 2 tasks/day
• Signup required: OnlyDocs requires no account vs Smallpdf requires signup for most features
• File privacy: OnlyDocs processes files in-browser vs Smallpdf uploads to their servers
• Platform: Both are browser-based and work on any device

Pricing: OnlyDocs Wins on Value

Let's start with the elephant in the room — cost.

Smallpdf offers a limited free tier that allows roughly 2 tasks per day. After that, you're prompted to upgrade to Smallpdf Pro at $12/month (billed annually) or $15/month billed monthly. The Pro plan unlocks unlimited tasks, offline access via their desktop app, and batch processing.

OnlyDocs takes a different approach. The core PDF editor — including text editing, annotations, form filling, page management, and signatures — is completely free with no daily limits. If you need advanced features like OCR, batch processing, or priority support, OnlyDocs Pro is $7/month.

That's a $5/month savings compared to Smallpdf, and you get more features in the free tier to begin with.

What You Actually Get for Free

This is where the difference really matters for most users:

Smallpdf Free:

• 2 tasks per day (across all tools)
• Basic compress, convert, merge
• File size limits on some operations
• Requires account creation

OnlyDocs Free:

• Unlimited PDF editing
• Text editing, annotations, highlights
• Form filling and digital signatures
• Page reordering, deletion, rotation
• Merge and split PDFs
• No account required

For casual users who just need to edit a PDF once in a while, Smallpdf's free tier can work — as long as you don't hit that 2-task wall on a busy day. For anyone who works with PDFs regularly, the limits get frustrating fast.

Features: Both Are Capable, but Access Differs

Let's be fair — Smallpdf has a wide feature set. Their tool suite includes PDF compression, conversion (to and from Word, Excel, PowerPoint, JPG), merging, splitting, signing, and more. The desktop app is polished, and the integrations with Google Drive and Dropbox are genuinely useful.

Where things diverge is access. Many of Smallpdf's most useful features — like batch processing, editing scanned PDFs, and the desktop app — are Pro-only. You can see the tools on their homepage, but you'll hit a paywall quickly if you try to use them seriously.

OnlyDocs covers the core PDF editing workflow comprehensively in its free tier:

• Edit text directly in PDFs — change fonts, sizes, colors
• Annotate with highlights, underlines, sticky notes, and drawings
• Fill forms and add digital signatures
• Manage pages — reorder, rotate, delete, insert
• Merge and split PDFs without limits
• Convert between PDF and common formats

Smallpdf's conversion tools are arguably broader (supporting more obscure format combinations), and their compression algorithm is excellent. Credit where it's due. But for day-to-day PDF editing, OnlyDocs gives you everything you need without reaching for your credit card.

Privacy: A Critical Difference

This is one area where the two platforms take fundamentally different approaches.

Smallpdf uploads your files to their servers for processing. They state that files are deleted after one hour, and they use encryption in transit. For many users, this is fine. But if you're working with sensitive documents — contracts, medical records, financial statements — uploading them to a third-party server introduces risk, no matter how good their security practices are.

OnlyDocs processes files entirely in your browser. Your PDFs never leave your device. There's no upload, no server-side processing, and no window where your document exists on someone else's infrastructure.

For privacy-conscious users, freelancers handling client documents, or anyone in a regulated industry, this is a significant advantage. You get the convenience of a web-based tool with the privacy of desktop software.

Ease of Use

Both tools are browser-based and designed for non-technical users, so neither has a steep learning curve.

Smallpdf has a clean, well-designed interface. Each tool has its own page, and the workflow is straightforward: upload → process → download. The UI is polished and the experience is smooth. If you've used Smallpdf before, you know it just works.

OnlyDocs takes a similar approach but leans more toward an integrated editor experience. Instead of separate tools for different tasks, you open your PDF in the editor and access everything from one workspace. Some users prefer this unified approach; others prefer Smallpdf's one-tool-at-a-time model.

Honestly, both are easy to use. This one comes down to personal preference.

Performance and Speed

Smallpdf processes files on their servers, which means performance depends on your upload speed and their server load. For large files, the upload-process-download cycle can take a while. On the plus side, server-side processing means the heavy lifting doesn't tax your device.

OnlyDocs processes everything locally, so there's no upload wait time. You open a file and start editing immediately. However, very large or complex PDFs may be slower on older devices since your browser is doing all the work. On any modern laptop or phone, this is rarely an issue.

Mobile Experience

Both tools work in mobile browsers, which is great for quick edits on the go.

Smallpdf also offers native iOS and Android apps, which provide a smoother mobile experience with offline access. This is a genuine advantage if you frequently edit PDFs on your phone.

OnlyDocs works through the mobile browser without needing an app install. The responsive design adapts well to smaller screens, and since there's no file upload, it's actually faster to get started. No app to install, no account to create — just open the site and edit.

Who Should Use Smallpdf?

Smallpdf is a solid choice if:

• You need a wide variety of format conversions (especially obscure ones)
• You want a native desktop and mobile app
• You use Google Drive or Dropbox integrations heavily
• You're okay with paying $12/month for unlimited access
• File upload to servers isn't a concern for your use case

Who Should Use OnlyDocs?

OnlyDocs is the better fit if:

• You want a truly free PDF editor with no daily limits
• You need to edit PDFs without creating an account
• Privacy matters — you don't want files uploaded to servers
• You want Pro features at $7/month instead of $12/month
• You work across different devices and want zero setup

The Bottom Line

Smallpdf is a good product — we're not going to pretend otherwise. It's been a reliable tool for millions of users, and its feature breadth is impressive.

But for most people who just need to edit, annotate, sign, and manage PDFs, OnlyDocs delivers a better experience at a better price. The free tier is genuinely usable (not a teaser for the paid plan), your files stay private on your device, and you never need to create an account just to make a quick edit.

If you're currently paying for Smallpdf Pro, switching to OnlyDocs could save you $60/year while giving you comparable features with better privacy.

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