iLovePDF and Smallpdf both grew out of the same idea, simple browser-based tools for merging, splitting, compressing and converting PDFs, and on the surface…
| iLovePDF | Smallpdf | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary category | Documents & E-signature | Documents & E-signature |
| Rating | Not documented | Not documented |
| Pricing model | Freemium | freemium subscription |
| Starting price | Free | Free plan available; Pro from $10 per month (billed annually) |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Not documented | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows | iOS, Android |
| Team collaboration | Not documented | Not documented |
| AI features | Not documented | Not documented |
| Public API | Yes | Not documented |
Entry-level pricing
iLovePDF: Premium starts from 5 euros per month billed annually, or 9 euros per month billed monthly
Smallpdf: Pro starts at 9 to 15 dollars per month
For solo users and freelancers comparing sticker price, iLovePDF's annual-billed entry point is meaningfully cheaper than Smallpdf's
Developer API access
iLovePDF: Documents a REST API for merging, splitting, compression and conversion
Smallpdf: Provided facts do not confirm a public developer API
Teams that need to embed PDF processing into their own software need a documented, supported API rather than a workaround
AI summarization and translation
iLovePDF: Not documented in iLovePDF's feature set
Smallpdf: Offers AI-generated document summaries and translation of PDF content
Users who need to quickly digest or localize long documents get a built-in shortcut instead of exporting to a separate AI tool
OCR for scanned documents
iLovePDF: Converts scanned pages into searchable, selectable, copyable text
Smallpdf: Not documented in Smallpdf's feature set
Anyone digitizing paper records or working with scanned contracts needs OCR to make the text usable, not just viewable
Team-tier pricing transparency
iLovePDF: Jumps straight from individual Premium to a custom-quote Business plan with no published multi-seat price
Smallpdf: Publishes a Team plan at 7 to 12 dollars per user per month before its custom Business tier
A published per-seat price lets small teams budget without a sales call, while a custom-only tier forces negotiation for even a handful of extra seats
Headquarters and jurisdiction
iLovePDF: Based in Barcelona, Spain
Smallpdf: Based in Zurich, Switzerland
Organizations with data residency or jurisdiction preferences for cloud processing may weigh which country and legal framework governs where uploaded files are handled
Batch processing access
iLovePDF: Cons note that heavy batch automation really requires the paid API or Business plan
Smallpdf: Batch processing across many files is an explicit feature, available on paid plans
Both gate batch work behind payment, but Smallpdf documents it as a named feature while iLovePDF's batch capability is only implied through its API and Business tier
Business plan structure
iLovePDF: Custom-contract Business plan adds a dedicated account manager, SSO, and expanded admin controls
Smallpdf: Custom Business plan adds advanced admin controls, SSO options, and dedicated support on top of the Team tier
Both offer comparable enterprise features, but iLovePDF has no intermediate per-seat step before Business while Smallpdf funnels teams through Team first
Company tenure
iLovePDF: Founded in 2010
Smallpdf: Founded in 2013
iLovePDF has three additional years of operating history in the same cloud-PDF-tools category, which some buyers weigh as a proxy for stability
| Feature | iLovePDF | Smallpdf |
|---|---|---|
| Merge PDF files | Available | Available |
| Split PDF into separate files | Available | Available |
| Compress PDF file size | Available | Available |
| Convert to and from Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and JPG | Available | Available |
| Feature | iLovePDF | Smallpdf |
|---|---|---|
| PDF editing and annotations | Available | Available |
| Password protection and unlocking | Available | Available |
| OCR for scanned documents | Available | Not documented |
| eSign and electronic signature requests | Available | Available |
| Feature | iLovePDF | Smallpdf |
|---|---|---|
| AI document summarization | Not documented | Available |
| AI translation of PDF content | Not documented | Available |
| Feature | iLovePDF | Smallpdf |
|---|---|---|
| Developer REST API | Available | Not documented |
| Batch processing across multiple files | Limited | Available |
| Feature | iLovePDF | Smallpdf |
|---|---|---|
| Web browser access | Available | Available |
| iOS app | Available | Available |
| Android app | Available | Available |
| Desktop app (Windows and Mac) | Available | Available |
| Feature | iLovePDF | Smallpdf |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier availability | Available | Available |
| No account required for basic tasks | Available | Limited |
| Published per-user Team pricing | Not documented | Available |
| Enterprise plan with SSO | Available | Available |
Starting price reflects the lowest paid tier, not the full cost for every team size or usage level.
Pros
Cons
Pros
Cons
iLovePDF is cheaper at the entry level, with Premium starting from 5 euros per month billed annually, compared to Smallpdf's Pro plan at 9 to 15 dollars per month. Both also offer a free tier with daily usage limits, so occasional users can start at no cost with either tool.
iLovePDF documents a REST API for merging, splitting, compressing, and converting PDFs, making it the tool with confirmed developer integration support. Smallpdf's published facts do not confirm a public developer API, so teams needing programmatic access should default to iLovePDF or verify directly with Smallpdf.
Smallpdf is the one with documented AI features, offering document summarization and translation of PDF content. iLovePDF's published feature set does not include AI summarization or translation.
Both allow some use without an account. iLovePDF states no account is required for basic tasks, while Smallpdf allows many core tools to be used without signing up but notes that creating a free account typically removes some restrictions and saves file history.
iLovePDF is the better documented choice for OCR, since it explicitly converts scanned pages into searchable, selectable, and copyable text. Smallpdf's published feature list does not confirm OCR support.
Smallpdf publishes a clearer team pricing path, with a Team plan at 7 to 12 dollars per user per month before its custom Business tier. iLovePDF jumps directly from an individual Premium plan to a custom-quote Business plan with no published multi-seat price, so teams wanting self-serve pricing may find Smallpdf's structure more transparent.
Read the full iLovePDF review · Read the full Smallpdf review