PDF Expert vs Smallpdf
PDF Expert and Smallpdf are both PDF & document tools tools. PDF Expert is aimed at freelancers and small businesses, while Smallpdf is aimed at small businesses and freelancers. Both have a free plan.
Readdle's PDF editor for Mac, iPhone and iPad with AI tools
Compress, convert, edit and sign PDFs online
| Pricing | Freemium | Freemium · $15 |
| Starting price | Not published | $15/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | 7 days |
| Built for | Freelancers, Small businesses | Small businesses, Freelancers |
| Platforms | macos, ios | web, macos, windows, ios, android |
| Country | UA · 2010 | CH · 2013 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose PDF Expert if
Mac, iPhone and iPad users who want a fast, affordable PDF editor with AI summaries.
- Fast, native Apple app that feels lighter than Acrobat
- One subscription covers Mac, iPhone and iPad
- Free version already handles reading, annotation, forms and signing
Look elsewhere if: Mixed Windows teams or organizations that need admin controls and signature workflows (Adobe Acrobat, Foxit, Nitro PDF).
Choose Smallpdf if
Individuals and small teams needing occasional PDF tasks.
- Very easy to use
- Works in any browser
- Good security (Swiss)
Look elsewhere if: Heavy editing workflows (Acrobat, Foxit).
PDF Expert vs Smallpdf pricing
PDF Expert
- Free$0Read, annotate, fill forms and sign
- Premium$79.99/yrUS price; Mac, iPhone and iPad; editing, OCR, convert, AI
- Lifetime (Mac)$139.99One-time; Mac only; AI and translation need a subscription
Smallpdf
- Free$0About 2 tasks/day, ~5 MB files
- Pro$15/moUnlimited tasks, all tools; yearly billing is 25% cheaper
- Pro for Teams$12/user/mo2+ users; team management, central billing
- BusinessCustomQuote-only; custom roles, priority support
PDF Expert · Key features
- Edit text, images and links directly inside existing PDFs
- OCR that makes scanned documents searchable and copyable
- Convert PDFs to Word, Excel, PowerPoint and JPG
- PDF Copilot AI to summarize, explain and answer questions with references
- Redaction, password protection, merging, splitting and compression
- Form filling, including checklists with calculated fields, plus signatures
Cons
- No Windows, Android or web version
- Lifetime Mac license excludes AI and translation features
- No team admin console or signature request workflows
Smallpdf · Key features
- Compress, merge, split and rotate PDFs
- Convert PDF to/from Word, Excel, PPT, JPG
- Edit text and annotate
- OCR for scanned documents
- E-signatures and signature requests
- AI PDF summaries and chat
Cons
- Free tier limited to 2 tasks/day
- Editing less powerful than Acrobat
- Subscription for occasional use
PDF Expert vs Smallpdf: FAQ
Do PDF Expert and Smallpdf have a free plan?
Yes, both PDF Expert and Smallpdf have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.