A free Smallpdf alternative with no daily limit
Smallpdf's free plan has a daily download limit on nearly every tool and only basic compression; files are uploaded and deleted about an hour after processing. PandaFileKit has no daily limit, its strongest compression is free, and files never leave your browser. Smallpdf is ahead on Office conversions, OCR and e-signature workflows.
Facts about Smallpdf checked on 9 October 2026
Smallpdf and PandaFileKit at a glance
| Question | Smallpdf | PandaFileKit |
|---|---|---|
| Where your file is processed | Uploaded to Smallpdf's servers. Source | No upload. Files are opened and processed inside your browser tab. |
| What happens to the file | Deleted about 1 hour after processing; shared or e-sign files are kept 14 days. Source | Nothing to keep or delete: your file never reaches a server. |
| Free limits | A daily download limit on nearly every tool. Source | No daily or per-task limits. Up to 500 MB per file; your device's memory is the real ceiling. |
| Compression on the free plan | Basic compression only; strong compression is Pro. Source | Every mode, including the strongest and compress-to-exact-size, is free. |
| Price of the cheapest paid plan | Pro: US$9 a month billed yearly, or US$12 billed monthly. Source | Free. There is no paid plan. |
Where Smallpdf is better
Worth knowing before you switch. Use whichever fits the job.
- Office, ODF, EPUB and iWork conversions, and OCR inside conversions (Pro).
- Sending documents for e-signature, and cloud storage for your files.
- Redact, flatten and PDF/A tools, plus AI chat and summarize.
Tool by tool
17 of the 22 Smallpdf jobs listed here have a free, no-upload equivalent today.
| Smallpdf | PandaFileKit |
|---|---|
| Compress PDF | Compress PDF |
| Merge PDF | Merge PDF |
| Split PDF | Split PDF |
| Rotate PDF | Rotate PDF |
| Delete pages | Delete PDF pages |
| Extract pages | Extract PDF pages |
| Organize PDF | Organize PDF |
| Number pages | Add page numbers to PDF |
| Crop PDF | Crop PDF |
| Watermark | Add watermark to PDF |
| Sign PDF | Sign PDF |
| Unlock PDF | Unlock PDF |
| Protect PDF | Protect PDF |
| PDF to JPG | PDF to JPG |
| JPG to PDF | JPG to PDF |
| PDF to Excel | PDF to Excel |
| PDF scanner | Document scanner |
| PDF to Word | Not yet |
| Office to PDF | Not yet |
| OCR | Not yet |
| Redact PDF | Not yet |
| Flatten PDF | Not yet |
Check the no-upload claim yourself
Every tool shows a network meter while it works, counting the bytes sent to a server. You can also open your browser's developer tools, switch to the Network tab and run a job: no request carries your file, because there is no upload endpoint to send it to.
Questions
How many files can I process a day?
As many as you like. There is no daily, hourly or per-task limit.
Is the strongest compression really free?
Yes. Every compression mode, including compressing to an exact size in KB or MB, is free.
Do I need to create an account to download?
No. Results download straight from your browser; there are no accounts.
Facts about Smallpdf come from the pages linked in the table and were checked on 9 October 2026. Prices and limits change; if something here is out of date, write to hello@pandafilekit.com. Smallpdf is a trademark of its owner. PandaFileKit is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by them.