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File Roller VS Smallpdf

Compare File Roller VS Smallpdf and see what are their differences

DocRaptor
As the only API powered by the Prince HTML-to-PDF engine, DocRaptor provides the best support for complex PDFs with powerful support for headers, page breaks, page numbers, flexbox, watermarks, accessible PDFs, and much more featured
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Contents:
  1. ยป Base Details
  2. ยป Videos
  3. ยป Reviews
  4. ยป Alternatives

File Roller logo File Roller

File Roller is an archive manager for the GNOME desktop environment.

Smallpdf logo Smallpdf

PDF document management and conversion suite
  • File Roller Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-25
  • Smallpdf Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-21

File Roller features and specs

  • Integration with GNOME Desktop
    File Roller integrates seamlessly with GNOME Desktop Environment, allowing easy access and extraction of archive files directly from the file manager.
  • Supports Various Formats
    It supports a wide range of archive formats including tar, zip, 7z, rar, iso, and many others, ensuring compatibility with most archive files.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    File Roller provides a simple and intuitive graphical user interface that makes it easy for users to create, modify, and extract archives.
  • Customizable Compression Levels
    Users can customize compression levels for different archive formats, allowing for flexible space and performance management.

Possible disadvantages of File Roller

  • Dependence on GNOME
    File Roller is tailored for the GNOME desktop environment, which can make it less appealing or efficient for users of other desktop environments.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    Compared to some specialized archiving tools, File Roller lacks advanced features like automation scripts, archive repair, and specialized encryption options.
  • Performance
    While File Roller is adequate for general use, it may not perform as quickly or efficiently as command-line tools or other specialized software for handling large archives.
  • GUI-Dependent
    File Roller relies on a graphical user interface, which means it cannot be used in environments where a GUI is not available or practical, such as servers or remote systems accessed via SSH.

Smallpdf features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Smallpdf provides a clean, intuitive, and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible for users of all technical levels.
  • Wide Range of Tools
    Offers a variety of tools for PDF editing, including compressing, merging, splitting, and converting PDFs to other formats.
  • Cloud Integration
    Seamlessly integrates with cloud storage services like Google Drive and Dropbox, allowing users to work directly with their files stored online.
  • Security
    Utilizes strong encryption and deletes files from their servers after one hour, ensuring user data is kept secure and private.
  • Cross-Platform Availability
    Accessible from various devices including desktops, tablets, and smartphones with responsive web design.
  • Free Tier
    Provides a free tier with limited features, which is suitable for occasional or basic users.

Possible disadvantages of Smallpdf

  • Limited Free Features
    The free version only allows for two tasks per day and places restrictions on larger files and advanced features, leading to potential inconvenience for frequent users.
  • Subscription Cost
    The premium subscription can be considered expensive for some users, particularly those who only need occasional PDF edits.
  • File Size Limit
    Even with a premium subscription, there are restrictions on the maximum file size that can be uploaded and processed.
  • Internet Dependence
    Requires an active internet connection to use most of its features, which can be a limitation for users with unreliable or slow connectivity.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Despite strong encryption, some users may still have reservations about uploading sensitive documents to an online service.
  • Limited Customization
    The range of customization options for certain tools may be limited compared to more specialized PDF software.

Analysis of File Roller

Overall verdict

  • File Roller is a reliable and efficient tool for managing archives on Linux systems. Its straightforward interface, coupled with compatibility with numerous archive formats, makes it a good choice for users who need a no-fuss archive manager.

Why this product is good

  • File Roller is a simple, user-friendly archive manager for the GNOME desktop environment. It's capable of creating, modifying, and extracting files from various archive formats, including ZIP, TAR, RAR, and others. Its integration with the GNOME desktop allows for seamless access and file management through the file manager. It supports drag and drop functionality, making it easy to manage archives with minimal effort.

Recommended for

    File Roller is recommended for GNOME desktop users who need a simple and efficient archive manager. It's also suitable for anyone who prefers GUI tools over command-line options for managing compressed files on Linux.

Analysis of Smallpdf

Overall verdict

  • Smallpdf is a reliable and efficient tool for managing PDF documents, suitable for both casual users and professionals. Its combination of versatility, ease of use, and security features makes it a strong contender in the realm of online PDF services.

Why this product is good

  • Smallpdf is considered good because it offers a wide range of PDF tools that are easy to use and accessible online. It provides functionalities such as PDF conversion, compression, editing, and signing, all within a user-friendly interface. This makes it an ideal choice for both individuals and businesses looking for efficient document management solutions. Additionally, it emphasizes security by ensuring encrypted file transfers, which is crucial for handling sensitive information.

Recommended for

  • Individuals who frequently work with PDFs and need a straightforward tool for conversions, compressions, or edits.
  • Students who need to annotate and organize their study materials in a PDF format.
  • Professionals who require a reliable tool for signing documents and collaborating with team members remotely.
  • Businesses looking for secure document management solutions with the flexibility of online access.

File Roller videos

+ Add

show files file roller

Smallpdf videos

+ Add

smallpdf tutorial video

More videos:

  • Review - Smallpdf Review
  • Tutorial - Smallpdf | How to do Unlimited Free Conversions ? | Hack for Smallpdf | Bypass limit of 2 conversion

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to File Roller and Smallpdf)

File Roller

Smallpdf

Archiver
100 100%
Archiver
0% 0
PDF Tools
0 0%
PDF Tools
100% 100
Archive Manager
100 100%
Archive Manager
0% 0
PDF Converter
0 0%
PDF Converter
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare File Roller and Smallpdf

File Roller Reviews

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Smallpdf Reviews

Best Free Alternatives to Adobe Acrobat in 2026
Smallpdf is a well-known online PDF platform with a clean interface. It works entirely in the browser and integrates with Google Drive and Dropbox, making it convenient if you store files in the cloud. The free tier limits you to two tasks per hour and adds a watermark on some output files. Files are uploaded to Smallpdf's servers for processing.
Source: universalfiletools.com
Best Online Image Converters in 2026: Docpose.cloud Leads the Pack
Users highlight Docpose.cloudโ€™s reliabilityโ€”no failed conversions even on rare formats. CloudConvert gets praise for quality tweaks but frustrates with daily resets. iLoveIMG is loved for extras like AI, but free limits irk. Smallpdf suits PDF-image hybrids, less pure images. Convertio is straightforward but caps freebies quick.
Source: fileproinfo.com
Ever wondered why bank statements are always in PDF?
Platforms like iLovePDF and Smallpdf are among the most popular choices. They do a decent job for simple PDFs, but I quickly realized a few issues:
Source: medium.com
Top 10 PDF Converters for converting to or from PDF effortlessly
Smallpdf is one of the most well-known PDF converter tools online. Offering a simple, user-friendly interface, it allows users to convert files to and from PDF without any hassle. Smallpdf supports over 18 file types and integrates with Google Drive and Dropbox for easy cloud storage access.
Source: pdf-converter.ai
The 13 Best Free PDF Editors (February 2024)
One of the quickest ways to add images, text, shapes, or your signature to a PDF is with Smallpdf. I find it extremely easy to use for those things, but I opt for one of the editors that top this list if I need to edit the text because this one won't do it for free.
Source: www.lifewire.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Smallpdf seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 38 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

File Roller mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of File Roller yet. Tracking of File Roller recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Smallpdf mentions (38)

  • OpenDataLoader: Safe, Open, High-Performance โ€” PDF for AI
    According to statistics from smallpdf.com, by 2025, there will be a massive 2.5 trillion PDF documents stored worldwide, and 290 billion new PDF documents will be created every year. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • Stirling-PDF: local web application to perform various operations on PDFs
    Smallpdf [1] probably deserves a mention here. Not OSS and not self-hosted, but Iโ€˜ve used it occasionally and it has always worked really well. When I was running an agency, we inherited their first office โ€“ very cool folks. [1] https://smallpdf.com/. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Looking fore college ruled template to print
    And use this one to merge two single-page pdf to make a double side page. Source: over 2 years ago
  • PDF to Excel without O365/Adobe Acrobat?
    I don't have Office 365 for the "Get Data" option, nor do I have Adobe Acrobat. I've tried the smallpdf website but it came out a mess, possibly because my original spreadsheet had highlighted rows and lots of text in some of the cells. Source: about 3 years ago
  • 5 tips to improve your SaaS user onboarding
    Examples of companies doing this well: - SmallPDF users can convert or compress a limited number of files without an account โ€” turning users into advocates and customers once paid use cases comes along; - Freshline uses interactive product demos to help users self-educate and understand the value of their features, without a paywall or registration;. Source: over 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing File Roller and Smallpdf, you can also consider the following products

Bandizip - Bandizip : All-In-One Free Zip Archiver. Bandizip is a lightweight, fast and free All-In-One Zip Archiver.

iLovePDF - Premium online PDF tool set

The Unarchiver - Get the top application for archives on Mac. It's a RAR extractor, it allows you to unzip files, and works with dozens of other formats.

Adobe Acrobat DC - Make your job easier with Adobe Acrobat DC, the trusted PDF creator. Use Acrobat to convert, edit and sign PDF files at your desk or on the go.

NanaZip - NanaZip is an open source file archiver intended for the modern Windows experience

Sejda - Split, merge and other powerful PDF tools.

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