Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

PDF-XChange Editor VS Merge PDF (by Smallpdf)

Compare PDF-XChange Editor VS Merge PDF (by Smallpdf) and see what are their differences

PDF-XChange Editor logo PDF-XChange Editor

The smallest, fastest, most feature-rich PDF editor/viewer available

Merge PDF (by Smallpdf) logo Merge PDF (by Smallpdf)

No file limit, no ad watermarks - a free and beautiful tool to combine your PDF files exactly the way you want it.
  • PDF-XChange Editor Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-03
  • Merge PDF (by Smallpdf) Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-02

PDF-XChange Editor features and specs

  • Feature-Rich
    PDF-XChange Editor offers a wide range of features including annotation tools, OCR, content editing, and more. This makes it a comprehensive solution for managing PDF documents.
  • Lightweight
    The application is relatively lightweight and performs efficiently even on less powerful systems, providing a smooth user experience.
  • User Interface
    The interface is intuitive and user-friendly, making it easy to navigate through various functions and features.
  • OCR Support
    PDF-XChange Editor includes robust Optical Character Recognition (OCR) capabilities, allowing users to convert scanned documents into editable and searchable text.
  • Customization
    It offers a high level of customization, allowing users to tailor the toolbars, menus, and other interface elements to meet their specific needs.
  • Cost-Effective
    The software provides a good balance of features and cost, making it an affordable option for both individual users and businesses.

Possible disadvantages of PDF-XChange Editor

  • Learning Curve
    Due to its extensive feature set, new users may find it challenging to learn and master all of the functions and tools available in the software.
  • Limited Free Version
    The free version of PDF-XChange Editor is limited in functionality, with many advanced features requiring a paid license to access.
  • Watermarks
    Free version annotations and some features will include watermarks on the documents, which could be inconvenient for professional use.
  • Occasional Bugs
    Some users have reported occasional bugs and software instability, which could interrupt workflow and reduce productivity.
  • Complexity of Features
    Some of the advanced features may be overly complex for users who only need basic PDF editing capabilities, making the user experience overwhelming.

Merge PDF (by Smallpdf) features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    The Merge PDF tool by Smallpdf offers an intuitive and clean interface that makes it easy for users of all experience levels to merge PDF files without complications.
  • Convenience
    Being an online service, Smallpdf allows users to merge PDF files directly from their browser, eliminating the need for downloads or installations.
  • Integration with Cloud Services
    Smallpdf integrates with cloud storage services such as Google Drive and Dropbox, allowing users to access and save their files with ease.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    As a web-based tool, Smallpdf's Merge PDF function can be used on any operating system, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • Security Features
    Smallpdf ensures security and privacy by removing files from their servers after one hour, mitigating the risk of unauthorized access.

Possible disadvantages of Merge PDF (by Smallpdf)

  • Subscription Cost
    While there is a free tier, access to premium features requires a subscription, which may not be suitable for users looking for a completely free solution.
  • File Size and Number Limitations
    The free version of Smallpdf has limitations on the size and number of files that can be uploaded and processed, which might be restrictive for users with large or numerous files.
  • Internet Dependency
    As an online tool, Smallpdf requires a stable internet connection to function, which can be a disadvantage in areas with unreliable connectivity.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Although files are deleted after an hour, some users may still have concerns about uploading sensitive documents to an online service.
  • Limited Features in Free Version
    The free version does not provide access to all the advanced features available to Pro users, which may limit functionality for those who do not wish to pay for a subscription.

Analysis of PDF-XChange Editor

Overall verdict

  • PDF-XChange Editor is considered a good choice for those requiring a robust PDF editing solution. It combines functionality and ease of use, making it appealing to a broad spectrum of users from casual users to professionals.

Why this product is good

  • PDF-XChange Editor is widely regarded as a powerful and versatile PDF editing software. It offers a wide range of features, including text editing, annotation tools, OCR (Optical Character Recognition), and the ability to create and fill forms. Its user-friendly interface and efficient performance are often praised, making it suitable for both basic and advanced PDF editing tasks. Additionally, it supports a wide array of file formats and provides integration with popular cloud storage services.

Recommended for

  • Individuals who frequently need to edit or annotate PDF documents.
  • Professionals requiring advanced PDF functionality such as OCR and form creation.
  • Users looking for a cost-effective alternative to other leading PDF editors.
  • People who value integration with cloud storage and multiple file format support.

PDF-XChange Editor videos

PDF-XChange Viewer Tutorial

Merge PDF (by Smallpdf) videos

No Merge PDF (by Smallpdf) videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to PDF-XChange Editor and Merge PDF (by Smallpdf))
PDF Tools
91 91%
9% 9
PDF Editor
96 96%
4% 4
Office & Productivity
0 0%
100% 100
PDF Creator
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare PDF-XChange Editor and Merge PDF (by Smallpdf)

PDF-XChange Editor Reviews

The 13 Best Free PDF Editors (February 2024)
PDF-XChange Editor offers some great tools, but not all of them are free to use. If you use a non-free feature, the PDF will save with a watermark on every page.
8 Best Adobe Acrobat Alternatives In 2022 [Updated List]
PDF-Xchange Editor is one of the most inexpensive alternatives to Acrobat Pro. It has all the tools necessary for creating, editing, and annotating PDF files and also has OCR and tools for digitally signing the documents. It also allows you to export PDF files to MS Office formats.
10 Best PDF Expert Alternatives for Various Tasks in 2022
Thereby, PDF Xchange Editor comes before PDF Expert in the OCR technology. This PDF expert alternative provides you with the advanced OCR plug-in of ABBYY, which counts to be more precise, adaptive, and faster than the standard OCR engine (at work by PDF Expert), and be completed with features such as dynamic stamps, say, a stamp that adopts the system date in an automatic...
Source: fixthephoto.com
13 of the Best Free PDF Readers
For those users looking to add audio to their PDFs, PDF-XChange Editor could be the solution. Besides the having ability to add recordings and other audio, users can view and edit the PDF files, along with adding in a signature. The best feature of PDF-XChange, though, might be its Optical Character Recognition Tool. With this tool, users can scan in a printed document and...
Source: www.indeed.com
Top 5 Best Free Alternatives to Adobe Acrobat DC
PDF-XChange Editor offers amazing amount of features for free (about 80%). Some of them are free only in Editor (but not free in others competitors). And all free features in Editor are very precise and detailed. With the stable work and good support, PDF-XChange Editor is very user-friendly for high level professional documents
Source: whatvwant.com

Merge PDF (by Smallpdf) Reviews

We have no reviews of Merge PDF (by Smallpdf) yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Merge PDF (by Smallpdf) seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 7 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.

PDF-XChange Editor mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of PDF-XChange Editor yet. Tracking of PDF-XChange Editor recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Merge PDF (by Smallpdf) mentions (7)

  • How do I add two separate PDF pages together as a single PDF on iPad?
    So I'm sure there are more official ways to do this but I usually just go online to somewhere like https://smallpdf.com/merge-pdf. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Any tips for creating pdf files with some music you would like to learn to play?
    If you already have individual PDF files, you can combine them into one PDF with this tool: https://smallpdf.com/merge-pdf. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Need help with Enrollment Immunization Records process
    5) Now that you have your doctor-completed immunization record form, either scan it with a scanner or take pictures and upload them into a PDF (you can use a website like SmallPDF to do this). Next, you will take that document/PDF and upload it over here. While uploading, you will click a dropdown menu. For your initial Immunization Record form, you will select option 1 ("Immunization Record") from the choices. If... Source: about 3 years ago
  • Different file formats ...
    On Canvas I restrict submission types to PDFs and I just include a link on each assignment description to SmallPDF. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Is this survey a good way to collect pain points?
    Examples of small tools that I'd want feedback on are PDF tools, conversion tools and spreadsheet tools. Source: over 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing PDF-XChange Editor and Merge PDF (by Smallpdf), you can also consider the following products

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.

PDF Joiner - This online tool allows you to join several PDF documents into a single file, free of charge.

Sumatra PDF - Sumatra PDF is a slim PDF/DjVu/EPUB/XPS/CHM/CBR/CBZ/MOBI viewer for Windows.

PDFManagerUltimate - Read, edit, and convert PDF files.

PDF24 PDF Creator - Create PDF and convert documents to PDF for free with the free PDF24 PDF Creator.

DocuPUB - DocuPUB is an online file converter, file merger, file compressor, and file resizing tool.