Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Smallpdf VS Converterer

Compare Smallpdf VS Converterer and see what are their differences

Smallpdf logo Smallpdf

PDF document management and conversion suite

Converterer logo Converterer

Developer-first file conversion and website capture API: 300+ format pairs across documents, images, audio, and video, plus pixel-perfect HTML-to-PDF rendering. Plain REST, no SDK required. 100 free conversions a month, files up to 1 GB.
  • Smallpdf Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-21
  • Converterer Home Page
    Home Page //
    2026-07-29

Converterer (formerly Paperplane) is a REST API for file conversion and website capture, built for developers and no-code workflows.

File conversion: convert documents, spreadsheets, presentations, images, audio, and video across 300+ format pairs: DOCX to PDF, PDF to DOCX, XLSX to CSV, PNG to WebP, HEIC to JPG, MP4 to GIF, WAV to MP3, and hundreds more. Upload a file or pass a URL, and the converted file is delivered to built-in storage or your own bucket.

Website capture: render any URL as a pixel-perfect, print-ready PDF with a real headless Chromium engine, the same rendering path that has powered Paperplane since 2018. Page size, margins, headers and footers with page numbers, HTTP auth, and wait conditions for JavaScript-heavy pages are all parameters on a single call.

Built for developers: plain REST with curl-friendly endpoints, no SDK needed, just POST it. Code recipes for Python, Node.js, PHP, Laravel, Ruby, Go, Java, and plain cURL. Async jobs with signed (HMAC) webhooks, metadata passthrough, custom file names, and a synchronous capture endpoint when you want the PDF back in one request.

No-code and automation: drop conversion and capture into Zapier, Make, n8n, Power Automate, or Workato flows.

Storage your way: results land in the built-in destination with zero setup, or connect your own bucket (S3-compatible, Google Cloud Storage, Azure, and more).

Pricing: 100 free conversions a month, no credit card required, files up to 1 GB on every plan. Paid plans from $9.99/month including 2,500 conversions.

Formerly Paperplane (est. 2018): same team and infrastructure, expanded from HTML-to-PDF to full file conversion.

Smallpdf

$ Details
-
Platforms
-
Release Date
-

Converterer

$ Details
freemium $9.99 / Monthly (2,500 conversions)
Platforms
REST API Generic HTTP API Curl
Release Date
2018 October
Startup details
Country
Australia
State
Victoria
City
Melbourne
Employees
1 - 9

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.

Converterer features and specs

  • 300+ Conversion Pairs
    Convert documents, spreadsheets, presentations, images, audio, and video through one REST endpoint: DOCX to PDF, HEIC to JPG, MP4 to GIF, XLSX to CSV, and hundreds more.
  • Website Capture (HTML to PDF)
    Render any URL as a pixel-perfect, print-ready PDF with a real headless Chromium engine. Page size, margins, headers and footers with page numbers, and wait conditions for JavaScript-heavy pages are all parameters on one call.
  • No SDK Required
    Plain REST that works from any language: authenticate with HTTP Basic, POST a file or URL, done. Hand-tested code recipes for Python, Node.js, PHP, Laravel, Ruby, Go, Java, and plain cURL.
  • Signed Webhook Callbacks
    HMAC-signed notifications fire the moment a conversion finishes, so pipelines react instantly instead of polling for status.
  • Bring Your Own Storage
    Results land in built-in storage with zero setup, or deliver straight to your own bucket: S3-compatible, Google Cloud Storage, Azure, and more.
  • No-Code Integrations
    Drop conversion and capture into Zapier, Make, n8n, Power Automate, or Workato workflows without writing code.
  • Flat Per-Conversion Pricing
    A conversion costs the same whatever the file weighs, with files up to 1 GB on every plan. 100 free conversions a month with no card, and published plans from $9.99 up to 250,000 conversions a month.
  • Batch and Parallel Processing
    Submit multiple jobs at once and keep high-volume workflows moving; async job handling with completion callbacks is built in.

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.

Analysis of Converterer

Overall verdict

  • Paperplane is considered a good tool for certain use cases.

Why this product is good

  • Paperplane is aimed at streamlining data collection and automating mail workflows, which makes it especially beneficial for organizations looking to enhance communication processes. It provides features that ease the management of outbound and inbound communications, making it efficient and convenient.

Recommended for

  • Businesses looking to automate their mail and communication processes.
  • Organizations that need efficient data collection and distribution tools.
  • Teams seeking to improve workflow efficiency in terms of document and message management.

Smallpdf videos

smallpdf tutorial video

More videos:

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

Converterer videos

Video Review Paperplane New Era 9FIFTY Snapback Cap

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Smallpdf and Converterer)
PDF Tools
98 98%
2% 2
PDF Editor
100 100%
0% 0
HTML To PDF
0 0%
100% 100
PDF Converter
100 100%
0% 0

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Smallpdf and Converterer.

What makes your product unique?

Converterer's answer:

Two APIs under one plan and one allowance: file conversion across 300+ format pairs (documents, spreadsheets, presentations, images, audio, video) and website capture that renders any URL as a print-ready PDF with a real headless Chromium engine. Pricing is flat per conversion, so a 900 MB video costs the same as a 40 KB document, where most competitors bill credits or processing minutes that scale with file size. And there is no SDK to install: it is plain REST you can drive from cURL.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

Converterer's answer:

Predictable cost and less integration work. Flat per-conversion pricing with files up to 1 GB on every plan means no surprise bills when documents get heavy. The free tier is a real recurring allowance, 100 conversions every month with no card, rather than a one-time trial. Integration is one POST request with HTTP Basic auth, HMAC-signed webhooks instead of polling, and delivery straight into your own storage bucket if you want it. The capture engine has been rendering PDFs in production since 2018, and we publish sourced, dated comparisons against competitors on our own site, including the cases where they are the better fit.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

Converterer's answer:

Developers adding file conversion or document rendering to their products (invoices, reports, archives, media processing), and operations or no-code builders automating the same jobs through Zapier, Make, n8n, Power Automate, or Workato. Typical users are SaaS teams generating documents at scale and teams replacing self-hosted conversion stacks they no longer want to operate.

What's the story behind your product?

Converterer's answer:

Converterer started in 2018 as Paperplane, a focused HTML-to-PDF API built on headless Chrome. Customers kept asking for conversions that had nothing to do with HTML: DOCX to PDF, HEIC to JPG, MP4 to GIF. So the platform grew past its name, and in May 2026 it relaunched as Converterer: the same team and rendering engine, expanded to a full file conversion API with 300+ format pairs alongside the original website capture.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

Converterer's answer:

Website capture runs on a real headless Chromium engine, so output matches what desktop Chrome renders, including web fonts, Flexbox, Grid, and JavaScript-heavy pages. The API itself is plain REST over HTTPS with HTTP Basic authentication and HMAC-signed webhooks, and output delivery integrates with standard object storage (S3-compatible, Google Cloud Storage, Azure).

User comments

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Reviews

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

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.
Best Online Image Converters in 2026: Docpose.cloud Leads the Pack
Users highlight Docpose.cloud’s reliability—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.
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.

Converterer Reviews

We have no reviews of Converterer yet.
Be the first one to post

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.

Smallpdf mentions (38)

  • OpenDataLoader: Safe, Open, High-Performance — 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 / 9 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 I‘ve used it occasionally and it has always worked really well. When I was running an agency, we inherited their first office – 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: over 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 — 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
View more

Converterer mentions (0)

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

What are some alternatives?

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

iLovePDF - Premium online PDF tool set

PDFShift - Convert any HTML documents to high-fidelity PDF using a single POST request

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.

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

Sejda - Split, merge and other powerful PDF tools.

pdflayer - Free, powerful HTML to PDF API supporting both URL and raw HTML conversion. Unlimited document size, lightning-fast and compatible PHP, Python, Ruby, etc.