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Smallpdf VS Lightstream

Compare Smallpdf VS Lightstream and see what are their differences

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Contents:
  1. ยป Base Details
  2. ยป Videos
  3. ยป Reviews
  4. ยป Alternatives

Smallpdf logo Smallpdf

PDF document management and conversion suite

Lightstream logo Lightstream

Powerful, cloud-based live streaming studio.
  • Smallpdf Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-21
  • Lightstream Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-05

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.

Lightstream features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Lightstream offers an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible for both beginners and seasoned streamers.
  • No Downloads Required
    As a web-based application, Lightstream does not require any software downloads, allowing users to stream directly from their browser.
  • Cloud-based Overlays
    Users can create and manipulate overlays directly in the cloud, eliminating the need for powerful local hardware to manage complex streaming scenes.
  • Real-time Collaboration
    Lightstream enables real-time collaboration, allowing multiple users to work simultaneously on the same projects or streams without delays.
  • Integration with Popular Platforms
    The service integrates seamlessly with popular streaming platforms such as Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook, facilitating a smoother workflow for streamers.

Possible disadvantages of Lightstream

  • Limited Customization
    While the platform offers a variety of features, some users may find customization options limited compared to more robust software like OBS Studio.
  • Subscription Cost
    Lightstream requires a subscription for access to all features, which could be a drawback for users looking for a free solution.
  • Dependency on Internet Connection
    Being a cloud-based service, Lightstream's performance is highly dependent on the user's internet connection, which could be problematic in areas with unstable connectivity.
  • Advanced Features Restrictions
    Some advanced features are restricted to premium tiers, which might deter users who need these functions but are unable to subscribe at higher pricing levels.
  • Limited Offline Capabilities
    As a web-based service, Lightstream does not support offline use, which can be restrictive for users who may want to prepare streams without an active internet connection.

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.

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

Lightstream videos

+ Add

LightStream Personal Loans Review

More videos:

  • Review - Scott Tries Lightstream - and a Short Comparrison of Mac Streaming Apps
  • Review - LightStream Auto Loans Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Smallpdf and Lightstream)

Smallpdf

Lightstream

PDF Tools
100 100%
PDF Tools
0% 0
Live Streaming
0 0%
Live Streaming
100% 100
PDF Converter
100 100%
PDF Converter
0% 0
Video Streaming
0 0%
Video Streaming
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Smallpdf and Lightstream. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

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

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

Lightstream Reviews

Top 15 Free Alternatives to OBS | Online Free Screen Recorder for PC
Lightstream is a free cloud-based application with a number of useful features, such as providing scenes and superimposed layers, which are very similar to those of OBS. In addition, because it is a cloud-based application, it consumes less CPU and does not affect game performance like OBS. You can use it instead of OBS in this regard.
Source: www.geekersoft.com
Top 10 OBS Alternatives
Lightstream is a free cloud-based program that you can use instead of OBS. It has numerus useful features including integration with other popular tools like Streamlabs. It also allows for the use of scenes and overlays, similar to the ones you would find on OBS. But it is considerably easier to use, with a very navigable user interface.
Source: dc.wondershare.com
Best Streaming Software for 2021 (Twitch & Youtube)
You can use LightStream Studio to stream to Twitch, Facebook, YouTube, and custom RTMP. It provides cloud-powered broadcasting accessed through a web browser. You can also capture Xbox and PlayStation gameplay for streaming to Twitch without a capture card.
Source: influencermarketinghub.com
14 Best OBS Studio Alternatives for Mac & Windows (2021)
It is similar to Lightstream as it is also designed for the low-end PC. If you need decent software for steaming with fewer features but with speed, then it will be best for you.
Source: techdator.net

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Smallpdf should be more popular than Lightstream. 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 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 / 8 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: 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 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
View more

Lightstream mentions (18)

  • having crashing issues
    There's something called Golightstream: https://golightstream.com/ which is basically a cloud streaming service for your console and browser. It's sort of expensive ($20 / month for 720p 30fps annually) but it would remove the need for OBS and potentially save you more resources. There's a 7 day free trial. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Can I Stream Directly Off Of My Ps5 To Apps Like Twitch & TikTok?
    If you want to be able to stream to other locations and add things to your stream, LightStream might be the best option. Source: over 3 years ago
  • can I get obs on xbox without a pc\laptop
    Not really, but there are services like Lightstreamthat give you similar functionality over the internet. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Self-hosted broadcast software
    Does anyone know of a self-hosted alternative to https://melonapp.com/ / https://golightstream.com/. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Can you have a browser source when streaming using Xboxโ€™s twitch app
    I would recommend using something like lightstream for overlays using Xbox: https://golightstream.com/. Source: about 4 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

iLovePDF - Premium online PDF tool set

XSplit - Live stream and record your content with ease & share it to streaming services like Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, Mixer, etc. Start your broadcast today.

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.

OBS Studio - Free and open source software for video recording and live streaming for Mac, Windows and Linux.

Sejda - Split, merge and other powerful PDF tools.

ShadowPlay - ShadowPlay

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