Smallpdf VS Notesnook

Compare Smallpdf VS Notesnook and see what are their differences

Rating: 0 reviews

Rating: 5.0 · 1 review
Pricing: Open source Freemium Free trial $4.49 / Monthly (UI Themes & accents)

PrivacyNotes

Zero-knowledge encrypted notes, tasks, journals, files, and passwords in one app. Your keys never leave your device. One-time price, no subscription. Hosted in Switzerland. sponsored

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Notesnook should be more popular than Smallpdf. It has been mentioned 89 times since March 2021.

social mentions: 38 vs 89
PDF Tools popularity: 100% vs 0%

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

	Smallpdf	Notesnook
Website	smallpdf.com	notesnook.com
Pricing	Official pricing	Open source Freemium Free trial $4.49 / Monthly (UI Themes & accents) Official pricing
Platforms	—	Linux Windows Mac OSX Android iOS Edge Google Chrome Safari Firefox +6
Company	—	Startup from Pakistan
Listed in	PDF Tools PDF Creator File Sharing PDF Editor +1	Notes Personal Notes Note Taking Personal Productivity +1

About Smallpdf and Notesnook

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

Smallpdf

Notesnook

No description of Smallpdf yet.

Take notes on any device, capture ideas quickly and always keep them encrypted. You don't need an Internet connection to read or take notes because everything works 100% offline. Notesnook encrypts everything on your device. No one except you can read your notes making sure you enjoy privacy...

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Smallpdf 6 features

Notesnook 6 features

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

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.

Notebooks & Tags
Prioritise by Colors
Rich Text Editor
Tables & Lists
Secure Private Vault
Timely Backup

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Smallpdf

Notesnook

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.

Overall verdict

Notesnook is a solid choice for anyone who prioritizes privacy and a minimalist design in their note-taking app. It may lack some advanced features found in other note-taking applications, but it offers a reliable and secure environment for managing personal and professional information.

Why this product is good

Notesnook is a note-taking application known for its focus on privacy and security, offering end-to-end encryption to protect user data. It provides a clean and intuitive interface with features such as notebooks, tags, cross-platform synchronization, and offline access. Users appreciate the availability of mobile and desktop applications, as well as its web version, making it versatile for different use cases.

Recommended for

Notesnook is recommended for individuals and professionals who are concerned about data privacy and are looking for a straightforward, secure, and easy-to-use note-taking solution. It is particularly suitable for those who want cross-platform accessibility without sacrificing security.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Smallpdf 3 videos + Add

Notesnook 0 videos + Add

smallpdf tutorial video

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100

Smallpdf

Notesnook

100% 100%

PDF Tools

0% 0%

Note Taking

100% 100%

PDF Editor

0% 0%

Notes

100% 100%

User comments

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

Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Smallpdf no reviews yet

Notesnook 5.0 · 1 review

Best Free Alternatives to Adobe Acrobat in 2026
universalfiletools.com · Jun 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...
Best Online Image Converters in 2026: Docpose.cloud Leads the Pack
fileproinfo.com · Feb 2026

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...
Ever wondered why bank statements are always in PDF?
medium.com · Oct 2025

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:

BEST!!!
SaaSHub review

· Aug 2021

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Smallpdf 38 mentions

Notesnook 89 mentions

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 / 10 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]... - 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: almost 3 years ago

Kagi Specials
The page posted doesn't include the latest addition to specials which was posted on their Discord and visible here https://kagi.com/specials. Which to save you a click it's https://notesnook.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
Notion Releases Offline Mode
Https://notesnook.com is better than Notion and Obsidian. The cross-platform apps are fast and smooth, and it have sync, which Obsidian requires a subscription for. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
Show HN: Colanode, open-source and local-first Slack and Notion alternative
Looks nice! Would wait for the documentation to learn more. How does this compare to Notesnook? I have found that to be the best in terms of getting the details right (However, the last I checked, the documentation for self-hosting was... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago

Alternatives to Smallpdf and Notesnook

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

iLovePDF
Premium online PDF tool set

Compare iLovePDF to Smallpdf or Notesnook:

iLovePDF vs Smallpdf iLovePDF vs Notesnook
Obsidian
A second brain, for you, forever. Obsidian is a powerful knowledge base that works on top of a local folder of plain text Markdown files.

Compare Obsidian to Smallpdf or Notesnook:

Obsidian vs Smallpdf Obsidian vs Notesnook
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.

Compare Adobe Acrobat DC to Smallpdf or Notesnook:

Adobe Acrobat DC vs Smallpdf Adobe Acrobat DC vs Notesnook
Logseq
Logseq is a local-first, non-linear, outliner notebook for organizing and sharing your personal knowledge base.

Compare Logseq to Smallpdf or Notesnook:

Logseq vs Smallpdf Logseq vs Notesnook
Sejda
Split, merge and other powerful PDF tools.

Compare Sejda to Smallpdf or Notesnook:

Sejda vs Smallpdf Sejda vs Notesnook
Joplin
Joplin is a free, open source note taking and to-do application, which can handle a large number of notes organised into notebooks. The notes are searchable, tagged and modified either from the applications directly or from your own text editor.

Compare Joplin to Smallpdf or Notesnook:

Joplin vs Smallpdf Joplin vs Notesnook