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Smallpdf VS PDFcone

Compare Smallpdf VS PDFcone 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 sponsored
Contents:
  1. ยป Base Details
  2. ยป Videos
  3. ยป Reviews
  4. ยป Alternatives

Smallpdf logo Smallpdf

PDF document management and conversion suite

PDFcone logo PDFcone

PDFcone offers free, private PDF tools: merge PDF files, crop PDF pages, and split PDFs online. No upload required โ€“ all processing happens securely in your browser.
  • Smallpdf Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-21
  • PDFcone PDFcone Home page
    PDFcone Home page //
    2026-05-17
  • PDFcone PDFcone Merge Tool page
    PDFcone Merge Tool page //
    2026-05-17
  • PDFcone PDFcone Crop Tool page
    PDFcone Crop Tool page //
    2026-05-17
  • PDFcone PDFcone Split Tool page
    PDFcone Split Tool page //
    2026-05-17

PDFcone is a set of free online PDF tools that run entirely in your browser. Merge multiple PDFs with dragโ€‘andโ€‘drop reordering, crop pages with a live visual preview, and split documents using a visual page picker. No file uploads, no signโ€‘up, and no ads that block your download. Your documents never leave your device, making PDFcone one of the most privacyโ€‘friendly PDF utilities available.

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.

PDFcone features and specs

  • Merge PDF
    Easily Merge PDF pages.
  • Crop PDF
    Easily Crop PDF pages.
  • Split PDF
    Easily Split big PDF file.

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 PDFcone

Overall verdict

  • PDFcone appears to be a lesser-known online PDF tool offering basic conversion and editing features, suitable for occasional light use but not verified as a top-tier or highly trusted option compared to established providers like Adobe or Smallpdf.

Why this product is good

  • Offers free access to common PDF tasks such as conversion, merging, and compression
  • Web-based tool that requires no software installation
  • Simple interface aimed at quick, one-off tasks
  • No major red flags found, though it lacks the extensive track record of more established competitors

Recommended for

  • Users needing quick, occasional PDF conversions
  • People looking for a free alternative to premium PDF software
  • Casual users who don't require advanced editing or security features
  • Those comfortable using lesser-known online tools for non-sensitive documents

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

PDFcone videos

No PDFcone videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Smallpdf and PDFcone)

Smallpdf

PDFcone

PDF Tools
100 100%
PDF Tools
0% 0
PDF Editor
100 100%
PDF Editor
0% 0
PDF Merge
0 0%
PDF Merge
100% 100
PDF Converter
100 100%
PDF Converter
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 Smallpdf and PDFcone

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

PDFcone Reviews

We have no reviews of PDFcone yet.
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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 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

PDFcone mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of PDFcone yet. Tracking of PDFcone recommendations started around May 2026.

What are some alternatives?

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

iLovePDF - Premium online PDF tool set

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.

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.

Sejda - Split, merge and other powerful PDF tools.

mergepdf.net - Merge PDF Documents easily using an online free service (no registration).

PDF24 - PDF24 is a free to use PDF creator, converter, and virtual printer.

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