Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Smallpdf VS Shutter

Compare Smallpdf VS Shutter and see what are their differences

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.

Smallpdf logo Smallpdf

PDF document management and conversion suite

Shutter logo Shutter

Shutter is a feature-rich screenshot program.
  • Smallpdf Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-21
  • Shutter Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-04

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.

Shutter features and specs

  • Comprehensive Screenshot Options
    Shutter provides a wide variety of screenshot options including full screen, window, selection, and even web page capturing, making it versatile for different user needs.
  • Built-in Editor
    The built-in editor allows users to add annotations, shapes, and text to screenshots directly within Shutter, reducing the need for additional software.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Shutter features an intuitive and user-friendly interface that makes it easy for users to navigate and utilize its functions efficiently.
  • Plugin Support
    Shutter supports various plugins to extend its functionality, such as uploading screenshots to image hosting sites or integrating with other software.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Shutter is available for multiple Linux distributions, making it accessible for a large number of Linux users.

Possible disadvantages of Shutter

  • Limited to Linux
    Shutter is only available for Linux platforms, which excludes users on Windows and macOS from using the software.
  • Outdated Dependencies
    Some users have reported issues with outdated dependencies, which can cause compatibility problems with newer Linux distributions.
  • Development Stagnation
    The development of Shutter has slowed down in recent years, leading to fewer updates and potentially lacking some modern features that users might expect.
  • Installation Complexity
    Installing Shutter on certain Linux distributions can be complex and may require the user to manually resolve dependencies or add third-party repositories.
  • Heavy Resource Usage
    Shutter can be resource-intensive compared to other lightweight screenshot tools, which might affect performance on older or less powerful systems.

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 Shutter

Overall verdict

  • Good

Why this product is good

  • Shutter is a feature-rich screenshot tool that provides a variety of options for capturing images, such as full screen, specific windows, or custom selections. It also includes an integrated editor for annotating screenshots, which can be handy for creating instructional content. Its user-friendly interface and ability to handle file uploads make it a practical choice for many users.

Recommended for

    Shutter is recommended for users who need a versatile screenshot tool with editing capabilities, especially those creating tutorials, guides, or any visual content that requires annotations. It's also suitable for those who prefer an open-source solution available on Linux platforms.

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

Shutter videos

Shutter - Modern Horror Season Review | GizmoCh

More videos:

  • Review - Yoyofactory Shutter Review
  • Review - Shutter (2008) Movie Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Smallpdf and Shutter)
PDF Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Screenshot Annotation
0 0%
100% 100
PDF Converter
100 100%
0% 0
Screenshots
0 0%
100% 100

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 Shutter

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.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.
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.

Shutter Reviews

Top 13 Free Snagit Alternatives For 2021
Hey, Ubuntu /Linux users! Have we got an app for you! Shutter swings in to attempt to help you capture your computer screen. If youโ€™re looking for a simple Linux screenshot tool , this could be it.
Source: screenrec.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Smallpdf should be more popular than Shutter. 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 / 7 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: about 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: about 3 years ago
View more

Shutter mentions (7)

  • What is the name of the default screenshot tool in PopOS?
    Hey I use "shutter" https://shutter-project.org/ which has a nice blur option. Source: over 3 years ago
  • ShareX alternative for Linux?
    I also used Flameshot and Shutter. Shutter was very feature rich, and I think it's the closest in terms of having the same workflow actions as ShareX -- I don't think it fully supports Wayland yet though and has a TON of dependencies. Flameshot has had issues with Wayland and IMHO as of now most of its features has been implemented in native screencaptures (and if you need the tray icon, I think on Gnome there's... Source: over 3 years ago
  • A app to take long/scrolling screenshots?
    Maybe look into Shutter but it can only screenshot scrolling webpages no any other windows. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Alternative to shotwell for handling screenshots but with the possibility to draw onto the image?
    Shutter (https://shutter-project.org) is a very good tool for creating and editing screenshots. Source: over 3 years ago
  • I'm looking for a pc app that allows you to capture your screen.
    At home on my own PC, I use something called "Shutter" https://shutter-project.org/. Source: over 4 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

iLovePDF - Premium online PDF tool set

Greenshot - Greenshot is a free and open source screenshot tool that allows annotation and highlighting using the built-in image editor.

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.

Snipping Tool - Use Snipping Tool to capture a screen shot, or snip, of any object on your screen, and then annotate, save, or share the image

Sejda - Split, merge and other powerful PDF tools.

MWSnap - MWSnap is basically a free to use Windows snapping tools that are used for snapping any part of the screen that is currently displaying on the front of all opened programs and windows.