Smallpdf vs iLovePDF: review comparison
Which of the two do customers actually rate higher? Smallpdf and iLovePDF, compared theme by theme. Every claim below comes from verbatim customer reviews on public portals, quoted with sources.
Smallpdf
★★★★☆ 4.3
7,444 reviews across 5 portal(s)
Smallpdf is a web-based platform offering a suite of tools to manage and manipulate PDF documents.
iLovePDF
★★★★★ 4.5
10,813 reviews across 5 portal(s)
iLovePDF is a web-based platform providing tools for working with PDF documents.
Key findings
- Reviewers rate iLovePDF highest overall at 4.5★ (recency-weighted) across 10,813 reviews.
- On communication, reviewers favor iLovePDF: 34% positive of 29 mentions, versus 18% of 22 mentions.
- On ordering & website, reviewers favor Smallpdf: 70% positive of 133 mentions, versus 54% of 376 mentions.
Theme-by-theme: what reviewers say
| Theme | Smallpdf | iLovePDF |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | 83% positive strength · 377 mentions | 85% positive strength · 1006 mentions |
| Customer service | 74% positive strength · 137 mentions | 74% positive strength · 170 mentions |
| Value for money | 50% positive mixed · 168 mentions | 60% positive ✓ mixed · 334 mentions |
| Communication | 18% positive pain point · 22 mentions | 34% positive ✓ pain point · 29 mentions |
| Ordering & website | 70% positive ✓ strength · 133 mentions | 54% positive mixed · 376 mentions |
| Billing & payment | 0% positive pain point · 89 mentions | 0% positive pain point · 64 mentions |
How we compare: theme sentiment uses only reviews classified by our analysis (coverage: Smallpdf 7,442/7,444 (100%), iLovePDF 10,812/10,813 (100%)); we compare positive/negative shares, not raw counts, weight recent reviews more, and mark themes with fewer than 5 classified mentions as insufficient data instead of naming a winner. Star ratings cover all public reviews and are recency-weighted.
In reviewers’ own words
Quality
“faulty file selector”
· Google Play ·
“It was fast and it worked really well.”
· Trustpilot ·
Value for money
“Requires subscription to edit”
· Google Play ·
“I think it is not necessary to have an expensive license for this charge of work”
· Trustpilot ·
Billing & payment
“they randomly switched me to an annual paid subscription and charged me £81 without notifying me”
· Trustpilot ·
“paid for subscription takes money”
· Google Play ·
Communication
“Now I feel uncomfortable with this company holding my information”
· Trustpilot ·
“AI lead me to this app and guided me through the process.”
· Google Play ·
Customer service
“The preview is very handy”
· Trustpilot ·
“I appreciate very much this service of iLovePDF”
· Trustpilot ·
Ordering & website
“The process of editing, merging and splitting pdf was so easy”
· Trustpilot ·
“I usually have 1 to 2 word files a week”
· Trustpilot ·
FAQ
Which is better, Smallpdf or iLovePDF?
Reviewers generally favor iLovePDF for its free, easy-to-use interface, while Smallpdf is praised for functionality but criticized for aggressive paywalls and limited free access.
Free & Simple
Reviewers report that iLovePDF stands out for being free, simple to use, and requiring no sign-up. Many highlight its clean interface and lack of intrusive ads, making it a go-to choice for quick PDF tasks without cost.
Paywall Issues
Smallpdf receives praise for being helpful and reliable in core functions, but users frequently complain about its paywall strategy. The free version only allows limited edits, and users say it forces upgrades after just one or two actions.
Performance Problems
Some reviewers note that iLovePDF struggles with large files, showing blank screens or failing to process them. Smallpdf also has issues, with users reporting faulty file selection and poor performance on certain documents.
What customers said:
- „iLovePDF app is an awesome software, simple to use and its free.“
- „It's a great app.“
- „Super easy to use without all the hassle of signing up“
- „Requires subscription to edit“