PDFbat vs Smallpdf: free limits, tools and price
Smallpdf is a polished, widely used online PDF toolbox. PDFbat offers a similar set of tools with a more generous free plan, in place text editing and built in signing.
Updated by the PDFbat team
The short answer
PDFbat is a strong free Smallpdf alternative if the daily task limit on Smallpdf's free tier gets in your way. PDFbat's Free plan gives you every tool, 10 tool tasks a day and no watermark, and Pro is $4 a month.
Smallpdf is the better pick if you want its polished interface, its desktop and mobile apps, or its long list of cloud storage integrations. It has been around longer and many teams already use it.
If you want to change existing text, sign documents and use AI on the same files in one account, PDFbat covers more of that without a higher price.
PDFbat vs Smallpdf: side by side
| Feature | PDFbat | Smallpdf |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free plan, Pro $4 a month | Paid plans from about $9 a month, billed annually |
| Free plan limits | 10 tool tasks a day, 25 MB files | A small number of tasks a day on the free tier |
| Number of PDF tools | 30+ | 20+ |
| Edit existing text in place | Yes | Check their current plans |
| Text in any language and script | Yes | Check their current plans |
| No watermark on free output | Yes | Yes |
| E signatures with signing order | Yes | Check their current plans |
| Signers need no account | Yes | Yes |
| Chat with PDF with page citations | Yes | Yes |
| Translate a whole PDF to a new PDF | Yes | Check their current plans |
| OCR on the free plan | Yes | Check their current plans |
| Cloud Drive storage | 1 GB free, 10 GB on Pro | Yes |
| REST API with free calls | 250 a month | Check their current plans |
| Desktop and mobile apps | Browser only | Yes |
| Integrations with Google Drive and Dropbox | Limited | Yes |
Competitor details reflect their public pricing pages in November 2026. Check Smallpdf's site for current limits and terms.
Choose PDFbat if
- you hit daily task limits on other free tools and want more room without paying.
- you need to change the actual text in a PDF, not only add new boxes on top.
- you want signatures, AI and PDF tools under one $4 Pro plan.
- you need an API with 250 free calls a month.
Choose Smallpdf if
- you want native desktop and mobile apps for working on the go.
- you rely on its Google Drive, Dropbox or Microsoft integrations.
- your team already knows its interface and wants a proven, mature product.
- you convert often between PDF and Word, Excel or PowerPoint and like its workflow for that.
Free limits are the real difference
Online PDF tools often look free until you try a third file in one day. Smallpdf's free tier limits how many tasks you can do each day. PDFbat's Free plan allows 10 tool tasks a day, files up to 25 MB, OCR and 200 AI credits a month, and does not add watermarks. Both services ask you to upgrade for heavier use, so check Smallpdf's current limits.
PDFbat Pro at $4 a month removes the daily cap, raises the file limit to 100 MB, gives 10 GB of Drive storage and 4,000 AI credits a month. See the free PDF tools page for the full list.
Editing and signing
In the PDFbat PDF editor you click a line of real text and retype it. The original text is removed from the page rather than covered. It handles scripts such as Arabic, Hebrew, Hindi and Japanese correctly.
For signatures, PDFbat e signatures include signing order, reminders, templates, bulk send and a sealed audit trail, with 3 free envelopes a month.
What Smallpdf does better
Smallpdf has a larger user base, polished apps and long standing integrations. PDFbat is newer with a smaller community and is browser only, so if you need a phone app or tight links to cloud storage, Smallpdf may suit you better.
Frequently asked questions
Is PDFbat a free Smallpdf alternative?
Yes. PDFbat has a Free plan with every PDF tool, 10 tool tasks a day, 25 MB files and no watermark. No credit card is needed to sign up.
Which is cheaper, PDFbat or Smallpdf?
PDFbat Pro costs $4 a month. Smallpdf paid plans start from about $9 a month at the time of writing, so check their site for the current price.
Does PDFbat have a desktop or mobile app?
No. PDFbat works in the browser on Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad and Android, but there is no native app.
Can I edit text in a PDF with PDFbat?
Yes. Choose Edit text, click a line and type. The original text is replaced in the page content.
Does PDFbat support e signatures like Smallpdf?
Yes, with signing order, reminders, identity checks and a sealed audit trail. The Free plan includes 3 envelopes a month and signers need no account.
Are my files kept private?
Files are stored in your own private Drive. See the PDFbat privacy page for how long files are kept and how to delete them.
Keep comparing
Try PDFbat free
Edit, sign and store PDFs in one account. Free plan with no credit card, Pro for $4 a month.