Comparison

Smallpdf vs Local PDF

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Smallpdf

This app offers a comprehensive suite of tools to manage PDF documents. Easily convert, edit, compress, sign, merge, and scan PDFs using your mobile device. It also features OCR technology to convert scanned documents into editable text.

Highlights
  • Convert PDFs to Word, Excel, PPT, JPG, PNG
  • Edit PDFs with text, images, and annotations
  • Compress PDFs to reduce file size
  • Sign PDFs electronically
  • Merge multiple PDF files
  • Scan documents to PDF with OCR
  • Fill out PDF forms
Features
Read full description

Smallpdf: All-In-One PDF Editor and Document Organizer Smallpdf is your go-to PDF tool, designed to simplify your document management. Whether you need to convert, compress, edit, sign, merge, or scan PDFs, our app makes it effortless. Trusted by 2.4 billion people since 2013, Smallpdf offers a seamless PDF experience right at your fingertips. Key Features: Convert PDFs Across All Document Formats Easily: PDF to Word doc PDF to Excel PDF to PPT PDF to JPG PDF to PNG Images to PDF and vice versa! Edit PDFs: Add text, images, and shapes directly in your PDF files Add annotations and highlights easily Rotate, delete, and rearrange PDF pages PDF editing tools Compress PDFs: Reduce the file size of your PDFs without compromising quality Optimize PDFs for sharing and saving storage space Shrink PDF files Compress PDF documents Sign PDFs: Add an e-signature to your documents Digitally sign PDFs securely Electronic signatures for PDFs Merge PDFs: Combine multiple PDF files into one Merge PDF documents Scan Documents to PDF: Use your camera to scan documents, receipts, notes, and more into PDFs Enhance scans with automatic cropping and optimization Convert scanned images to selectable text with OCR Scan image to PDF Scan doc to PDF Scan jpg to PDF Scan receipts to PDF OCR Technology: Convert scanned documents into selectable text with our advanced OCR feature Support for multiple languages OCR PDF converter Why Choose Smallpdf? User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive and easy to navigate, making PDF tasks simpler than ever. Cloud Integration: Access and save your files directly from your local device storage. Privacy and data protection: All uploaded files deleted 1 hour after processing (unless saved locally or to the cloud) Cross-Platform Availability: All major operating systems. Work on your PDFs anytime, anywhere. Fast and Reliable: Quick processing times ensure you can get your work done efficiently. High Security: We prioritize your privacy and data security, complying with GDPR standards. Additional Features: PDF Reader: View and read PDF documents with ease. PDF Scanner: Quickly scan and digitize your paper documents. PDF Filler: Fill out PDF forms and documents electronically. PDF Maker: Create PDFs from various file formats effortlessly. PDF Annotator: Highlight, underline, and strikethrough text in your PDFs. Download Smallpdf Now! Smallpdf is free within a daily task limit. If you would like to try out Smallpdf Pro for unlimited conversions across ALL tools, there’s a free 7-day trial available. The Smallpdf Mobile App is the all-in-one solution for all your document management needs. Simplify your tax return or scan in receipts easily using your camera to save, edit, and manage thousands of documents in all formats. Save backups on the drive or share directly to email to manage your documents on the go! Join 2.4B+ satisfied users and simplify your PDF tasks today. Download Smallpdf and enjoy a free trial of all premium features. Privacy policy: https://smallpdf.com/privacy Terms of use: https://smallpdf.com/support We love feedback, so feel free to send yours to support@smallpdf.com.

About

Local PDF

Manage and edit PDF documents securely on your device without needing an internet connection. Features include page manipulation, metadata editing, password protection, and file compression, all within an intuitive interface.

Highlights
  • Offline PDF management
  • Page rotation, splitting, and merging
  • Metadata viewing and editing
  • Password protection and removal
  • PDF file compression
  • Advanced page preview
  • Dark Mode support
Features
Read full description

Local PDF is the ultimate app to manage your PDF documents directly on your iPhone and iPad, with a strong focus on privacy. No servers, no internet required—everything happens locally on your device, ensuring maximum data security. Key features: - Page management: rotate, split a PDF into multiple files, or merge several PDFs into one. - Metadata management: view, edit, or remove metadata from any PDF. - Password management: protect your PDFs with a password or remove existing ones. - File compression: reduce PDF size with multiple quality options. - Advanced preview: zoom in on pages for precise viewing. - Reorder and export pages: rearrange pages and export only the ones you need. - Intuitive interface with Dark Mode: a modern, responsive, and easy-to-use design with full dark mode support. Why choose Local PDF? - Privacy guaranteed: all operations are performed locally on your device. Your files stay with you. - Offline functionality: edit your PDFs anywhere, without relying on internet or external servers. Perfect for professionals, students, and anyone working with PDFs. Download Local PDF today and experience how easy managing your documents can be!

Screenshots

Smallpdf4 screens
Local PDF4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Smallpdf at Free against Local PDF's $9.99. Smallpdf also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 months). Local PDF's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 11) and review sentiment (100% vs 68%). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Smallpdf is free to download; Local PDF costs $9.99 up front. Smallpdf sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Local PDF asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Smallpdf ships an update every 2 weeks, Local PDF every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Smallpdf versus Local PDF: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSmallpdfLocal PDF
PriceFree — better$9.99
Rating4.8 (6.9K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews67.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings6.9K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size112 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSmallpdfMarco Tini

Customer experience

Smallpdf

All ratings6,891 ratings
Positive96.1%
Neutral0.9%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews902 reviews
Positive67.6%
Neutral2.7%
Negative29.7%

Local PDF

Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Smallpdf

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Files not saving properly
  • Conversion issues with larger documents
  • Unexpected crashes and freezes
  • Compatibility problems with older devices
  • Incorrect file content after compression

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add more color options for annotations
  • Improve search functionality for saved documents
  • Enhance iPad compatibility
  • Allow inserting images into PDFs
  • Provide better file management and organization

Local PDF

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

8 purchases

Smallpdf

Subscriptions8
  • Monthly Plan7 Days trial2 variants$7.991 Month
  • Monthly Plan7 Days trial2 variants$11.991 Month
  • Monthly Plan7 Days trial$14.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • Yearly Plan7 Days trial2 variants$49.991 Year
  • Yearly Plan7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Yearly Plan$107.991 Year
  • Yearly Plan7 Days trial$107.991 Year
  • Yearly Plan7 Days trial$119.991 Year
None

Local PDF

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Smallpdf free?
Smallpdf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Local PDF free?
Local PDF costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Smallpdf or Local PDF have ads?
Neither Smallpdf nor Local PDF shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Smallpdf or Local PDF?
Smallpdf ships an update every 2 weeks, and Local PDF every 4 months. Most recently, Smallpdf was updated on November 1, 2026 and Local PDF on October 12, 2026.

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