Comparison

Smallpdf vs NoteOnly

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

NoteOnly

Capture thoughts instantly with a single, endless note. This app prioritizes privacy with local data storage and iCloud syncing. AI features enhance voice memos and note summaries for easier retrieval.

Highlights
  • Instant thought capture
  • AI-enhanced voice memos
  • Markdown and plain text export
  • Local data storage
  • iCloud syncing
  • Reminders and pinned notes
Features
Read full description

One endless note. No folders, no files, no "where does this go." 1. Zero-choice capture. Pull down → type → done. Thought-to-note in under two seconds. Voice memo lands as a transcribed line. 2. Extremely easy to port contents out, one click to export/copy all notes into markdown file or plain text so you can extend the work. 3. No sign-up, no email, no password. Open the app, start writing 4. Privacy first, local data first. Syncs through your own iCloud — your notes are not stored in our servers. We design NoteOnly to help you quickly catch thoughts, not your attention. The app is quiet, but also intelligent when you need it. Insert a summary, refine your voice memo's transcripts, these AI features just make notes easier to read and retrive so you can focus on thinking. More features for power users: -Add a reminder to each entry so you won't forget to revisit in a later time -Pin important notes on top -Select and copy as .md or plain texts to your favorite AI tools and extend work beyond NoteOnly Plus — $2.99/month, auto-renewable Unlocks AI Enhanced voice recognition: automatic language detection, mixed-language speech, better accuracy and punctuation. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings > Apple Account > Subscriptions. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://noteonly.ai/privacy

Screenshots

Smallpdf4 screens
NoteOnly4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NoteOnly at none against Smallpdf's 11. NoteOnly also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 68%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Smallpdf's advantage is ratings volume (6.9K vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model 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

Both are free to download. Smallpdf sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. NoteOnly asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NoteOnly holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Smallpdf has 6.9K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of Smallpdf's written reviews are positive against 100% of NoteOnly's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Smallpdf versus NoteOnly: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSmallpdfNoteOnly
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (6.9K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews67.9% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings6.9K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS15.6 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size112 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSmallpdf72mn LLC

Customer experience

Smallpdf

All ratings6,878 ratings
Positive96.1%
Neutral0.9%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews898 reviews
Positive67.9%
Neutral2.7%
Negative29.4%

NoteOnly

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 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

NoteOnly

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

NoteOnly

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Smallpdf free?
Smallpdf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NoteOnly free?
NoteOnly is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Smallpdf or NoteOnly?
NoteOnly is rated higher. Smallpdf averages 4.8 out of 5 from 6.9K ratings, while NoteOnly averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Smallpdf or NoteOnly have ads?
Neither Smallpdf nor NoteOnly shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Smallpdf or NoteOnly?
Smallpdf ships an update every 2 weeks, and NoteOnly every 2 weeks. Most recently, Smallpdf was updated on October 14, 2026 and NoteOnly on October 1, 2026.

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