Smallpdf is one of the world's largest PDF sites. PDFX competes on privacy by architecture, not marketing scale.
Comparison table
| Criterion | PDFX | Smallpdf |
|---|---|---|
| Required upload | No | Yes |
| Processing | Browser | Server |
| Free daily limit | Unlimited | Restricted (freemium) |
| Account required | No | For Pro features |
| Free watermark | No | Plan-dependent |
| Offline after load | Yes | No |
| ISO 27001 | N/A (no file data) | Yes |
Choose PDFX when
- Contracts, medical docs, HR files
- Heavy free use without Pro
- GDPR: no PDF transfer
Smallpdf may fit when
- Team e-sign workflows
- Google Workspace / Dropbox integrations
- Server OCR on complex scans