ASAPDF vs Smallpdf — honest comparison
Looking for a Smallpdf alternative? Here's an honest ASAPDF vs Smallpdf comparison. Smallpdf is a polished web suite of PDF tools with a broad conversion toolbox and a longer history than ASAPDF. ASAPDF is native on the desktop and signing-first: you sign in a real Mac, Windows, or Linux app and send to people who have no account. It ships today on Mac, Windows, Linux, and the web.
| At a glance | ASAPDF | Smallpdf |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $0 for 7 days, then $9.99/mo | Free (limited daily tasks) |
| Most popular plan | $95.99 / yr ($7.99/mo, billed annually) | $9 / mo (Pro, billed annually) |
| Lifetime license | $399 one-time | None |
| Platforms | Mac · Windows · Linux · Web | Web · iOS · Android · Windows (desktop app) |
Pick Smallpdf if
- ·A polished, complete web suite of PDF tools — convert, compress, merge, split, e-sign — that ASAPDF does not match. ASAPDF does not convert or compress at all.
- ·A broad conversion toolbox (PDF to and from Office, images, etc.) that ASAPDF does not aim to match.
- ·Cheaper Pro tier (around $9/mo) if you want unlimited web processing across many tools.
- ·Cross-platform web plus desktop and mobile apps, with a familiar workflow. ASAPDF has no mobile app released yet.
- ·An established track record and brand recognition.
Pick ASAPDF if
- +Native desktop signing — sign in a real Mac, Windows, or Linux app with your trackpad, not in a browser tab.
- +Send for signature with a QR-code drop and email link, so recipients sign in their phone's browser with no app and no account. This ships today.
- +Native desktop apps with no daily-task cap, and a pay-once $399 lifetime instead of subscription-only.
- +A saved-signature library that syncs across your signed-in devices, plus a tamper-evident audit trail and Certificate of Completion on every signed document.
- +One Bravely account, and the annual and lifetime plans include the other premium utilities from Bravely.
Full feature comparison
Verified 2026-05-30. Source linked at the bottom.
| Feature | ASAPDF | Smallpdf |
|---|---|---|
| Sign your own document | Yes — included in every plan | Limited daily; Pro for more |
| Broad conversion / compress toolbox | No — page reorder/split (Mac/Web) and merge (Mac) only | Yes — wide |
| Native desktop signing app | Yes — Mac, Windows, Linux | Web-first, with apps |
| QR-code drop / in-person sign | Yes | Limited |
| No-account web signer for recipients | Yes — sign in a phone browser, no app | Yes (e-sign) |
| Audit trail + Certificate of Completion | Yes — SHA-256 hash-chained | Limited |
| Batch processing | No | Yes |
| Lifetime purchase | $399 one-time | No |
| Pricing model | Subscription + lifetime (7-day free trial) | Free + subscription |
Bottom line
Smallpdf is a polished, broad PDF web suite, and if you want a big conversion toolbox in the browser for a low monthly price, it's a strong pick — ASAPDF has a much narrower toolset and doesn't convert or compress at all. ASAPDF's bet is different: native desktop signing in real Mac, Windows, and Linux apps, plus sending documents to people who have no account, with a hash-chained audit trail and Certificate of Completion. It ships today on Mac, Windows, Linux, and the web. If conversion breadth is what you want, choose Smallpdf. If signing-first, on-device, send-to-anyone is what you want, that's ASAPDF's wedge.
FAQ
Does ASAPDF have as many tools as Smallpdf?+
No. Smallpdf's conversion and compression toolbox is far broader. ASAPDF is signing-first — it does page reorder/split (Mac/Web) and merge (Mac), but no conversion suite.
Why pick ASAPDF for signing over Smallpdf?+
Native desktop signing (trackpad on Mac/Windows) and send-for-signature with a QR-code drop, rather than a browser tab. These ship today, with a tamper-evident audit trail and Certificate of Completion.
Is there a pay-once option?+
Yes — a $399 lifetime, plus a 7-day free trial. Smallpdf is subscription-only.
Is ASAPDF available yet?+
Yes — it ships today on Mac, Windows, Linux, and the web. The iPhone and iPad apps aren't released yet.
More ASAPDF comparisons
Pricing verified 2026-05-30. Smallpdf pricing source. Subject to change.