Filo vs Smallpdf
A polished online PDF suite with AI tools and signature requests that processes web files on its servers. Filo needs no account, and most of its web tools run in your browser.
Last reviewed November 12, 2026 against Smallpdf’s own pages
Looking for a free Smallpdf alternative?
- Most tools run in your browser. Smallpdf uploads web files to its servers and deletes them after an hour; 33 of 43 Filo tools never upload your file.
- Batch work on the free plan: pick several files at once, and each file uses one free conversion. Smallpdf keeps batch for Pro.
- A scanner built in, and a free app for life with no daily limit. Smallpdf's free app is limited to a daily task allowance.
Side by side
Checked November 12, 2026 from official pages
| Filo | Smallpdf | |
|---|---|---|
| Web tool processing | 33 of 43 in your browser, zero upload · 10 via secure server pass | Uploads to its servers, deleted one hour after processing for most tools |
| App processing | Most tools on your device · some conversions use a server | Not verified |
| Account required | Not required | Not needed for basic free use · required for Pro |
| Price / ads model | Free · web: 3 free conversions · app: free for life, ad-supported, no daily limit | Free with daily download limits · Pro subscription with a 7-day free trial |
| Offline support | Many app tools work offline | Windows desktop app works offline, with Pro |
| Batch conversion | Yes · web: 3 free conversions, one per file · app: no daily limit | Batch compress and convert with Pro |
| Platforms | Web · iOS · Android | Web · iOS · Android · Windows |
Web tool processing
- Filo
- 33 of 43 in your browser, zero upload · 10 via secure server pass
- Smallpdf
- Uploads to its servers, deleted one hour after processing for most tools
App processing
- Filo
- Most tools on your device · some conversions use a server
- Smallpdf
- Not verified
Account required
- Filo
- Not required
- Smallpdf
- Not needed for basic free use · required for Pro
Price / ads model
- Filo
- Free · web: 3 free conversions · app: free for life, ad-supported, no daily limit
- Smallpdf
- Free with daily download limits · Pro subscription with a 7-day free trial
Offline support
- Filo
- Many app tools work offline
- Smallpdf
- Windows desktop app works offline, with Pro
Batch conversion
- Filo
- Yes · web: 3 free conversions, one per file · app: no daily limit
- Smallpdf
- Batch compress and convert with Pro
Platforms
- Filo
- Web · iOS · Android
- Smallpdf
- Web · iOS · Android · Windows
Sources: 6 official pages
- Smallpdf help center, checked November 12, 2026Files removed from its servers one hour after processing for most tools; non-registered and free users get limited access to basic features; Pro adds batch conversion, OCR and the offline desktop app.
- Smallpdf pricing, checked November 12, 2026Free plan with daily download limits; Pro, Team and Business plans; batch compress and batch convert in the paid plans; AI tools such as Chat with PDF, AI PDF Summarizer and Translate PDF.
- Smallpdf download page, checked November 12, 2026Windows desktop app handles files offline; iOS and Android apps; the macOS app is not supported as of October 1, 2021.
- Smallpdf Desktop, checked November 12, 2026Offline access to the PDF tools on Windows, with a batch feature.
- Smallpdf on the App Store, checked November 12, 2026Free within a daily task limit; Smallpdf Pro with a free 7-day trial; uploaded files deleted one hour after processing.
- Smallpdf on Google Play, checked November 12, 2026Android app to convert, compress, edit, sign, merge, split and scan PDFs; request signatures and track them.
“Not verified” means we could not confirm that detail on the company’s own pages. Spotted something out of date? Email support@filodocs.app.
To be fair
When to choose Smallpdf
Choose Smallpdf if you want AI tools such as chat with PDF, summaries and translation, signature requests you can track, cloud storage for your documents, or an offline desktop app for Windows. Filo has none of these today.
Choose Filo if
- You don’t want another account
- You want most tools to run on your phone, in the app
- You want web tools that work in your browser without uploading the file
- You want many tools to work offline in the app
- You want scanning, conversion and PDF tools in one free app
Questions about switching from Smallpdf
Is Filo a free Smallpdf alternative?
Yes. Every Filo web tool is free to try with 3 free conversions, with no account, and the Filo app is free for life, with no daily limit. Smallpdf does some things Filo does not; the section above says when Smallpdf is the better pick.
Does Filo work on a PC or a Mac?
Yes. Filo's web tools run in Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari on Windows and Mac, with nothing to install. On a Mac you can also get the Filo app from the App Store. There is no Windows app.
Are my files uploaded?
Most tools run on your device. 10 tools (Office conversions and OCR) use a secure server pass, deleted when the conversion finishes.
