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Head-to-head · PDF Software

Smallpdf vs Okular

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score Smallpdf #2 in PDF Software 9.3/10 Free plan · 7-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 2 of 5 features Visit Smallpdf
Okular #8 in PDF Software 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 5 features Visit Okular

Smallpdf leads on 0 checks, Okular on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreSmallpdf · 9.3/10
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialonly Smallpdf
  • Most featuresSmallpdf · 2 of 5

Smallpdf scores higher on our rubric for pdf software: 9.3 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #8.

Smallpdf is the better fit for individuals and teams handling varied PDF tasks. Okular is the better fit for people who need a free cross-platform PDF reader.

  • Smallpdf fits best

    Individuals and teams handling varied PDF tasks

  • Okular fits best

    People who need a free cross-platform PDF reader

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Smallpdf 9.3/10 Visit ↗ Okular 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 8.7
Ranking #2 in PDF Software #8 in PDF Software
Best for Individuals and teams handling varied PDF tasks People who need a free cross-platform PDF reader
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price $7/seat/mo Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial 7 days —
Deployment Cloud, Desktop, Mobile, Browser extension Desktop
Platforms Web, Windows, iOS, Android, Chrome extension Windows, macOS, Linux
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Smallpdf 2/5 · Okular 0/5
Edit PDF text Not checked yet Not checked yet
PDF conversion ✓ (best) Not checked yet
OCR ✓ (best) Not checked yet
E-signing Not checked yet Not checked yet
Batch processing Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Supported platforms Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Free plan includes 30+ document tools
  • Pro adds text editing, OCR, and unlimited downloads
  • Works across web, Windows, mobile apps, and Chrome
  • Free, open-source viewer for Windows, macOS, and Linux
  • Annotations, PDF form filling, and signature viewing and signing
  • Reads PDFs, EPUB, DjVu, comics, images, and other formats
Cons
  • Free plan limits document downloads and mobile access
  • Pro costs more with monthly billing than annual billing
  • Team and Business add support and management features beyond Pro
  • Not positioned as a verified PDF editor
  • No OCR or document-conversion features
  • macOS builds are described as untested nightly builds
Our verdict

Smallpdf brings everyday PDF work into one suite for individuals, small businesses, teams, and larger organizations. Its tools cover editing text, adding annotations, converting files, recognizing text in scans, organizing pages, creating…

Read the review →

Okular is KDE’s free, open-source desktop document viewer for individuals and organizations that need to read PDFs and other supported formats. It handles e-books, comics, images, EPUB, and DjVu alongside PDF files, making it useful for…

Read the review →
  1. SmallpdfPDF Software 9.3Free plan · 7-day trial
  2. OkularPDF Software 8.7Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Smallpdf — where it wins

    • Free plan includes 30+ document tools
    • Pro adds text editing, OCR, and unlimited downloads
    • Works across web, Windows, mobile apps, and Chrome

    Where it doesn't

    • Free plan limits document downloads and mobile access
    • Pro costs more with monthly billing than annual billing
    • Team and Business add support and management features beyond Pro
  • Okular — where it wins

    • Free, open-source viewer for Windows, macOS, and Linux
    • Annotations, PDF form filling, and signature viewing and signing
    • Reads PDFs, EPUB, DjVu, comics, images, and other formats

    Where it doesn't

    • Not positioned as a verified PDF editor
    • No OCR or document-conversion features
    • macOS builds are described as untested nightly builds
  • Smallpdf9.3/10 · Free plan · 7-day trial

    A broad PDF toolkit across web, desktop, mobile, and Chrome, with a free plan and paid tiers.

    Visit SmallpdfFull verdict →
  • Okular8.7/10 · Free plan

    A capable free reader for annotations, forms, signatures, and multiple desktop platforms.

    Visit OkularFull verdict →

More comparisons

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update