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Head-to-head · AI Reading Assistant Apps

Smallpdf vs Readwise Reader

  • Updated Nov 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Higher score Smallpdf #4 in AI Reading Assistant Apps 8.8/10 Free plan · 7-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Smallpdf
Readwise Reader #5 in AI Reading Assistant Apps 8.7/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Readwise

Smallpdf leads on 2 checks, Readwise Reader on 0, and 0 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreSmallpdf · 8.8/10
  • Lowest starting priceSmallpdf · $7/seat/mo
  • Free planonly Smallpdf
  • Free trialboth

Smallpdf scores higher on our rubric for ai reading assistant apps: 8.8 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #5.

Smallpdf offers free plan; Readwise Reader doesn't. Smallpdf is cheaper to start at $7/mo against $9.99/mo.

Smallpdf is the better fit for readers wanting AI tools inside a full PDF toolkit. Readwise Reader is the better fit for readers managing a mixed-format personal library.

  • Smallpdf fits best

    Readers wanting AI tools inside a full PDF toolkit

  • Readwise Reader fits best

    Readers managing a mixed-format personal library

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 8.8/10 Visit ↗ Readwise Reader 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.8 8.7
Ranking #4 in AI Reading Assistant Apps #5 in AI Reading Assistant Apps
Best for Readers wanting AI tools inside a full PDF toolkit Readers managing a mixed-format personal library
Pricing model Free plan + paid Paid
Starting price $7/seat/mo (best) $9.99/mo
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial 7 days 30 days
Free trial length 7 days · card required 30 days · no card needed
Deployment Cloud, Desktop, Mobile, Browser extension Cloud, Desktop, Mobile, Browser extension
Platforms Web, Windows, iOS, Android, Chrome extension Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome extension
Support Email, Tickets, Docs Email, Community, Docs
Integrations 5 integrations 6 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business
Features Smallpdf 0/3 · Readwise Reader 0/3
PDF question answering Not checked yet Not checked yet
Article summaries Not checked yet Not checked yet
Reading annotations Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Source import Not checked yet Not checked yet
AI queries per month Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • AI chat, summaries, translation, and question generation for PDFs
  • Combines OCR, text editing, annotation, conversion, and page tools
  • Available on web, Windows, iOS, Android, and as a Chrome extension
  • Collects articles, feeds, PDFs, EPUBs, videos, and tweets in one library
  • Combines annotations, offline full-text search, and Ghostreader summaries
  • Exports highlights and documents to tools including Notion and Obsidian
Cons
  • Free includes limited document downloads and mobile app access
  • Unlimited AI tools require a paid Pro or Team plan
  • The 7-day free trial requires a payment card
  • No free plan; the subscription starts at $9.99 per month billed annually
  • Reader is bundled with Readwise rather than sold as a standalone plan
  • Broad capture and organization may be more than readers need for a single format
Our verdict

Smallpdf brings AI reading features into a broader PDF toolkit for individuals, teams, and organizations. Its AI tools can chat about PDFs, summarize them, translate content, and generate questions. The same suite covers editing and…

Read the review →

Readwise Reader brings articles, newsletters, RSS feeds, PDFs, EPUBs, videos, and tweets into a personal reading library. It is aimed at readers who collect material across formats and want to search, annotate, organize, and revisit it…

Read the review →
  1. SmallpdfAI Reading Assistant Apps 8.8Free plan · 7-day trial
  2. Readwise ReaderAI Reading Assistant Apps 8.730-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Smallpdf — where it wins

    • AI chat, summaries, translation, and question generation for PDFs
    • Combines OCR, text editing, annotation, conversion, and page tools
    • Available on web, Windows, iOS, Android, and as a Chrome extension

    Where it doesn't

    • Free includes limited document downloads and mobile app access
    • Unlimited AI tools require a paid Pro or Team plan
    • The 7-day free trial requires a payment card
  • Readwise Reader — where it wins

    • Collects articles, feeds, PDFs, EPUBs, videos, and tweets in one library
    • Combines annotations, offline full-text search, and Ghostreader summaries
    • Exports highlights and documents to tools including Notion and Obsidian

    Where it doesn't

    • No free plan; the subscription starts at $9.99 per month billed annually
    • Reader is bundled with Readwise rather than sold as a standalone plan
    • Broad capture and organization may be more than readers need for a single format
  • Smallpdf8.8/10 · Free plan · 7-day trial

    Smallpdf pairs AI document help with editing, conversion, OCR, and page-management tools.

    Visit SmallpdfFull verdict →
  • Readwise Reader8.7/10 · 30-day trial

    A wide-format reading library with AI summaries, offline search, and export tools.

    Visit ReadwiseFull verdict →

More comparisons

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026

Last updated · How we research and update