Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Adobe Acrobat
Score 8.8 out of 10
N/A
Adobe Acrobat DC is the current version of the well-established document / PDF management solution, part of the Adobe Document Cloud (the other part being Adobe's eSign services based on technology acquired with EchoSign in 2011).
$19.99
per month
PDF Converter Elite
Score 0.0 out of 10
N/A
N/A
$99.95
one-time fee
Smallpdf
Score 6.4 out of 10
N/A
Made in Switzerland, Smallpdf is a company that offers a suite of document management tools for everyone-for work, for home, for life. Founded in Switzerland in 2013, Smallpdf provides what they describe as a simple, secure, and reliable answer to the world's PDF challenges. Smallpdf boasts serving over a billion users in 24 different languages since 2013, and in every country in the world.
$0
Pricing
Adobe AcrobatPDF Converter EliteSmallpdf
Editions & Modules
Acrobat Pro for Individuals
$19.99
per month
Acrobat Pro for Teams
$23.99
per month per user
Acrobat Studio for Individuals
$24.99
per month
PDF Converter Elite 5
$99.95
one-time fee
Smallpdf Basic
$0.00
Smallpdf Pro
$12.00
per month
Smallpdf Pro
$108.00
per year
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Adobe AcrobatPDF Converter EliteSmallpdf
Free Trial
YesYesYes
Free/Freemium Version
NoNoYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeOptionalNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional DetailsDiscounts are available for bulk purchases
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Adobe AcrobatPDF Converter EliteSmallpdf
Considered Multiple Products
Adobe Acrobat
Chose Adobe Acrobat
DocuSign was the main alternative we looked at seriously. The E-Signature side is comparable, but DocuSign does not give you the broader PDF editing and OCR capabilities, so you would still need another tool alongside it. Acrobat made more sense as a single tool that covered …
Chose Adobe Acrobat
I got Adobe Acrobat for free
Chose Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Acrobat is an amazing tool. I chose this one because I did not see any others that I had enough knowledge to give a true review. I am more of a creative user when it comes to Adobe. I am new to marketing.
Chose Adobe Acrobat
Only used once, free version. Not nearly as helpful.
Chose Adobe Acrobat
Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator CC, Adobe PhotoShop and Adobe Premiere Pro
Chose Adobe Acrobat
Well, Mac Preview is a default app on the Mac. It just works. It comes pre-installed and it is also used for images and various things. The UI, the graphics, the ux, the functionality all seem seamless. The application also feels very light, works very fast and it is easy to …
Chose Adobe Acrobat
Better for designers and people that care about layout
Chose Adobe Acrobat
My concern with ChatGPT is that it's harvesting all the data of the documents I send it.
Chose Adobe Acrobat
I actually prefer other products over Adobe Acrobat. I think Figma's worst thing ever was actually selling to you guys.
Chose Adobe Acrobat
I can easily edit my files from any of the other products with Adobe Acrobat, and it allows for great time management.
Chose Adobe Acrobat
Adobe PhotoShop, Adobe InDesign and Adobe Illustrator CC
Chose Adobe Acrobat
Really easy and straightforward functions for all users
Chose Adobe Acrobat
For Foxit, the OCR feature enabled me to edit the text within them. However, the accuracy was not always reliable. Personally, I found Adobe Acrobat to be more effective for this purpose, but that's just my preference. For PDF Fusion, did not like support/help/instructions and …
Chose Adobe Acrobat
I have not used any products that is similar to Adobe Acrobat.
Chose Adobe Acrobat
Bottomline is Adobe Acrobat is the standard and full implementation of all that PDF should have. I tried different apps for different reasons to like Apple Preview for quickly viewing the document. However, for final assessment I always prefer to use Acrobat and check if all …
Chose Adobe Acrobat
Preview is a great, quick tool for viewing docs or images but doesn't always show PDF files as they are intended as it doesn't have all the features that Adobe Acrobat does and nor does it attempt to. I't merely a quick route to checking something out for me. I wouldn't use …
Chose Adobe Acrobat
In terms of comparisons, the simple fact is that Adobe Acrobat is known and trusted by clients and print providers throughout industry. Third party PDF editors are often more lightweight but also don't have all the features of Adobe Acrobat, so there is the inevitable point …
Chose Adobe Acrobat
It's secure and easy to use for the user.
Chose Adobe Acrobat
We use them for different things.
Chose Adobe Acrobat
I selected adobe acrobat as i have been using it for quiet a long time and I have spend years using it and with a learning curve or other apps i dont want to learn a new service. Also adobe acrobat does all the work I have been doing for years
Chose Adobe Acrobat
To me, I just feel safer using Adobe Acrobat because I've been using Adobe for so long and I have familiarity with it, but Docusign is good too. Adobe is just like home and when I get something from Adobe I'm less skeptical it's gonna be disasterous because I trust Adobe so …
PDF Converter Elite

No answer on this topic

Smallpdf
Chose Smallpdf
We actually never used other products like this. When we found SmallPDF it met our needs instantaneously. The only thing I can compare it to is Adobe and the features they provide, however, SmallPDF is more cost-effective for our team. It allows us to do most of the same …
Chose Smallpdf
I have not really used anything exactly like this tool because this was the first one I found and it worked great, and also the cost was not high.
Chose Smallpdf
Smallpdf is a basic PDF editor platform. Overall, it is best for beginners and those who only need a PDF editor to make simple edits and changes. Would also recommend it to those with a smaller budget. If you prefer an advanced, all-in-one PDF editor and also use other Adobe …
Chose Smallpdf
Almost all software's are based on a similar platform. We use them in turn according to our comfort level and ease of use.
Chose Smallpdf
As per my understanding, Smallpdf stacks up against the above tool because it is easy to use, the targeted goal only for pdf, handy, and one more thing is that small pdf has created the application for android and iOS. I really found Smallpdf helpful when using it on the fly. …
Chose Smallpdf
Adobe is not so quick. It takes a lot of effort to do a job in it. but small PDFs do the same job as in the second. Even adobe acrobat does not have as many features as Smallpdf. Smallpdf is like an ocean because you don't know ocean depth so a small pdf has so many features.
Chose Smallpdf
Smallpdf has a wonderful free version and is extremely simple to use. Adobe Acrobat can be a bit jumpy and heaven forbid you click on the wrong icon and it will ask you to sign in over and over again. Smallpdf isn't always the prettiest to use, but it is the best to get the job …
Chose Smallpdf
I think that Smallpdf stacks up against its competitors in terms of easiness of use. The tool is very user-friendly, every feature is communicated in an efficient way and very simple to user so the user doesn't have to be particularly good at using software. Its features are …
Chose Smallpdf
This is a more ethical decision. Adobe tends to lock you into their products and then charge you to end your contract. Smallpdf allows us to remain flexible and do our work at a lower cost.
Chose Smallpdf
Smallpdf has had a great impact on our business since we moved to this software from Adobe which is more expensive, so we managed to save a lot of money for using it.
Chose Smallpdf
While extremely useful and feature rich, PDF xChange does not have the ability to work with multiple files at the same time as efficiently as Smallpdf. It is also a traditional desktop software which means being constrained to one specific PC.
Chose Smallpdf
PDFfiller has other functions that make it a bit more complicated to use, it is also slower than Smallpdf when it comes to any type of conversion. I even had to close the page when I tried to use PDFfiller because it remains frozen and does not It advances, so much so, that I …
Chose Smallpdf
Smallpdf is accessible online as a web-based .pdf solution not like many software that must be installed on a computer.
Chose Smallpdf
I used to convert my PDF files with LightPDF software. But It was slightly difficult for me to navigate on that software. The interface of that software was not very easy to understand. And compression result quality was also not satisfactory. So I selected Smallpdf for all my …
Chose Smallpdf
When comparing Smallpdf to Adobe Acrobat the first thing that comes to mind immediately is how much cheaper Smallpdf is compared to Adobe. The difference has been huge for our company and has allowed us to save money while keeping the same quality level for the products …
Chose Smallpdf
Smallpdf is a cheaper alternative. There is no additional software to purchase, so no need to pay to upgrade licensing every year. I think it is easier to use, although it doesn't have as many tools or options as Adobe. Depending on what you use it for, I think it is a great …
Chose Smallpdf
As it is a web-based software, it helps me avoid installing any software program for managing PDF related work. It has many more functions than my previous PDF program. It helps me in all kind of Office file conversions. I also found it very reasonable in terms of subscription …
Chose Smallpdf
Its easy setup and easy user interface makes it easy to operate for many of my colleagues. I don't need to train them much for this software. So I started using it in my organisation.
Chose Smallpdf
I've been using it for quite some time and I think that's why I'm fond of it since sometimes it has not behaved how I would like, however, and yet I must admit that Smallpdf is one of the best and fastest PDF file converters. It also surprises me that it is almost the only …
Chose Smallpdf
I prefer Smallpdf, due to the ease of use and good results I have had during the time, both when creating pdf files and also to reduce the weight of the files I created and all this in just a few seconds.
Best Alternatives
Adobe AcrobatPDF Converter EliteSmallpdf
Small Businesses
Square 9 Softworks
Square 9 Softworks
Score 9.3 out of 10
Square 9 Softworks
Square 9 Softworks
Score 9.3 out of 10
Square 9 Softworks
Square 9 Softworks
Score 9.3 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
MSB Docs
MSB Docs
Score 9.4 out of 10
MSB Docs
MSB Docs
Score 9.4 out of 10
MSB Docs
MSB Docs
Score 9.4 out of 10
Enterprises
M‑Files
M‑Files
Score 8.9 out of 10
M‑Files
M‑Files
Score 8.9 out of 10
M‑Files
M‑Files
Score 8.9 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Adobe AcrobatPDF Converter EliteSmallpdf
Likelihood to Recommend
8.9
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
8.7
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
9.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Usability
9.3
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
9.5
(0 ratings)
Availability
9.1
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Performance
5.4
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
9.4
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
9.4
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
9.9
(0 ratings)
Online Training
9.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
9.8
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Configurability
7.9
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Ease of integration
8.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
6.8
(0 ratings)
Product Scalability
7.1
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Vendor post-sale
1.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Vendor pre-sale
1.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Adobe AcrobatPDF Converter EliteSmallpdf
Likelihood to Recommend
When preparing artwork for print production from an application like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or InDesign, the best way to preview and preflight the work is to export to PDF and use Adobe Acrobat's output preview to check process colors, spot colors, dielines, and any special requirements, like foil stamping or varnish. Adobe Acrobat is also where you make any needed final adjustments to ensure correct reproduction on press. Documents intended for screen viewing must be exported to PDF and edited in Adobe Acrobat so as to add and edit needed accessibility features critical for legislative compliance.
Read full review
No answers on this topic
I would suggest Smallpdf for simple needs in terms of PDFs management that can be [easily] resolved such as: size compression, deleting of pages and file conversions. This tool is very user-friendly and easy to use, it is available online so the user doesn't need to download any software. In case of heavy files compression, the tool isn't appropriate since it doesn't support heavy documents.
Read full review
Pros
  • For the business account, the Adobe Acrobat rep assigned to your account will actively look for ways to save you money.
  • We have found that our rep from Adobe Acrobat Business Account reviews our usage and related apps and has offered helpful tips on better ways to complete tasks we historically undertake with their software. They have saved us a great deal of time and money. They make us efficient.
  • The apps they offer that combine with the primary program are relevant to the tasks our business performs, and they function at a high level and never fail. It's really quite remarkable.
Read full review
No answers on this topic
  • One of the best things that Smallpdf does is pdf conversion both to and from pdf. It is especially great to transform pdf tables into Excel documents.
  • PDF splitting is really great since allows for cropping large files and just keep the information necessary; something that comes really handy when presenting information to your supervisors.
  • PDF merging also works wonders, it allows for mixing several different pdf documents into just one of them. It is extremely easy to set up.
  • This a really fast pdf reader, it feels really fast compared to other options that tend to feel clunky. Its workspace is super comfortable and well organized so finding a tool you need is always a simple task.
Read full review
Cons
  • More printing settings, like being able to adjust the margins and place the print area on the page when the file size is larger than the page, and I only want to print one section. Illustrator has this feature. Often, we print from Illustrator instead, because of this limitation.
Read full review
No answers on this topic
  • It has everything I'm not sure what I will say. E-sign, Share, convert. You can give an option in upload priorities features which I can see later.
  • Background remover thing also you can add in it. So I can remove the unnecessary thing from an image.
  • You can add a chatbot for help.
Read full review
Likelihood to Renew
Adobe Acrobat works seamlessly with the other Adobe products we use that are industry-standard. We will certainly continue to use Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator, meaning it will always be convenient to work seamlessly with Adobe Acrobat for our organization. We are happy with the performance of Acrobat and it's meets our expectations.
Read full review
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Usability
It’s a very easy app to learn and software is essential. I feel like the app could load a bit faster but overall, is one of my go to apps. Makes reading and editing pdfs easy and I enjoy the usability of the app. It is definitely something I make sure to have downloaded on any computer I’m working from
Read full review
No answers on this topic
Its usability in my work is very important. I have to share various documents with my clients very frequently and most of the documents I send them are in PDF format only. So I use this software very much to convert my Word and Excel files into PDF. And whenever I need to send large file to my clients, I convert them into PDFs and compress them with this tool and then I send those files to my clients.
Read full review
Reliability and Availability
We have not had availability issues with Adobe Acrobat, or at least none that I am personally aware of. Some may encounter crashes of the software during outages of electricity in their city or neighborhood, which no one can plan for, but with generators in our organization, we have been lucky not to have outages
Read full review
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Performance
One of the best features of Adobe Acrobat is its speed and stability. When dealing with massive multi-page files, having to reload a crashed program over and over again would slow down progress unnecessarily. And expanding on that, having the table of contents generated allows me to skip to different pages with ease, a necessary feature with exceptionally long files. word searches are even more helpful with text recognition.
Read full review
No answers on this topic
1.- Because it is easy to use and each function is duly indicated so you can not go wrong. 2.- Its service is fast, it takes only a few seconds to transform the files and in less than a minute it is downloaded and you can occupy it without problem. 4.-This IS online so you do not install anything, which is very useful because you can also use it from a tablet or your mobile
Read full review
Support Rating
For a while, Acrobat DC crashed pretty frequently. I contacted Adobe Acrobat support about the problem. At first support was unable to provide a solution. After about a month Adobe's software engineers provided a fix. I just wish it had taken less than a month to solve the problem.
Read full review
No answers on this topic
Everything is so simple and works so well, you shouldn't need support, but on the one occasion in several years that I needed it, support was quick and courteous.
Read full review
Online Training
Answered basic questions.
Read full review
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Implementation Rating
I was not involved with the implementation process, so I cannot answer this question. However, when it was installed on my computer system, they did so virtually. I just sat there while they took control of my computer over the network and watch them install it, lickety split
Read full review
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
DocuSign was the main alternative we looked at seriously. The E-Signature side is comparable, but DocuSign does not give you the broader PDF editing and OCR capabilities, so you would still need another tool alongside it. Acrobat made more sense as a single tool that covered document editing, OCR, and signature without stitching multiple products together
Read full review
No answers on this topic
As per my understanding, Smallpdf stacks up against the above tool because it is easy to use, the targeted goal only for pdf, handy, and one more thing is that small pdf has created the application for android and iOS. I really found Smallpdf helpful when using it on the fly. Small pdf not only provides for the PDF it also provides the different functions for the other files like excel, HTML, doc, ppt, and many more.
Read full review
Scalability
I find that many users aren't aware of many features of the software they use, nor may they be comfortable with learning multiple-step processes. For the simplest of PDF purposes (scanning, downloading, exporting), it gets a thumbs-up. For anything involving electronic signatures, meh--causes eyes to glaze over, or forgetting what all is involved.
Read full review
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Return on Investment
  • Again, the ability to make multiple versions of a PDF has helped speed up getting them to the warehouse and making it easier to print for them!
  • In marketing, there are multiple uses of Adobe Acrobat where it speeds up our process making us more efficient.
Read full review
No answers on this topic
  • From an initial cost perspective, we've gone from a collection of free and freemium software products that we used in combination to do what we wanted, to paying Smallpdf's per-user license fee.
  • We estimate that creating the same final product with our old method took about 30 minutes per 1-100 page file. We are now down to approximately 10 minutes, if the input material does not require much manipulation.
  • Around 50% of tasks used to require advice from a highly-technical user to fix unexpected errors. With Smallpdf we estimate we are now down to less than 20%.
  • For things that Smallpdf cannot do we find ourselves falling back to old methods which can sometimes create wasted time when we only realize that Smallpdf is not up to the task in the middle of the job.
Read full review
ScreenShots

Adobe Acrobat Screenshots

Screenshot of where to create, edit, convert, and share PDF files all from within Microsoft Teams – as part of Acrobat integrations with Microsoft 365 apps.Screenshot of Liquid Mode in Adobe Acrobat Reader mobile app, where users can read PDFs on phones and tablets without having to pinch and zoom. Navigate lengthy documents with intelligent outline and search tools, while maximizing readability and comfort with font size and line spacing that are adjustable.Screenshot of where to fill and sign PDF forms from anywhere and on any device. Here, users can collect signatures, digitally track progress, and automatically archive the signed document.Screenshot of the Adobe Scan mobile app, used to capture and convert documents into high-quality, interactive PDF documents that can be filled out, signed, and shared. This eliminates the hassle of finding a printer, filling a form by hand, and scanning it again.

Smallpdf Screenshots

Screenshot of Desktop AppScreenshot of Homepage