Free Smallpdf Alternative — TryDocsy
Smallpdf is a Swiss PDF service with a Free plan and a paid Pro plan. TryDocsy is a free set of PDF tools that work inside your browser. The practical differences are how many downloads you get, where the file is processed, and which advanced features you need.
Updated September 17, 2026 · TryDocsy team
Free plan limits on each side
Smallpdf's pricing page, checked on 2026-09-17, describes the Free plan as "30+ document management tools" with "Limited document downloads" and "Limited mobile app access". In its plan table, tools such as Compress, Merge, Split, Redact and the Office converters are marked "Daily download limit" for Free users, and Edit Text and Strong Compression are listed among the Pro features. The page doesn't say how many downloads a day the Free plan allows, so we don't quote a number.
TryDocsy doesn't count tasks or downloads and has no paid tier to unlock. Its limits are practical ones: each tool rejects files above its size cap (100 MB for merge, split, compress and the editor), and a large document can still run out of memory on an older phone or laptop.
Where your document goes
On Smallpdf, you upload or drop a document into the tool. Smallpdf highlights TLS encryption, GDPR compliance and ISO/IEC 27001 certification on its compress page.
TryDocsy works differently: the file is read into the page with JavaScript and processed on your own device, so there's no upload step and no copy to delete afterwards. The site does use Google Analytics and advertising, and the analytics only receive details such as which tool ran and the file type, not the document.
TryDocsy vs Smallpdf: side by side
| Feature | TryDocsy | Smallpdf |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free, no paid plan | Free plan; Pro and Business paid plans |
| Daily limits | No task or download counter | Free: daily download limit on many tools |
| File size | Per tool, 100 MB on most PDF tools | Not stated for most tools; AI tools 50 MB |
| Account | None | Not needed to try; some features need one |
| Where files are processed | In your browser | Uploaded to Smallpdf |
| Edit existing text | Yes (/pdf/edit) | Pro |
| Compression levels | One compressor (/pdf/compress) | Basic free; Moderate and Strong in Pro |
| OCR | Yes (/pdf/ocr: 20 MB, first 50 pages) | Free: daily download limit; included in Pro |
| AI tools | None | Chat with PDF, summarizer, translate |
| Mobile apps | None; works in mobile browsers | iOS and Android apps with scanning |
Smallpdf details are from smallpdf.com/pricing and smallpdf.com/compress-pdf, checked on 2026-09-17. The pricing page showed local-currency prices that depend on your country and billing period, so we have left prices out; check the page for your own price.
Everyday jobs you can do on TryDocsy instead
Shrink a PDF before emailing it with /pdf/compress, combine statements with /pdf/merge, or pull out a page range with /pdf/split. To reorder or remove pages, use /pdf/organize.
For forms, /pdf/fill-form handles text fields, checkboxes, radio buttons and dropdowns, and /pdf/edit lets you correct a typo in the existing text of a PDF, which is a Pro feature on Smallpdf. Converters such as PDF to Word are listed on the tools page.
When Smallpdf is the better choice
- You work from your phone. Smallpdf has iOS and Android apps, including scanning. TryDocsy has no app.
- You want AI features. Smallpdf lists Chat with PDF, an AI PDF summarizer, Translate PDF and a question generator. TryDocsy doesn't offer AI tools.
- You need text to stay selectable after compressing. Smallpdf says its compressor removes redundant data and re-encodes large images, and offers Moderate and Strong levels in Pro. TryDocsy's compressor turns each page into an image, which is fine for scans but not for documents people need to search or copy from.
- Your team needs one account. Smallpdf has Team and Business plans with centralized billing. TryDocsy has no accounts at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does TryDocsy limit how many files I can process per day?
No. TryDocsy has no daily task or download counter. What it does have is a size limit per file, set by each tool: 100 MB for most PDF tools, and less for a few, such as 20 MB for PDF OCR. Smallpdf's pricing page lists a daily download limit on many tools in its Free plan.
Are my files uploaded when I use TryDocsy?
No. The PDF tools open your file inside the browser tab and save the result from there. Smallpdf's compress page asks you to "Upload or drop a document here" and describes its security as TLS encryption, GDPR compliance and ISO/IEC 27001 certification.
Do I need an email address or an account?
Not on TryDocsy. Smallpdf's compress page also says you can try it for free with no sign-up, though some features, such as sharing, need a free account.
How does TryDocsy compress a PDF without a server?
It opens the PDF with PDF.js, draws each page onto a canvas, saves that page as a JPEG, and rebuilds a new PDF from those images with pdf-lib, all in your browser. Because the pages become images, text in the compressed file is no longer selectable.
When is Smallpdf the better choice?
When you want its mobile apps and scanning, its AI tools such as Chat with PDF and the summarizer, its Moderate and Strong compression levels in Pro, or a team plan with centralized billing. TryDocsy offers none of those.
Does TryDocsy work on phones and tablets?
Yes, it runs in mobile browsers. It isn't a native app, and processing big files on a phone is limited by the phone's memory.