Comparison

What is the best alternative to Smallpdf and ILovePDF?

Smallpdf and ILovePDF dominate the online PDF tools market, but they have free plan limits, send data to European servers and charge in EUR/USD. There are free Brazilian alternatives covering the same use cases, with a contract and support in Brazil and LGPD compliance.

TL;DR

Rollin Host PDF tools are a free Brazilian alternative to Smallpdf and ILovePDF. They cover the main use cases (compress, merge, split, OCR, convert PDF to Word/JPG and back) without mandatory registration. In 2026, they are a popular choice for Brazilian teams wanting a service from a Brazilian company, with Portuguese support and LGPD compliance. Smallpdf and ILovePDF have more advanced features (integrated digital signatures, deep Google Drive/Dropbox integrations) and more mature enterprise support.

Comparison table

Feature	Rollin Tools PDF	Smallpdf	ILovePDF
Origin	Brazilian	Swiss (Zurich)	Spanish (Barcelona)
Dashboard language	Native Portuguese	PT with auto translation	PT with good translation
Compress PDF	Yes, free no signup	Yes, free with limit	Yes, free with limit
Merge PDF	Yes, free	Yes, free (2 doc/day free)	Yes, free
Split PDF	Yes, free	Yes, free	Yes, free
OCR (text in image)	Yes, free with limit	Yes, only paid plan	Yes, free with limit
PDF to Word	Yes, free	Yes, 2 docs/day free	Yes, free with limit
PDF to JPG	Yes, free	Yes, free	Yes, free
Word to PDF	Yes, free	Yes, free	Yes, free
Free size limit	Generous	~5 MB without login	~25 MB without login
Digital eSign signature	Not available	Yes, Pro plan	Yes, premium plan
Visual PDF editor	Limited	Yes, Pro plan	Yes, premium plan
Google Drive/Dropbox integrations	Not native	Yes, deep native	Yes, native
Company and support in Brazil (LGPD)	Yes (Brazilian contract)	No (Switzerland/EU)	No (Spain/EU)
BRL paid plan	On request	In EUR/USD	In EUR/USD
Public API	On roadmap	Yes, robust	Yes, robust

Rollin Tools PDF Pros

Free for main use cases, no mandatory signup
100% native Portuguese dashboard
Brazilian company, LGPD compliant (including Art. 33 safeguards)
Files deleted automatically after processing
No aggressive paid plan upsell
Integrated tools on the same domain

Rollin Tools PDF Cons

No legally binding eSign digital signature
Limited visual PDF editor vs Smallpdf Pro
No deep native Google Drive/Dropbox integration
Public API on roadmap
Size limit varies per tool

Smallpdf and ILovePDF Pros

Broader catalog (20+ tools each)
Mature visual PDF editor
Integrated eSign digital signature
Native integrations with Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive
Robust public API
Desktop and mobile app

Smallpdf and ILovePDF Cons

Increasingly limited free plan (2 docs/day)
Paid plan in EUR/USD, with IOF and FX variation
Files sent to European servers
Translated Portuguese support — not native
Aggressive Pro plan upsell
File retention time varies

When to choose each

Use Rollin Tools PDF if:

You need point tools (compress, merge, split, OCR) that are free and signup-free. Working with sensitive documents and prefer a Brazilian vendor, with a contract under Brazilian law and LGPD compliance already handled — including international-transfer safeguards.

Use Smallpdf if:

You need eSign digital signature, mature visual editor or already have integrated flow with Google Drive/Dropbox. Large team with high volume.

Use ILovePDF if:

You need a broad catalog (20+ tools), public API for automation or desktop app with offline features.

Use combination if:

Common: Rollin Tools for point operations (Brazilian company under LGPD) + Smallpdf/ILovePDF for complex flows with eSign.

Verdict

For most everyday tasks (compressing a report, merging 3 invoices, OCR on a scanned document), Rollin Tools PDF gets it done without signup and without sending the file to another continent. Honestly, if your flow depends on legally binding eSign, advanced visual editor or deep native Google Drive integration, Smallpdf and ILovePDF remain superior. For 80% of Brazilian use cases, Rollin Tools solves it for free.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best site to compress PDF online?

In 2026, main options are Rollin Tools PDF (Brazilian, free), Smallpdf and ILovePDF. For point use without signup, Rollin Tools covers it well.

Is compressing PDF online safe?

Depends on the provider. Services like Rollin Tools process the file and delete it within hours, with a Brazilian operation that is LGPD compliant. Always review the privacy policy for sensitive data.

Can I use Smallpdf free without limit?

No. Free Smallpdf has a 2 documents per day limit on most tools in 2026.

Does Rollin Tools PDF have OCR?

Yes. The OCR tool extracts text from PDF images, free with size limit.

PDF to Word which is best?

For simple conversions, all three deliver similar results. For documents with heavy layout, Smallpdf Pro has a more robust engine.

Does ILovePDF have a Portuguese version?

Yes, the interface has a good Portuguese translation. But official support is in English/Spanish.

Can I edit PDF online for free?

Basic editing yes, on all options. Advanced editing is usually paid.

Are files stored on the server?

All three services claim to automatically delete files after a few hours.

Is free online PDF LGPD compliant?

The LGPD applies to any service that processes Brazilians' data. With Rollin Tools, the contract is with a Brazilian company and LGPD compliance — including the Art. 33 international-transfer safeguards — is on us. With foreign services, it is up to you to review the DPA.

What is the size limit of Rollin Tools PDF?

Varies per tool. Compression and merging accept files up to tens of MB.

Does Smallpdf have a mobile app?

Yes, both Smallpdf and ILovePDF have iOS and Android apps.

Can I digitally sign PDFs?

Smallpdf and ILovePDF offer digital signature on paid plan. For legally binding signature in Brazil (ICP-Brazil), use Clicksign or D4Sign.

Ready to use Brazilian PDF tools?

Compress, merge, split and convert PDFs for free, with automatic deletion and LGPD compliance. No signup, no upsell.

See Rollin PDF tools