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Thryve
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Thryve PDF vs Smallpdf

Smallpdf is a Swiss web service with more than thirty PDF tools, mobile apps and a Windows desktop app. Files are uploaded to its servers in the EU and, per its tool pages, deleted after an hour. The free tier allows a couple of downloads a day per tool; Pro removes the limits, adds the stronger compression levels, text editing and the offline desktop app.

Written by the makers of Thryve PDF. Smallpdf’s details come from its own published pages, checked on 17 October 2026; see the sources below and Smallpdf’s site for the latest.

What Smallpdf does well

  • A very wide tool range, including text editing and AI tools, on one site
  • Most tools usable free with no account, a couple of times a day
  • A one-hour deletion promise on every tool page and ISO 27001 certification
  • Pro includes an offline Windows desktop app and the mobile apps
  • Draw, type or upload a signature

What Thryve PDF adds

  • Nothing is uploaded: the file never leaves your device, so there is no server and no hour to think about
  • All three compression levels free, not only Basic
  • Ten exports a month per tool free instead of two a day, and no ads
  • One payment of $9.99 instead of ₹8,799 a year, covering Photo, Media and Invoice too
  • Compare two PDFs, image watermarks, and redaction that finds Aadhaar, PAN and card numbers

Side by side

Checked on 17 October 2026Thryve PDFSmallpdf
Files processed on your own device, no upload
YesEvery tool runs in the browser tab
NoProcessed on servers in the EU
Uploaded files deleted afterwards
YesNever uploaded, so nothing to keep
PartlyTool pages say one hour; the privacy notice says a “reasonable period” without an account
Account needed for free use
NoNo account for the free allowance
NoNo sign-up for the free tasks
Free limits
Yes10 exports per tool per 30 days; files up to 500 MB
PartlyDaily download limit per tool; help says up to 2 a day
Paid plan
YesThryve Pro $9.99 once, every Thryve web app
Yes₹8,799 a year or ₹979 a month, 7-day trial
Ads on the free tier
NoNo ads
Partly“Zero ads” is listed as a Pro benefit
Merge, split and organise pages
YesMerge, Split, Organize, Remove and Extract pages
YesWithin the daily limit
Compress PDF with quality levels
YesLight, Balanced and Max
PartlyBasic free; Moderate and Strong are Pro
OCR: make a scanned PDF searchable
YesEnglish, on the device
PartlyOCR tool free within the limit; OCR inside conversions is Pro
Word, Excel and PowerPoint to PDF and back
YesBoth directions, on the device
YesWithin the daily limit
Sign PDF: draw, type or upload a signature
YesDraw, type or upload
YesDraw, type or upload; several signatures is Pro
Redact: permanently remove text
YesPages flattened on export; finds Aadhaar, PAN, cards
Yes“Permanent and irreversible”
Compare two PDFs
Yes
Not listed
Password protect and unlock
Yes
Yes
Watermark and page numbers
YesText or image watermark
PartlyText watermark only
Works in a phone browser
YesChrome and Safari on Android and iPhone
YesBrowser and iOS/Android apps, daily task limit
Works offline once the page has loaded
YesOnce a tool has loaded; OCR and Office fetch their engine on first use
PartlyWindows desktop app, included with Pro

Written by the makers of Thryve PDF. Every fact about Smallpdf comes from its own published pages, checked on 17 October 2026; “Not listed” means the vendor does not advertise it, not that it is missing. Sources are linked below. Prices are as shown from India on that date and may change.

Choose Smallpdf if

  • You need to edit the text inside a PDF
  • You want a native phone app or a Windows desktop program
  • You need OCR in a language other than English

Choose Thryve PDF if

  • The PDF is an ID, a bank statement, a contract or a medical record
  • You pay once and would rather not subscribe
  • You need stronger compression or more than two files a day without paying
Open Thryve PDF

Sources

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