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It's a split decision.
Choose Smallpdf for a free starting point, everyday PDF tasks, or lower per-seat pricing: its annual rates start at $7 per seat monthly, but Team requires two seats. Choose Foxit for professional PDF editing, cloud storage, and included AI credits: PDF Editor starts at $10.83 per user monthly with annual billing, or $10.99 with monthly billing. Smallpdf’s free plan has unpublished daily download limits; Foxit has no free plan.
01Side by side
| Foxit PDF Editor | Smallpdf | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $10.83/month annually; $10.99 monthly | $7/seat monthly, billed annually |
| Free plan | No free plan; 14-day trial | Free plan; 7-day trial |
| Best for | Professional PDF editing, eSign, and AI | Free or lower-cost everyday PDF tasks |
| Core strength | Editing, signatures, collaboration, and AI tools | Conversion, compression, merging, and file management |
| Learning curve | Not published | Not published |
| Integrations / data | Cloud storage; AI has cloud and local options | Store, manage, and share files across devices |
| Team / seat costs | Custom pricing for 30+ licenses | $7–$10/seat monthly; two-seat Team minimum |
| Support | Review support score: 6/10 | Review support score: 5/10 |
Foxit PDF Editor Choose Foxit PDF Editor if
- Choose Foxit PDF Editor if you need professional PDF editing.
- Choose Foxit PDF Editor if included cloud storage matters.
- Choose Foxit PDF Editor if 300 monthly AI credits fit your needs.
Smallpdf Choose Smallpdf if
- Choose Smallpdf if you want a free plan for occasional tasks.
- Choose Smallpdf if lower annual per-seat pricing matters.
- Choose Smallpdf if you need conversion, compression, and file sharing.
02Pricing compared
Smallpdf has the lower entry price: its annual rates are listed as $7 per seat monthly for Team and $9 per user monthly for Pro, billed yearly. Monthly billing is listed at $10 for Team and $12 for Pro. Team requires at least two seats, so its minimum annual bill works out to $14 per month. Smallpdf also has a free plan, though its daily download cap is not published. Regional listings show different prices, so check the checkout page before buying.
Foxit PDF Editor costs $10.83 per user monthly with annual billing ($129.99 per year), or $10.99 with monthly billing. PDF Editor+ is $13.33 per user monthly, billed annually; its monthly price is not published. Foxit has no free plan, but lists a 14-day trial. For one user, Smallpdf is cheaper; Foxit’s price may suit buyers who need its included cloud storage and AI credits.
03Features and depth
Both cover core PDF work: editing, signing, and handling documents. Smallpdf lists tools to convert PDFs to Word, compress, merge, split, annotate, and manage files across devices. Its Pro plan adds unlimited tool access and downloads, OCR, text editing, and Sign.com Premium. The free plan includes 30+ basic tools, but its daily download limit is not published.
Foxit’s feature set leans toward professional editing and document workflows. Its PDF Editor plan includes unlimited DMS cloud storage, Windows, macOS, and web apps, plus 300 AI credits per month. Foxit describes AI tools for summarizing, extracting information, rewriting, defining, and translating document content. PDF Editor+ adds 150 eSign envelopes per year, mobile apps, and AI Smart Redact. Foxit also lists batch conversion, merging, and compression. Smallpdf Pro lists AI limits of 100,000 words per document and up to 50 MB; its free AI limits are lower. Pick based on the tools and caps you need, not the AI label alone.
04Ease of use and learning curve
Smallpdf’s web and mobile tools focus on common PDF jobs such as converting, compressing, editing, and signing. That makes it a plausible fit for occasional tasks, though the free plan’s unpublished daily download cap makes it hard to know how far you can get without paying. Pro lists unlimited tool access and downloads.
Foxit offers Windows, macOS, and web apps on PDF Editor; PDF Editor+ also includes iOS and Android apps. Its broader editing, AI, and collaboration features may take more setup than a basic conversion workflow. The published material does not give comparative onboarding or usability test results, so we would not call either product definitively easier. For quick, occasional tasks, start with Smallpdf Free; for a fuller desktop editing toolkit, compare Foxit’s trial with the paid plan you would actually use.
Questions people ask
Is Smallpdf cheaper than Foxit PDF Editor?
On the listed annual rates, yes: Smallpdf Pro is $9 per user monthly and Team is $7 per seat monthly, while Foxit PDF Editor is $10.83 per user monthly. Smallpdf Team requires two seats. Regional Smallpdf listings show different prices, so confirm the rate for your location.
Does Foxit PDF Editor have a free plan?
No free plan is listed for Foxit PDF Editor. Its pricing page lists a 14-day trial, then PDF Editor at $10.83 per user monthly with annual billing or $10.99 with monthly billing. Smallpdf has a free plan, but its daily download limit is not published.
Which product includes more AI features?
Foxit PDF Editor includes 300 AI credits per month and describes tools for summarizing, extracting information, rewriting, defining, and translating content. Smallpdf Pro lists AI processing of up to 100,000 words per document and 50 MB. These limits measure different things, so compare the tasks you need.
Which is better for a small team?
Smallpdf Team is listed at $7 per seat monthly with annual billing, but requires at least two seats; seat limits vary across listings. Foxit offers custom volume licensing for 30 or more licenses, with discounts of up to 30%. For smaller teams, compare Smallpdf’s seat requirements with Foxit’s per-user plans.