Smallpdf or Lmaotools, which tool for your PDFs
Published · Updated 4 min read
Smallpdf and Lmaotools meet the same everyday needs: lightening a PDF, opening it without a password, putting images together in a document, numbering pages. They differ in the number of free operations, in the way the file is processed, and in everything Lmaotools offers besides the PDF.
Compress a PDF
Smallpdf offers three levels: Basic, free, then Moderate and Strong, presented as reserved for the Pro plan. Lmaotools gives its three levels, low, medium and high, to everyone, with a quality slider on top to fine-tune. For an attachment, the medium level is enough in most cases. The guide on reducing weight explains how to aim for a precise limit, for example that of a mail service.
Compress a photo
When you give it a JPEG, Smallpdf's compressor returns a PDF. Lmaotools keeps an image: same format, same dimensions, weight reduced according to the quality chosen. To aim for a precise size, see Reduce a photo below 200 KB, 500 KB or 1 MB.
Remove the password of a PDF
Both services allow it when you know the password. The detail of what Lmaotools supports is in Open a protected PDF whose password you know.
Put images together in a PDF
Smallpdf offers the Letter, A4 or automatic formats, the orientation, three margin sizes and a sort of the files by name, from A to Z or Z to A. Lmaotools offers the image's own format, A4 or US Letter, automatic orientation, portrait or landscape, three margin sizes, and takes the images in the order you added them.
Number the pages
Smallpdf offers six positions, three margin widths and a first number of your choice. Lmaotools adds the choice between four presentations of the number (1, Page 1, Page 1 / N, Page 1 of N) and a page range, to number only part of the document.
Free service limits
Smallpdf's help announces up to 2 conversions per day for free accounts and for visitors without an account, and limited access to the basic functions of 21 tools. Lmaotools imposes neither an account nor a maximum number of operations.
Why a 100 MB limit
Everything happens in your browser, on your device. Each tool is proven before being offered, and the size accepted, up to 100 MB per file depending on the tool, is set so that the result is reliable. It widens tool by tool, as the tests allow, to adapt to the power of your device.
Where your file goes
Smallpdf says it automatically deletes files one hour after processing, and its privacy notice speaks of a reasonable period for visitors without an account. On Lmaotools, the file is processed in your browser and is sent nowhere. This guide shows how to check it.
The price
Smallpdf Pro is shown at €7.50 a month, billed €90 a year, or €10 with monthly payment. The price varies by country. Lmaotools tools are free.
Which service for which need
For everyday actions on a PDF, lightening, opening, numbering, putting images together, Lmaotools offers them all with no account and no limit on operations. Smallpdf also offers conversion of Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents, signing or text recognition, which Lmaotools does not offer. For daily work on PDFs, images, audio, video and text in one place, Lmaotools brings several needs together on a single site.
Summary
| What Lmaotools offers | Lmaotools | Smallpdf |
|---|---|---|
| Compress a PDF | ✓ (3 levels and slider) | ✓ (2 levels out of 3 on Pro) |
| Remove the password of a PDF | ✓ | ✓ |
| Protect a PDF with a password | ✓ | ✓ |
| Merge, split, extract or delete pages | ✓ | ✓ |
| Number the pages, with page range | ✓ | ✓ (no range) |
| Images to PDF, PDF to images | ✓ | ✓ |
| Add a watermark to a PDF | ✓ | ✓ |
| Remove a watermark from a PDF | ✓ | - |
| Compress an image keeping its format | ✓ | - |
| Resize, crop, convert, remove the background of an image | ✓ | - |
| Compress, cut, merge a video, create a GIF | ✓ | - |
| Compress, convert, cut audio, transcribe it to text | ✓ | - |
| Compare, sort, replace text, SRT subtitles | ✓ | - |
| JSON, Base64, hash, regular expressions | ✓ | - |
| QR code, password, colors, dates, units | ✓ | - |
| No account or quota of operations | ✓ | - (2 conversions per day) |
| Processed in the browser, nothing sent | ✓ | - |
| Price | Free | Pro at €7.50 a month on the year |
Frequently asked questions
- Is Smallpdf free?
- According to its help, free accounts and visitors without an account get up to 2 conversions per day, with limited access to the basic functions of several tools. The Pro plan is shown at €7.50 a month billed yearly. Lmaotools tools are free.
- Does Lmaotools have a daily limit?
- No. No account is asked for and the number of operations is not limited.
- Does Smallpdf delete my files?
- Smallpdf announces automatic deletion one hour after processing, and its privacy notice speaks of a reasonable period for visitors without an account. On Lmaotools, the file is processed in your browser and is sent nowhere.
- Can you compress a PDF at the strongest level for free?
- At Smallpdf, two of the three levels are reserved for the Pro plan. At Lmaotools, the three levels and the quality slider are open to everyone.
- How do you reduce a PDF below a precise weight limit?
- Choose the highest level that gets under the limit. The guide Reduce a PDF below 2 MB, 1 MB or 500 KB gives the weights to expect.