Smallpdf and Pagestays serve different document needs. Choose Pagestays for supported local page tasks; choose Smallpdf when its documented strengths match the work.
What the source says
| Question | Smallpdf | Pagestays |
|---|---|---|
| Free access | Up to 2 conversions per day in the support article; pricing separately says limited daily downloads. | Listed tools are free, with no daily task counter. |
| Paid price | Paid price not verified in the retrieved pricing page. | No paid plan available. Pro is in development. |
| File handling | Server processing for ordinary online tools; most files removed after 1 hour. | Local browser processing; document contents are not uploaded. |
Where Smallpdf is a better fit
OCR, Office conversion, and editing existing text are stronger reasons to choose Smallpdf than basic page assembly.
Smallpdf separates basic document tasks from stronger compression and editing. Its support article and pricing page use different words for the free allowance, so a conversion allowance should not be treated as a universal download quota. If your work involves turning a scanned invoice into editable text, test its OCR on a representative document. Pagestays can extract an existing text layer or recognize printed scans with its local OCR tool. Check the recognized text against the original.
Choose based on the output
Build a sample containing a scan, a native text page, and a form. Check which outputs stay editable and whether the download allowance covers the complete job. Keep the actual billing screen as the price reference before subscribing.
Pagestays can rearrange pages, fill supported existing fields, add a visible signature, and convert pages to images. It cannot edit existing paragraphs, create certificate signatures, or validate archival conformance. If one of those is the actual task, a broader product can be the better choice even when a free page tool is available.
How to read this comparison
This is a source review, not a claim that every paid feature was personally tested. Vendor statements are dated, and account-specific limits can differ. An unverified amount is left unquoted. A deletion window for processed files should not be applied to saved account documents or backups unless the vendor explicitly says so.
Prices and features checked on 2026-10-29. Spotted something out of date? Email contact@pagestays.com.
Product update, October 30, 2026: Pagestays also offers printed-text OCR and smart split locally. Vendor facts and their checked dates above are unchanged.