Raccoon PDF Editor vs Smallpdf at a glance
| Raccoon PDF Editor | Smallpdf | |
|---|---|---|
| Price for everyday use | Free, every feature | Free with limits; Pro is a paid subscription |
| Free usage limit | None | Up to 2 documents a day on the free plan |
| Where files are processed | In your browser; never uploaded | Uploaded to Smallpdf's servers; removed after about an hour for most tools |
| Account needed | No | Not for basic tools; needed for Pro features |
| Edit existing text | Yes, free | Pro |
| OCR scanned PDFs | Yes, free, 13 languages | Pro |
| Request signatures from others | Yes, free, with audit trail | Through its signing product, with limits on free use |
| PDF to Word / Excel / PowerPoint | No | Yes |
| Cloud storage and team workspace | No | Yes, on paid plans |
Based on Smallpdf's published plans and help pages, checked October 2026. Details can change; see sources below.
Which should you use?
Choose Raccoon if
- You handle private documents and do not want them uploaded.
- You need more than a couple of tasks a day without paying.
- You want to edit text, run OCR or collect signatures for free.
Choose Smallpdf if
- You regularly convert PDFs to Word, Excel or PowerPoint.
- Your team wants shared cloud storage and admin controls.
- You prefer a desktop or mobile app over a website.
Why "nothing uploaded" matters
Most online PDF tools send your file to their servers, process it there and send it back. Even with encryption and automatic deletion, your document spends time on someone else's computer. Raccoon PDF Editor works differently: the editor runs inside your browser, so the PDF is opened, changed and saved on your own device. The site also tells your browser to block it from sending data anywhere else, so this is enforced by the browser, not just promised.
That makes Raccoon a good fit for IDs, contracts, medical forms, tax documents and anything else you would rather not upload.
Questions
Is Raccoon PDF Editor really free?
Yes. Every feature is free, with no account, no watermark and no daily limit.
Why are my files safer with Raccoon than with Smallpdf?
Raccoon opens, edits and saves your PDF inside your browser, so the file is never sent to a server. Smallpdf processes files on its own servers. Both use encrypted connections, but a file that is never uploaded cannot be exposed by a server breach or kept longer than you expect.
Is this comparison up to date?
We checked Smallpdf's published plans and help pages in October 2026. Plans change, so check their site for the latest details. Spotted something out of date? Email support@raccoonpdf.com.
