esign.website vs Smallpdf
esign.website vs Smallpdf: sign a PDF without daily limits and without uploading it.
A friendly all-in-one PDF toolbox — signing included, but with daily limits and uploads on the free plan. Starts at $12/user/mo (Pro); free plan: Limited daily tasks; 2 signing requests a month.
| Feature | esign.website | Smallpdf |
|---|---|---|
| Free everyday signing (no card) | Unlimited, watermarked | Limited per day |
| Files stay in your browser | Yes — unless you use Send to Sign | Uploaded, deleted after 1 hour |
| Account required to sign | No | No for basic use |
| Per-document price | $1 each, $3 for five | n/a (subscription only) |
| Unlimited plan | $29 once, forever | $12/user/mo |
| PDF conversion and compression | No | Yes |
| Signature certificate on the PDF | Free on signing links; $4 when you sign yourself | Pro only (Certificate of Completion) |
| Built-in merge / split / rotate | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop app | Browser only | Yes |
Where Smallpdf shines
- 40+ PDF tools in one place — compress, convert, edit
- Clean, simple interface
- Desktop app and integrations
Where Smallpdf falls short
- Free plan caps how many tasks you can run a day
- Files are uploaded to their servers for processing
- Unlimited use requires a Pro subscription
- Signing requests to others are capped on the free plan
Choose Smallpdf instead if…
- You need to convert, compress or edit PDFs often, not just sign them
- You want one subscription covering dozens of PDF tools
- You prefer a desktop app
Questions people ask
Does Smallpdf upload my files?
Yes. Smallpdf processes files on its servers over an encrypted connection and says it deletes them after an hour unless you save them to your account. esign.website signs the document in your browser, so for an ordinary signature the file never leaves your device.
Is Smallpdf free?
It has a free plan with limits on how many tasks you can run each day, and a 7-day trial of Pro. esign.website's free tier has no daily or monthly cap — the limit is a watermark on the free download instead.
Which should I use?
If you mostly convert and compress PDFs and occasionally sign one, Smallpdf's toolbox is broader. If signing is the job, esign.website does it without a subscription or an upload.