Updated September 2026 · Prices checked September 24, 2026
A Smallpdf alternative when you need signatures, not a PDF toolkit
Choose Smallpdf if you want a full PDF toolkit (compress, convert, merge, edit) with signing on the side. Choose eSignSimple if requesting signatures is the main job: our free plan sends 5 documents a month versus 2 on Smallpdf's free Sign.com account, and $9/month gets you unlimited documents with an audit trail on each one. One honest difference: our free PDF tools need a free account; many Smallpdf tools work without one, within daily limits.
Smallpdf is a Swiss PDF platform with more than 30 tools. Its signing features now run through Sign.com, which is bundled with Smallpdf plans. On the free plan, Sign.com is limited to 2 documents a month; Pro and Team plans include unlimited Sign.com Premium.
eSignSimple does one job: sending documents for signature and producing proof. Upload a PDF or Word file, place fields, set a signing order, send, and get a signed PDF with a certificate of completion and a SHA-256 hash. We also offer free Sign PDF, Fill PDF and signature generator tools, but you need a free account to use them.
When we checked Smallpdf's pricing page, the Pro and Team prices did not load for our region, so we have not listed numbers we could not see. The plan structure and limits below are taken directly from the page.
How does eSignSimple compare with Smallpdf?
| Feature | eSignSimple | Smallpdf |
|---|---|---|
| Free signature requests | 5 documents/month | Sign.com free account: 2 documents/month |
| Paid signing | $9/month, unlimited documents | Unlimited Sign.com Premium with Pro or Team |
| PDF tools (compress, convert, merge, OCR) | Sign PDF, Fill PDF, signature generator only | 30+ tools |
| Use tools without an account | No, a free account is required | Yes for many tools, within daily limits |
| Audit trail / certificate of completion | Yes, with certificate of completion and SHA-256 hash | Yes (Sign.com Premium: certificate of completion, activity timeline) |
| Templates | Yes, on every plan | Yes (Premium) |
| Bulk send | Yes, up to 200 people per send | Not listed on the pricing page |
| Web forms (public signing link) | Yes (public link, single-signer templates) | Not listed on the pricing page |
| API and webhooks | REST API v1 and webhooks | Not listed on the pricing page |
| Document access codes | No | Yes (Premium) |
| Mobile app | Mobile browser (no native app) | Yes |
| Certifications | None claimed | ISO/IEC 27001 listed |
How much does Smallpdf cost?
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 30+ tools with daily limits; Sign.com free account limited to 2 documents a month. |
| Pro | Not shown for our region when checked | 1 user. Unlimited tools and downloads, AI tools, unlimited Sign.com Premium. 7-day free trial. |
| Team | Per seat, 2–19 seats (not shown when checked) | Everything in Pro plus centralized billing and member management. |
| Business | Custom | 20+ seats, custom pricing and dedicated support. |
Prices checked September 24, 2026 on Smallpdf pricing. Vendors change prices and may show different prices by country and currency, so confirm before you buy.
eSignSimple pricing, for comparison
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 5 documents a month (a document counts when it is sent), unlimited signers, audit trail and certificate of completion, templates, web forms, API access. |
| Personal | $9/month, billed monthly | 1 sender, unlimited documents, templates, bulk send (up to 200 people per send), web forms, reminders, REST API and webhooks. |
| Team | $19 per sender/month | Coming soon. Team seats, shared templates and branding are not available yet, so today every sender needs their own account. |
Where is Smallpdf the better choice?
- A complete PDF toolkit: compress, convert to and from Office formats, OCR, merge, split, redact and edit text.
- Many tools work without creating an account, which is handy for one-off tasks.
- Native mobile apps and scanning.
- ISO/IEC 27001 certification listed on its pricing page; eSignSimple holds no certifications.
- Document access codes on Sign.com Premium.
Why do people switch to eSignSimple?
More free signature requests
5 documents a month on our free plan versus 2 on a free Sign.com account.
Built around the signing workflow
Multiple signers, signing order, reminders every three days, templates, bulk send to up to 200 people and a public web form link.
Evidence on every document
Each completed document gets a certificate of completion with timestamps, IP addresses and a SHA-256 hash of the final PDF.
An API when you need it
Create and send documents from your own software with our REST API and receive webhooks when documents are completed.
Who should pick which?
| Pick eSignSimple if… | Pick Smallpdf if… |
|---|---|
| You regularly send documents for other people to sign. | You mostly compress, convert and edit PDFs and sign occasionally. |
| You want bulk send, web forms or an API without a bigger bundle. | You want tools that work without an account. |
| You are fine creating a free account to use the PDF tools. | You need OCR, redaction, mobile scanning or an ISO 27001-certified vendor. |
How do you switch from Smallpdf to eSignSimple?
- Download your signed documents and certificates from Sign.com / Smallpdf.
- Sign up for eSignSimple with Google (free, 5 documents a month).
- Upload the PDF or Word file you normally send and drag fields into place.
- Save it as a template so the next send takes seconds.
- Keep Smallpdf for PDF editing if you still need it; you do not have to choose only one.
Our take
Smallpdf is a great toolbox. If signing is one of many PDF chores, it makes sense to keep everything there.
If collecting signatures is the part you do every week, a dedicated tool gives you more free requests, bulk send and an audit trail built for that job.
We compare published features and prices from each vendor's own website and list the sources above. Where we could not verify something, we say so. Smallpdf is a trademark of its owner; eSignSimple is not affiliated with it. See how we protect documents on our security page and what each plan includes on pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Is Smallpdf e-sign free?
Smallpdf's pricing page says the free Sign.com account is limited to 2 documents a month. eSignSimple's free plan includes 5 documents a month.
Do I need an account for eSignSimple's free PDF tools?
Yes. Sign PDF, Fill PDF and the signature generator need a free account (sign up with Google). Signers you send documents to never need an account.
Can eSignSimple compress or convert PDFs?
No. We convert Word files to PDF when you upload them for signing, but we do not offer compression, OCR or format conversion tools.
Is a Smallpdf signature legally binding?
Simple electronic signatures from either tool are generally valid under the ESIGN Act, UETA and eIDAS. Check the rules for your document type and country.
Get your next document signed today.
Start with 5 free documents a month. No card needed.