CoolUtils Online PDF Merger vs Smallpdf

CoolUtils Online PDF Merger combines multiple files into one PDF in a browser, without signup or software installation. The free tool accepts up to five files per pass, with a limit of 50 MB per file. The order of the upload slots determines the sequence in the merged document. JPG, PNG and GIF images are accepted as well, with each image becoming a PDF page. CoolUtils says uploads and downloads use encrypted SSL/TLS connections and are processed in isolated environments. The product page says documents are used for merging and are not stored afterward; CoolUtils also says uploaded files and converted results are automatically deleted from its servers within 24 hours. The listed platform availability includes Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web and Windows, though the primary platform is web. The online page does not list integrations, batch merging or page selection. CoolUtils recommends its desktop product for recurring or folder-level work and command-line automation.

Smallpdf is a PDF service with tools for editing, converting, compressing, organizing, sharing, protecting and scanning documents. Users can add text, shapes, images and freehand annotations, create forms and use OCR. It supports electronic signatures, including signing, requesting signatures and tracking documents. Files can be stored, managed and shared across devices, and the mobile app supports PDF scans, document organization and file sharing. Smallpdf is available on the web, Windows, iOS and Android, and also supports a Chrome extension. Integrations include Google Workspace and Dropbox. Thirty PDF tools are available for free, and the free trial lasts seven days. Pro costs $12 a month, billed monthly per user. Team costs $10 a month per user and covers 2 to 100 users, with a minimum of two seats. Smallpdf says it uses 256-bit TLS encryption for information transfer and is ISO/IEC 27001 certified and compliant with GDPR, CCPA and nFADP. Customer support is available around the clock.