Comparison
Sheaf compared with Smallpdf, iLovePDF, PDF24 and CamScanner
Last checked 3 November 2026.
We make Sheaf, which scans, signs and shrinks PDFs in the browser. It is one option among several, and for some jobs one of these is the better choice. Everything about the others below was read on their own sites on 3 November 2026; prices and limits change, so check before you pay.
| Tool | What it does with your file | Free and paid, as read |
|---|---|---|
| Sheaf (we make this) | Scan and Sign run in your browser and are never uploaded. Shrink uploads the PDF, shrinks it and deletes it when the request ends. | Scan and Sign are free with no limit. Shrink is free for 3 PDFs a day, up to 25 MB each. Sheaf Pro removes the daily limit and takes files up to 100 MB for £2.99 a month or £19.99 a year. |
| Smallpdf | Online tools; files are uploaded. It says it automatically deletes files after one hour. | A free plan with limited document downloads. Its Moderate and Strong compression are Pro features. |
| iLovePDF | Online tools with a login and sign-up option. | A free Basic plan with limited document processing. Premium is shown as 5 GBP a month billed annually (60 GBP a year), or 9 GBP billed monthly. |
| PDF24 Tools | Online tools; files go to its servers in Germany and it says they are deleted after one hour. | Free of charge, paid for by advertising, with no stated limits on compress and sign. |
| CamScanner | A scanner app for iOS and Android, plus a web app. | Says that on the web you can scan, edit, convert, merge, split, compress and share PDFs for free with no subscription for those basic tools; it also says some features require Premium. |
Where each one is the better pick
- Smallpdf: A much larger toolset (30+ document tools) and team plans. Sheaf only scans, signs and shrinks.
- iLovePDF: More tools than Sheaf, including redact, compare and translate.
- PDF24 Tools: If you want a free compressor with no daily cap and are happy with adverts, it asks for nothing. It also has a desktop app to download, the route to take if nothing may leave your computer.
- CamScanner: OCR, text extraction and Word or Excel conversion, which Sheaf does not do.
- Sheaf: you want to scan, sign or shrink a PDF fast, with no account, and have Scan and Sign stay on your device.
Questions
What are alternatives to Smallpdf with no sign-up?
PDF24 Tools says it is free of charge and paid for by advertising, and Sheaf needs no account for Scan, Sign or its three free daily shrinks. Smallpdf, iLovePDF and CamScanner each have free tiers with limits and paid plans.
Is there a CamScanner alternative that runs in the browser?
Sheaf's Scan runs in your phone's browser and keeps the photos on your device, but it does not do OCR or file conversion. CamScanner does, and it also has a web app.
Which of these upload my file?
Smallpdf and PDF24 are online tools that upload the file; both say they delete it after one hour. Sheaf's Scan and Sign do not upload anything; its Shrink uploads the file and deletes it when the request ends.
Which is cheapest?
PDF24 says it is free. Sheaf is free for Scan and Sign, and Pro is £2.99 a month or £19.99 a year. iLovePDF Premium is shown at 5 GBP a month billed annually or 9 GBP billed monthly.
Do any of them work offline?
PDF24 has a desktop app to download for working on your own computer. Sheaf needs a browser and, for Shrink, a connection.
Open Sheaf Read the short answer
Last checked 3 November 2026. General information only.