Both tools make PDFs smaller, but they are built for different jobs. This page compares only what we could confirm on Smallpdf’s own pages and Google Play listing. Where we found nothing, we say “not verified” rather than “missing”. Prices and limits change and vary by country; check Smallpdf’s site before you decide.
At a glance
| PDFTuck | Smallpdf | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Single-purpose Android compressor | PDF suite: compress, convert, edit, sign, OCR, scan, AI tools |
| Platforms | Android 7.0+ | Web, Android, iOS, Windows |
| Type a target size | Yes, in KB or MB | No; Smallpdf’s own guide says you can’t type an exact size |
| Compression choices | Target size, or High quality / Balanced / Smallest file | Basic, Moderate, Strong (Moderate and Strong need Pro) |
| Where the PDF is processed | On the phone; not uploaded | Smallpdf’s servers; files deleted after one hour |
| Works offline | Yes, for compressing, previewing and saving | Not verified |
| Account | None | Not needed for basic web compression |
| Free use | Free with ads, no daily cap on compression | Free plan with daily limits; Pro is paid (on Google Play, from US$7.99/month at the time of checking) |
| Security statements | No certifications | TLS, GDPR, ISO/IEC 27001 (vendor-stated) |
| Availability | Closed testing; not yet public on Google Play | Available |
Where Smallpdf is the better choice
- You need more than compression. Converting to and from Office, editing, e-signing, merging, OCR and scanning are all in one place.
- You work across devices. The same tools on the web, iPhone, Android and Windows, with cloud-drive integrations.
- You need formal assurances. Smallpdf states ISO/IEC 27001 certification and GDPR compliance. PDFTuck is a small app with no audited certifications.
- It’s available today. PDFTuck is not yet publicly listed on Google Play.
Where PDFTuck works differently
- You type the limit. Instead of choosing a level and checking the result, you enter the number the form asks for. PDFTuck measures the file it produced and only says “Ready to upload ✓” when it fits.
- No upload. The PDF is compressed on the phone. This matters for ID scans, medical or financial documents, or when rules forbid uploading.
- No account, no daily cap on compression. PDFTuck is free with Google ads instead.
Things to know about PDFTuck
Depending on the document, PDFTuck may turn pages into images to reach a small target, so searchable text, links and form fields may not be kept. Password-protected PDFs aren’t supported. The app shows Google ads and uses Google’s consent tool, which need the internet; your PDF is never passed to them.
Which should you use?
If the job is “get this PDF under 500 KB on my phone without uploading it”, PDFTuck is built for exactly that. If you need a PDF toolbox on several devices, Smallpdf does much more.