Brandwave

Adobe Acrobat vs Smallpdf:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Adobe Acrobat had more branded searches than Smallpdf among PDF editors worldwide. Adobe Acrobat had about 3.6 million branded searches, while Smallpdf had 1.5 million. Adobe Acrobat made up 5% of all PDF editor searches we track, and Smallpdf accounted for 2.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about PDF editors, Adobe Acrobat appeared in all five answers and Smallpdf in none.

Among PDF editors worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Adobe Acrobat, about 2 searches for every 1 for Smallpdf

Adobe Acrobat 3.6M searchesSmallpdf 1.5M searches

Who does AI mention more?

Adobe Acrobat, mentioned in every answer we collected

Adobe Acrobat in 5 of 5Smallpdf in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Adobe Acrobat, the only one of the two named

Adobe Acrobat first in 5Smallpdf never named

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Top PDF editors in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Adobe Acrobat appeared in all five answers. Smallpdf did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Adobe Acrobat1st
  2. PDFgear2nd
  3. Foxit3rd
  4. PDF Expert4th
  5. pdfFiller5th
  6. PDF-XChange6th
  7. PDFescape7th
  8. iLovePDF–
  9. Sejda–
  10. Smallpdf–
  11. +3 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Adobe Acrobat5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • PDFgear5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Foxit4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • PDF Expert3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • PDF-XChange2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • pdfFiller2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • PDFescape1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • iLovePDF0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Sejda0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Smallpdf0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+3 more

See every answer about PDF editors

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Is Adobe Acrobat or Smallpdf more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Adobe Acrobat and Smallpdf by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 13 PDF editors we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Adobe Acrobat and Smallpdf among PDF editors worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Adobe Acrobat, Smallpdf. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthiLovePDFAdobe AcrobatSejdaSmallpdfPDF24FoxitPDFgearPDF-XChangePDFescapeNitropdfFillerXodoPDF Expert
Oct 202582.4%7.3%3.3%2.8%1.5%0.88%0.37%0.45%0.45%0.19%0.22%0.11%0.06%
Nov 202583.7%6.2%3.4%2.8%1.5%0.78%0.3%0.41%0.37%0.2%0.17%0.11%0.06%
Dec 202583.4%5.9%3.7%3.1%1.4%0.83%0.4%0.4%0.33%0.18%0.19%0.12%0.05%
Jan 202682.1%6.8%3.6%3%1.6%0.83%0.49%0.49%0.4%0.21%0.23%0.12%0.07%
Feb 202681.7%7.5%3.6%3.1%1.6%0.83%0.4%0.39%0.32%0.18%0.19%0.1%0.05%
Mar 202683.4%6.4%3.4%2.8%1.5%0.78%0.45%0.45%0.3%0.17%0.22%0.09%0.06%
Apr 202684%5.8%3.4%2.8%1.5%0.78%0.46%0.42%0.31%0.17%0.17%0.09%0.05%
May 202684%6.1%3.4%2.8%1.5%0.7%0.37%0.37%0.31%0.17%0.15%0.09%0.05%
Jun 202685.4%5.3%3.1%2.9%1.4%0.61%0.34%0.34%0.23%0.16%0.16%0.07%0.04%
Jul 202684.4%5.8%3.4%2.6%1.5%0.69%0.46%0.37%0.25%0.21%0.14%0.08%0.04%
Aug 202685.5%5%3.5%2.4%1.5%0.68%0.38%0.35%0.25%0.18%0.14%0.08%0.04%
Sep 202686.1%5%3.1%2.1%1.7%0.63%0.34%0.34%0.23%0.16%0.13%0.07%0.04%

How has the Adobe Acrobat and Smallpdf comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Adobe Acrobat was ahead of Smallpdf in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Adobe Acrobat’s share of searches among PDF editors worldwide moved from 7.3% to 5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 4.9M to 3.6M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Smallpdf’s share of searches among PDF editors worldwide moved from 2.8% to 2.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.9M to 1.5M.

How did search popularity change for PDF editors worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. Smallpdf’s share of searches among PDF editors worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 2.9% to 2.1% in September 2026.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Adobe Acrobat worldwide fell 25.5% over 12 measured months, from 4.9M to 3.6M in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

12 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Adobe Acrobat’s and Smallpdf’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Adobe Acrobat

4 branded search terms

  • acrobat reader
  • adobe acrobat
  • adobe acrobat reader
  • adobe reader

Smallpdf

8 branded search terms

  • pdf editor smallpdf
  • pdf smallpdf
  • smallpdf
  • smallpdf app
  • smallpdf com
  • smallpdf pdf
  • smallpdf pdf editor
  • smallpdf software

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among PDF editors

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