Soda PDF

What Soda PDF does

Soda PDF is a PDF software product line operated by Avanquest Software (7270356 Canada Inc.), a privately held Canadian corporation headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, and founded in 2010. The product provides tools for creating, editing, converting, merging, compressing, signing, translating, and securing PDF documents, distributed across three deployment surfaces: a Windows desktop application (Soda PDF Desktop), a browser-based online platform (Soda PDF Online), and a Google Chrome browser extension. The latest release, Soda PDF 15, shipped in 2024 with a redesigned interface and a re-engineered processing engine. The product is localized into 17 languages and serves both individual/professional users and enterprise customers across North America, Europe, and selected Asia-Pacific markets.

The underlying technology is a PDF processing engine augmented with feature-level AI capabilities, including an AI Assistant for document Q&A and summarization, layout-preserving multilingual translation (Translate PDF), and OCR for converting image-based PDFs into editable text. Document security is anchored on 256-bit AES encryption; cloud storage integrations with Google Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft SharePoint, and Evernote enable cross-platform file workflows; and the offering includes a library of fillable form templates (W9, W4, W2, 1099-MISC, 1099-NEC, 4506-T). The product surface extends to batch conversion, e-signatures, PDF/A archiving, watermarking, and HTML-to-PDF conversion.

Soda PDF operates a hybrid go-to-market: a product-led freemium layer of online quick tools (with file-size and daily-usage limits) drives top-of-funnel acquisition into paid annual/desktop subscriptions and online plans, while a dedicated B2B sales team handles volume licensing, multiple deployment options, and dedicated support for enterprise customers. Pricing for paid tiers is not publicly disclosed; financial performance, headcount, and investor ownership are not reported. The entity is a subsidiary of the broader Avanquest Group, with Eric Gareau disclosed as CEO and authorized representative.

Name

Soda PDF

Legal name

Avanquest Software (7270356 Canada Inc.)

Website

https://sodapdf.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Soda PDF, operated by Montreal-based Avanquest Software since 2010, provides PDF creation, editing, conversion, signing, and AI-assisted document tools via Windows desktop, online, and Chrome extension platforms, serving consumers, professionals, and enterprises across 17 languages globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

PDF Software

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAMAMAD

Document Creation & Office Suites

Business & Public Services/Web, Mobile & Digital Platforms/Collaboration, Productivity & Work Platforms

Keywords

• PDF software
• Document management
• PDF editing tools
• PDF conversion
• E-signature solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Montreal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Soda PDF Desktop Subscription/License: Desktop software sold as subscription or perpetual license for Windows, with professional tools for offline work. Includes volume licensing discounts for businesses.
2. Soda PDF Online Subscription: Cloud-based access to all PDF functionalities from any device with built-in cloud storage integration.
3. Free Quick Tools: Free online tools with size limitations (3 MB or less) and daily usage limits (2 files per day) that drive conversions to paid versions.
4. Business/Enterprise Licenses: Volume licensing discounts with multiple deployment options and dedicated support for organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Soda PDF develops and sells PDF software delivered as a Windows desktop application (Soda PDF 15 / Soda PDF Desktop) and a web-based online platform (Soda PDF Online), with an accompanying Chrome browser extension. The software enables users to create, edit, convert, merge, compress, split, sign, secure (256-bit AES), OCR, translate, and summarize PDF documents. AI-powered features (AI Assistant, Translate PDF, AI PDF Summarizer) are offered online, while the desktop product provides full offline professional tools. Enterprise/business customers receive volume licensing, multiple deployment options, and dedicated support.

Product overview

Soda PDF is a comprehensive PDF software solution offered as a unified product available in two deployment modes: desktop software for Windows and a web-based online platform. The core offering centers on Soda PDF 15, the latest version featuring a refreshed interface and improved engine. The product portfolio includes full-featured PDF tools organized into categories: AI-powered tools (AI Assistant for document Q&A, Translate PDF, AI PDF Summarizer), organization tools (Merge, Compress, Split), editing tools (Edit PDF, Resize, Rotate, Delete Pages, Add Watermark), conversion tools (PDF to/from Word, Excel, PPT, TXT, images), security tools (Password Protection with 256-bit AES, Unlock, E-Sign), and viewing tools (PDF Reader, OCR). The online platform offers exclusive AI features while the desktop software provides full offline capabilities. Additional offerings include a Google Chrome browser extension, form templates service, and enterprise business solutions with volume licensing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Soda PDF Desktop (Soda PDF 15) Flagship Windows desktop PDF application (Soda PDF 15) that provides professional tools for creating, editing, converting, merging, compressing, splitting, signing, and securing PDF documents offline; available via subscription or perpetual license.
• Soda PDF Online

Quantifiable outcome

• Translate PDFs while keeping original layout intact
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Google DrivecoreTechnology or IntegrationCloud storage integration allowing users to access and save files from Google Drive directly through Soda PDF Online platform.
• DropboxcoreTechnology or IntegrationCloud storage integration allowing users to access and save files from Dropbox directly through Soda PDF Online platform.
• Microsoft SharePointcoreTechnology or IntegrationEnterprise integration for accessing and managing PDF files within Microsoft SharePoint environment.
• Google ChromecoreTechnology or IntegrationSoda PDF Extension available on Chrome Web Store for seamless PDF editing directly from Google Chrome browser.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Adobe Acrobat: Adobe Acrobat is the incumbent standard for PDF creation, editing, e-signature, and OCR. Soda PDF explicitly positions itself as 'the best alternative to Adobe Acrobat,' making it the most direct head-to-head competitor in the same product category and customer segments.
• Foxit Software: Foxit offers a PDF editor suite (Foxit PDF Editor) and developer SDKs targeting both end users and enterprise IT. It competes with Soda PDF across the same desktop + cloud deployment model and similar price-conscious Acrobat-alternative positioning.
• Wondershare PDFelement: PDFelement is a cross-platform PDF editor with desktop, mobile, and online tiers, including OCR, conversion, and form-filling features. It targets the same SMB and prosumer segment as Soda PDF with comparable pricing and feature scope.
• Nitro Software: Nitro provides a PDF productivity and e-signature platform aimed squarely at enterprise and SMB buyers. It overlaps directly with Soda PDF for Business on volume licensing, deployment flexibility, and document workflow features.
• Smallpdf: Smallpdf is a web-first PDF utility suite with a freemium model and Pro subscription, covering merge, compress, convert, edit, and e-sign. It competes most directly with Soda PDF Online for the same browser-based, light-tool user.
• iLovePDF: iLovePDF offers a suite of free online PDF tools plus a premium tier, with strong international and mobile usage. It is a direct freemium competitor to Soda PDF's quick-tools funnel and shares the same horizontal use-case focus.
• Readdle (PDF Expert): PDF Expert is a premium PDF editor for macOS and iOS with editing, annotation, and e-signature features. It is comparable to Soda PDF for users who need a polished, platform-native experience, particularly on Apple devices.
• PDFescape: PDFescape provides a free in-browser PDF editor plus a premium desktop version, competing in the same entry-level editing and form-filling use cases that Soda PDF targets with its online quick tools.

Broad incumbents

• Microsoft (PDF features in Edge, Word, OneDrive): Microsoft bundles basic PDF viewing, annotation, and form-fill capabilities into Edge, Word, and OneDrive. As a broad incumbent, it competes at the free tier of Soda PDF's funnel and increasingly in enterprise workflows bundled with Microsoft 365.
• Google (PDF in Drive and Chrome): Google Drive and Chrome include native PDF viewing, search, and lightweight editing, and Google Docs can export to PDF. As a broad incumbent, it competes with Soda PDF Online for users whose PDF needs are incidental to their primary cloud productivity stack.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sodapdf
• Facebookfacebook.com/sodapdf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/soda-pdf

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Soda PDF