Scribd is a popular document-hosting website, and if someone wanted to share a PDF file online, chances are they would upload it to Scribd. However, its interface and restrictive features are less popular, and the company modified its initial business model. Luckily, there are more than enough Scribd alternatives to choose from. Some are simple and offer only basic file upload, while others provide a complete PDF hosting and reading experience. This guide takes a closer look at six of these Scribd alternatives.
Tip: need to share Docs? Learn how to share Google Docs through email.
1. Catbox
Price: Free
Need a little moe? Catbox is a PDF hosting service that lets you upload files up to 200 MB each. That’s twice the amount that Scribd lets you upload. It’s a great alternative for when you really want to show your PDF file to people online but don’t want the hassle of you or your viewer making an account. If you need to store even larger files but only for a short while, it has a service called Litterbox that lets you store your files from one hour to three days at most. The limit is 1GB.
Pros
- Greets you with a different kawaii anime character every time you load the site
- Has a dark mode
- Fast and easy to use
Cons
- Does not allow commercial content without approval
- Stores your IP address (for file recordkeeping)
- Inaccessible in Australia, UK, and within Comcast networks
Good to know: is your PDF too large? Learn how to compress PDF documents on desktop and mobile.
2. Internet Archive
Price: Free
Is your PDF file something you want to save for posterity? Then you may want to try the Internet Archive, which lets you store almost anything for future generations to see. There is no limit to how much you can upload, and you can even add metadata into your uploads to let future readers have an easier time looking at their contents. Just remember that unlike Scribd, you are uploading to what is essentially an online library, so it’s not the place for your private documents. The Internet Archive also sports a viewer for books, letting you read scans and photographs of images without a third-party reader.
Pros
- Upload large files without a problem
- Unlimited storage space
- PDFs are searchable online
Cons
- Unable to upload anonymously
3. DocDroid
Price: Free | $19 per month (Pro)
We’re back to basics with DocDroid, a simple and free file upload service with optional registration. It’s possible to password-protect the files, and registered users can delete their files (which are otherwise deleted after 60 days without activity). DocDroid is a great choice for people who want to preserve at least a bit of privacy when sharing files online, as, unlike Scribd, it’s not possible to search for other users’ files or view their profiles.
Pros
- Provides paid plans with a DocDroid domain
- Allows API access for custom apps
Cons:
- Deletes documents from free plans after 60 days without views
4. Google Docs (via Google Drive)
Price: Free
Maybe you just need something quick and easy to host a PDF file and show it to someone. If you have a Google account, you can always use Google Docs and store the file on Google Drive. You can read, host, and edit PDF files on Google Docs, as well as other file types like DOCX, TXT, MD and PPT. While Scribd has file size limits, Docs doesn’t. But do remember that if you’re going to use this, you’ll be sharing your Google Drive storage with the other stuff you have backed up, so be wary of going over the storage limit for your Google Drive plan.
Pros
- Allows multiple editors on a single file
- Share easily with other people with a single link
- Access files on any device
Cons
- File shares are never anonymous
- Files are not searchable over the Internet
- Reader isn’t great
FYI: confused about how to add hyperlinks in Google Docs? We can help.
5. FlippingBook
Price: $19 per month (Lite) | $44 per month (Starter) | $89 per month (Optimal) | $179 per month (Advanced) | $247 per month (Team)
Suppose you wanted to share a brochure of a fun place with potential tourists. FlippingBook lets you convert PDF files into neatly-tied digital flip books. If nothing else, it’s a neat PDF-hosting service that’s meant to cater to aesthetics. Beside PDF files, the site also lets you import photos so that you can make your own flip books from scratch. Your files are searchable online and readable for free, something that Scribd doesn’t offer.
Pros
- Lets you do everything without downloads
- Allows shared team folders (Team subscription only)
- Gathers data about how people interact with your flip books
Cons
- No free version
- Flipbooks rarely show in Google results
- Unremovable FlippingBook logo, unless you sign up to at least an Optimal subscription
6. PDF Host
Price: Free
This one’s perhaps the simplest of all Scribd alternatives. PDF Host lets you upload almost any number of PDF files anonymously. When you open the site, you’ll see the last file that was uploaded anyone using the site. So far, PDF Host can only store PDF files. You’ll also have to combine your multiple PDF files first so that they can be uploaded in one go. But when you do get to use this service, you’ll get to store your files for as long as you like – free of charge!
Pros
- Allows commercial use of files hosted on its server
- Access your files anywhere
- Find your files faster by inserting tags
Cons
- The reader is about as simple as it can get
- No option to hide your files, even temporarily
In Summary
Despite all of the great alternatives, Scribd still has its uses. After all, it’s as well-known as a self-publishing site for e-books as Wattpad is for stories. Plus, you earn something based on views. But here’s the catch: not everything published online is meant to be blocked behind a paywall. This could be a draft you want to share with your beta readers or a handy guide you want to show your students.
At that point, hosting your files on Scribd would be far less than ideal. If you’re looking for something similar to what Scribd was a decade ago, then you just may find one of these Scribd alternatives more useful.
Need to edit your PDF? This guide shows you four ways to cut, copy, and paste text in PDF files.
Image credit: Unsplash. All screenshots by Terenz Jomar Dela Cruz.
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