19 Best Free Online PDF Tools in 2026 (Private, No Signup Needed)
The main PDF tools grouped by the job you need to do. All of them run in your browser, so your file is never uploaded.
Most online PDF tools ask you to upload your file first. The ones below don't. Each one runs in your browser, so the file stays on your device, and the tools are free to use with no sign-up and no watermark on the output.
We picked 19 tools that cover the jobs people search for most: merging, splitting, compressing, converting, protecting and checking PDFs. Each entry says what the tool does, when you need it, and how it helps in practice. All 19 are 100% private.
Merge, split and arrange pages
1. Merge PDF
Combines several PDF files into one, in the order you choose.
When you need it
- You have scanned pages or forms that must go out as one attachment.
- You want a cover letter, a CV and certificates in a single application file.
Practical use case
A job applicant has a CV, a cover letter and three certificates as separate PDFs. Merging them in order gives the recruiter one file to open, instead of four attachments that can arrive out of order.
2. Split PDF
Pulls selected pages or page ranges out into a new file.
When you need it
- You need to send only one chapter or one invoice from a long file.
- A scanner saved a whole batch as one PDF and you want the parts separately.
Practical use case
A bank statement covers a whole year, but the lender asks only for the last three months. Splitting out those pages gives a small file with just the statements they requested.
3. Delete PDF Pages
Click the pages you do not want, then download the rest as a new file.
When you need it
- A blank or duplicate page slipped into a scan.
- A form has a page you do not want to send, such as an internal note.
Practical use case
A landlord's copy of a lease includes an internal checklist page. Clicking that page and downloading the rest gives a clean copy to send, while the original stays as it was.
4. Rotate PDF
Turns every page 90, 180 or 270 degrees.
When you need it
- A phone scan came out sideways.
- A landscape table was saved as portrait pages.
Practical use case
A student photographs a printed timetable in landscape, and the PDF comes out on its side. Rotating all the pages 90 degrees fixes the whole document in one step.
5. Clean Scanned Book Pages and Split Them in Half
Makes faded scans easier to read, and splits two-page spreads into single pages.
When you need it
- A scanned book shows two printed pages side by side on each sheet.
- An old scan is faint and hard to read.
Practical use case
A reader scans a textbook on a flatbed, and each sheet shows two pages. Splitting the spreads gives single pages that are easier to read on a phone.
Convert to and from PDF
6. Image to PDF
Turns JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF or BMP images, or a ZIP of images, into one PDF.
When you need it
- You photographed several receipts and need one file for an expense claim.
- You have a ZIP of images that should be a single document.
Practical use case
An employee photographs five receipts for an expense claim. Converting the photos to one PDF gives the finance team a single file to attach.
7. Text, Markdown, HTML and Comic to PDF
Converts a .txt, .md or .html file, or a .cbz comic, to PDF.
When you need it
- You have notes in a text or Markdown file and need a printable copy.
- You want to read a comic on a device that opens PDFs.
Practical use case
A developer keeps meeting notes in Markdown and wants to share them with a manager who prefers PDF. Converting the file keeps the headings and lists in place.
8. PDF Generator
Fills an HTML template with JSON data to make invoices, receipts or certificates, one PDF per record.
When you need it
- You need the same document for many people, such as certificates.
- Invoices or receipts should come from a list of orders.
Practical use case
A training institute has 200 participants listed in JSON. The template fills in each name on a certificate, producing one PDF per person.
9. Extract Text from PDF
Copies or downloads the text of a PDF as a plain .txt file.
When you need it
- You want to reuse text from a report in another document.
- You need to search a PDF's text in a plain text editor.
Practical use case
A researcher needs the methods section of a paper for a comparison table. Extracting the text gives a plain file to copy from, without retyping. It works only when the PDF already has text; for a scan, use OCR.
10. Free PDF OCR
Reads the text in a scanned PDF, so you can search or copy it.
When you need it
- A scanned contract needs a clause found by search.
- You want to copy a paragraph from a photographed document.
Practical use case
A landlord scanned a 20-page agreement with no text layer. Running OCR makes the deposit clause searchable with Ctrl+F. Accuracy depends on the quality of the scan, so check the result against the page.
Make a PDF smaller or repair it
11. Compress PDF
Offers low, medium and high compression, or fits the file under 100 KB, 200 KB, 500 KB or 1 MB.
When you need it
- An email or upload portal rejects the file for being too large.
- A scan has large images that do not need full quality.
Practical use case
A job portal caps uploads at 200 KB. Choosing that size gives a PDF that fits, and you can compare the low, medium and high versions to see which one keeps the text readable.
12. Repair PDF
Redraws each page of a damaged file so it opens again.
When you need it
- A PDF will not open or shows errors in the viewer.
- A download was interrupted and the file may be incomplete.
Practical use case
A download stops halfway and the viewer says the file is corrupt. Repairing it redraws the pages that are still in the file, so they can be read and saved again. It cannot restore data that never reached your device.
13. Compress Image
Fits a JPG, PNG or WebP under a target size.
When you need it
- A photo must be under a form's upload limit.
- A profile picture needs a smaller file.
Practical use case
An exam form accepts photos under 50 KB. Choosing the 50 KB target gives a file the portal accepts, without resizing the photo by hand.
Protect and check a PDF
14. Password Protect PDF
Adds AES-256 encryption with a password you choose.
When you need it
- A document with personal data is going out by email.
- Only one person should be able to open the file.
Practical use case
An accountant sends a tax summary by email. The file is encrypted with a password, which is sent in a separate message. Keep the password safe: it cannot be recovered if it is lost.
15. Add Watermark to PDF
Stamps text such as CONFIDENTIAL or DRAFT on every page, with a preview first.
When you need it
- A draft is shared for review and must not be mistaken for a final version.
- A document goes to a client and should carry a confidentiality mark.
Practical use case
A consultant sends a draft proposal to a client. A DRAFT watermark on every page makes clear it is not final, and the preview lets the consultant check the placement before saving.
16. PDF Sensitive Info Finder
Scans a file for emails, phone numbers, card numbers and ID numbers such as Aadhaar and PAN.
When you need it
- You are about to share a file that may contain personal data.
- A document goes to a third party and must be checked first.
Practical use case
Before sending a scanned form to a vendor, a team lead runs the scan. The results show where personal details appear, so they can be removed before the file is shared.
17. PDF Redaction Checker
Checks whether blacked-out text in a PDF can still be recovered.
When you need it
- You have covered text in a PDF and want to know whether it is really gone.
- A file with black boxes is about to be shared publicly.
Practical use case
A legal team blacks out names in a document before filing it. The checker shows whether the covered text can still be recovered, so the team knows whether to redact again before the file goes out.
18. Why Black Boxes Don't Redact a PDF
Explains the common redaction mistakes and how to remove text properly.
When you need it
- You are about to black out text in a PDF and want to do it correctly.
- You need to explain to a colleague why a box is not enough.
Practical use case
A team member draws black boxes over names and sends the file. This article explains why the text can still be copied from under the box, and what to do before sharing.
19. Compare PDF Files
Shows which text was added, removed or edited between two versions, page by page.
When you need it
- A contract came back with edits and you need to see exactly what changed.
- Two drafts of a report need checking for edits.
Practical use case
A client returns a contract with changes. Comparing it with the version you sent shows the added and removed clauses page by page, so you review only what changed.
Which one should you use?
Start with the job, not the tool. A scan that is too big to email needs Compress PDF. A scan you want to search needs PDF OCR. A file with blacked-out parts that must stay private needs the Redaction Checker before you share it.
Sensitive files, such as a contract, an ID or a medical report, can use any tool here. To check the privacy claim yourself, open your browser's developer tools (F12), choose the Network tab, use the tool, and see that no request carries your file.
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Questions
Are these tools really free?
Yes. Each tool is free to use, with no sign-up and no watermark added to your output.
Is my file uploaded when I use these tools?
No. Every tool in this list runs in your browser, so the file stays on your device and is never uploaded.