The Problem with “Free” PDF Tools
Most online PDF tools advertise as free but come with catches that you discover mid-workflow:
- Daily limits — Smallpdf allows 2 tasks/day. Need to merge and then compress? That’s your quota.
- File size limits — iLovePDF caps free users at 25MB. A single presentation with images can exceed that.
- Account required — Adobe wants your email before you can process a single file.
- Privacy concerns — Every file is uploaded to their servers for processing.
In 2026, you shouldn’t have to choose between convenience and privacy. AllTools offers 20 PDF tools that run entirely in your browser — no uploads, no accounts, no limits. Here’s every tool, what it does, and when to use it.
Merge and Split
PDF Merger
Combine multiple PDF files into a single document. Drag and drop files, reorder pages, and merge — all in your browser. Essential for assembling report packages, combining invoices, or creating unified document sets.
Use it: PDF Merger
PDF Splitter
Extract specific pages or page ranges from a PDF. Specify exact pages (3, 7, 12) or ranges (10-20) to create new, smaller documents. Perfect for extracting chapters, separating combined invoices, or creating handouts from presentations.
Use it: PDF Splitter
PDF Page Remover
Delete specific pages from a PDF — the inverse of splitting. Remove blank pages from scans, delete confidential sections before sharing, or clean up duplicated pages.
Use it: PDF Page Remover
PDF Page Counter
Instantly report page count plus document metadata — file size, PDF version, encryption status, author, creation date. Quick preparation before splitting or printing.
Use it: PDF Page Counter
Compress and Optimize
PDF Compressor
Reduce PDF file size by optimizing internal structure — object streams, font subsetting, and image recompression. Adjustable quality slider lets you find the perfect balance between file size and visual quality. A 50MB brochure can compress to 5MB while maintaining readability.
Use it: PDF Compressor
Convert From PDF
PDF to Word
Convert PDFs to editable .docx files for Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or LibreOffice. Extracts text, formatting, and images. Ideal for editing contracts, updating resumes, or repurposing PDF content.
Use it: PDF to Word
PDF to Text
Extract all text content from a PDF. Works with text-based PDFs (not scanned images). Copy to clipboard or download as .txt. Perfect for indexing, searching, or migrating content.
Use it: PDF to Text
PDF to Images
Convert each PDF page to JPG, PNG, or WebP. Control resolution from 72 DPI (screen) to 300 DPI (print). Great for creating thumbnails, extracting charts, or archiving pages visually.
Use it: PDF to Images
PDF to HTML
Convert PDF content to web-ready HTML. Makes PDF content accessible, responsive, and SEO-friendly. Useful for publishing reports, catalogs, and documentation on the web.
Use it: PDF to HTML
PDF to Markdown
Convert PDF content to Markdown format — ideal for migrating documentation to GitHub, static sites, or any Markdown-based system. Detects headings, lists, and paragraph structure.
Use it: PDF to Markdown
PDF to JSON
Extract structured data including text content, page numbers, and positional data. Essential for developers building document automation, invoice processing, or data extraction pipelines.
Use it: PDF to JSON
Convert To PDF
Images to PDF
Convert JPG, PNG, or WebP images into a multi-page PDF. Control page size (A4, Letter, custom), orientation, and margins. Perfect for creating portfolios, digitizing receipts, or assembling scanned pages.
Use it: Images to PDF
Security and Protection
PDF Password Adder
Encrypt PDFs with AES-128 or AES-256 encryption. Set open passwords (required to view) and owner passwords (restricting print, copy, edit). Essential for protecting sensitive documents before sharing.
Use it: PDF Password Adder
PDF Password Remover
Remove owner password restrictions from PDFs you legitimately own — unlocking print, copy, and edit. For encrypted files, provide the password to produce an unlocked copy. Your passwords never leave your browser.
Use it: PDF Password Remover
PDF Watermark
Add text or image watermarks to PDF pages. Apply CONFIDENTIAL, DRAFT, or custom text at any angle, size, and opacity. Protects intellectual property and marks document status.
Use it: PDF Watermark
View and Edit Metadata
PDF Rotator
Fix page orientation — correct sideways scanned pages, rotate individual pages or ranges in 90-degree increments. Essential for cleaning up scanned documents.
Use it: PDF Rotator
PDF Metadata Viewer
View all embedded metadata — author, creation date, creator application, keywords. Important for privacy: the Author field often contains your full name.
Use it: PDF Metadata Viewer
PDF Metadata Editor
Modify title, author, subject, keywords, and date fields. Clean sensitive metadata before sharing or add proper attribution for document management.
Use it: PDF Metadata Editor
Interactive PDFs
PDF Form Filler
Complete interactive PDF forms (AcroForms) in the browser — text fields, checkboxes, radio buttons, dropdowns. Critical for tax forms, medical intake forms, and government applications.
Use it: PDF Form Filler
PDF Annotator
Add highlights, text comments, shapes, and freehand drawings. Annotations are saved as standard PDF annotation objects compatible with all viewers. Perfect for document review and editorial feedback.
Use it: PDF Annotator
Why Browser-Based PDF Tools?
Traditional PDF tools require either desktop software (Adobe Acrobat, $156/year) or server uploads (Smallpdf, iLovePDF). Browser-based tools offer the best of both worlds:
- Free — No subscription, no hidden fees
- Private — Files stay on your device, never uploaded
- Instant — No upload/download latency
- Cross-platform — Works on any device with a browser
- Unlimited — No daily operation limits
AllTools uses pdf-lib (for PDF creation and manipulation) and PDF.js (for rendering and text extraction) — both open-source JavaScript libraries that run entirely in your browser.
Comparison Table
| Feature | AllTools | Smallpdf | iLovePDF | Adobe Acrobat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $12/mo | $7/mo | $13-23/mo |
| Upload required | Never | Always | Always | Always |
| Daily limits | None | 2/day | Limited | 1-2 free |
| Account needed | No | Yes | Optional | Yes |
| PDF tools count | 20 | ~21 | ~25 | ~15 |
| Total tools | 562 | ~21 | ~25 | ~15 |
| File size limit | None | 5MB free | 25MB free | 100MB |
| Privacy | 100% local | Cloud | Cloud | Cloud |
| Offline support | Yes | No | No | Desktop only |
FAQ
Are browser-based PDF tools as good as desktop software?
For structural operations (merge, split, compress, convert), yes. Browser-based tools use the same PDF specification and produce equivalent output. For advanced features like OCR, text editing within PDFs, and interactive form creation, desktop software like Adobe Acrobat still has an edge. But for the tasks 90% of people need, browser tools are identical in quality.
Is there a file size limit?
No artificial limit. The practical constraint is your browser’s available memory — modern devices handle PDFs of 100-200MB comfortably. For extremely large files, the PDF Splitter can break them into smaller pieces first.
Can I process sensitive documents safely?
Yes. AllTools processes PDFs entirely in your browser. Files are never uploaded to any server. This makes it safe for contracts, financial documents, medical records, and any sensitive material. When you close the browser tab, all temporary data is cleared from memory.
Do these tools work on mobile?
Yes. All PDF tools work in mobile browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox). The interface adapts to smaller screens. Processing is slightly slower on mobile due to hardware differences, but all features work identically.
What about scanned PDFs?
Tools like PDF to Text and PDF to Word work with PDFs that contain selectable text. Scanned PDFs (which are essentially images) require OCR to extract text — a server-side process that AllTools doesn’t offer. For scanned documents, Adobe Acrobat or iLovePDF Premium provide OCR.
Can I batch process multiple PDFs?
The PDF Merger accepts multiple files at once. Other tools process one file at a time. For batch workflows, open multiple browser tabs with different tools running simultaneously.
Start Processing PDFs
Every tool above is free, unlimited, and private. Open any tool and start processing — no account, no upload, no waiting.
Browse all 20 PDF tools in the PDF category. For detailed comparisons, see AllTools vs Smallpdf, AllTools vs iLovePDF, and AllTools vs Adobe Acrobat. Have questions? Visit the FAQ. Want a new tool? Suggest it.
