PDF Guides & Tips
Practical how-tos for working with PDFs -- and straight answers about what actually happens to your files.
How to Merge PDF Files Without Uploading Them Anywhere
Combine multiple PDFs into one file entirely in your browser -- no upload to a server, no account, no signup. Here is how it works and why it matters.
Is It Safe to Compress a PDF Online?
Compressing a PDF online is safe if the tool never uploads your file -- but rasterization-based compression also trades away selectable text. Here is what actually happens and when to use it.
Optimize & EditHow to Sign a PDF Online for Free
Draw, type, or upload a signature and place it on a PDF for free, without an account and without uploading the file to a server. Here is the exact process and what this kind of signature does and does not do.
ConvertPDF to JPG vs PDF to PNG: Which Should You Use?
JPG and PNG both turn PDF pages into images, but they compress very differently. Here is how to pick the right format based on what your pages actually contain.
ConvertRedact PDF Online Free: Remove Content, Not Just Cover It
Drawing a black box over text in a PDF often does not remove it -- the text can still be selected, copied, or extracted. Here is how to actually redact a PDF for free, in your browser.
OrganizeHow to Split a PDF into Multiple Files
Split a PDF into multiple files by page range, or break every page into its own file -- entirely in your browser, no upload, no signup. Here is exactly how.
OrganizeHow to Reorder, Delete, and Rotate PDF Pages
Two free browser-based tools handle page management differently: Organize PDF for page-by-page drag, rotate and delete, and Rotate PDF for spinning an entire document at once.
ConvertHow to Add a Watermark to a PDF for Free
Stamp a diagonal text watermark like "CONFIDENTIAL" or "DRAFT" across every page of a PDF, free, with no signup and no upload -- the whole thing runs in your browser.
PrivacyHow to Convert JPG or PNG to PDF for Free
Combine one or more JPG or PNG images into a single PDF entirely in your browser -- no upload, no account, no watermark. Here is the exact process.
PrivacyHow to Extract Text from a PDF for Free
Pull the text content out of a PDF entirely in your browser -- copy it directly or download it as a .txt file. Here is how it works, and the one important limitation to know before you start.
Optimize & EditHow to Fill Out a PDF Form Online for Free
Fill in text fields, checkboxes, dropdowns and radio buttons on a PDF form entirely in your browser -- no Acrobat, no account, no upload. Here is the exact process and what the tool can and cannot do.
Optimize & EditHow to Add Page Numbers to a PDF for Free
Number every page of a PDF entirely in your browser -- choose the position and starting number, no upload, no account, no watermark. Here is the exact process.
PrivacyHow to View a PDF Online Without Uploading It
Most "view PDF online" sites are converter tools in disguise -- they upload your file even when all you wanted was to look at it. Here is how to open a PDF in your browser with nothing sent anywhere.
Optimize & EditHow to Crop a PDF Online for Free
Trim excess margins or white space from a PDF entirely in your browser -- drag a crop box over the page or enter exact measurements. No upload, no signup.
PrivacyHow to Edit PDF Metadata: Title, Author, and Keywords
Fix a PDF that shows the wrong title in a browser tab, or clear metadata before sharing a file externally -- edit a PDF's title, author, subject, and keywords entirely in your browser.
ConvertHow to Convert a PDF to Black and White (Grayscale) for Free
Convert a PDF to grayscale entirely in your browser -- useful for saving ink when printing or meeting a black-and-white submission requirement. Here is how it works and the tradeoff to know about first.