File, document and everyday web utilities
Browser-based PDF toolkits
Tools that merge, split, compress, convert, edit, sign, OCR and redact PDF files, mostly running locally in the browser so documents never get uploaded, for everyday users handling private documents.
Built for: Privacy-conscious everyday PDF users
Projects since May 04
247
Different builders
237
Last 4 weeks vs 8 before
-3%
AI is the core
3.2%
Projects per week
Mostly web app (60%), desktop app (15%), browser extension (8.9%) · from r/SideProject, r/SaaS, r/IMadeThis, r/chrome_extensions
Latest
- TypePDF — Lets users click anywhere on an uploaded PDF and type text directly, then export the edited file.“I Made a PDF Tool Where You Just Click Anywhere and Start Typing. No Cumbersome Menus.”
- maskyourdocs — Redacts sensitive text from PDFs, Word files, images and text files in the browser so the removed content is permanently deleted.“llm quoted me back my blood reports so i built this app”
- Doczi AI Scanner — Scans documents with automatic edge detection and perspective correction, and bundles PDF merge, split, compress, OCR and signing tools.“Doczi AI Scanner - All-in-One AI Document Scanner & Unlocked PDF Editor”
- PDFify — Converts images to PDF offline and offers compressing, password-locking and organizing PDFs on an Android phone.“[ShowHN] I built a free Android PDF app as an Indian indie developer — no watermarks, 100% offline”
- Convert Anything — Converts, merges, splits, compresses and edits files such as PDFs and Office documents in the visitor's browser.“[For Sale] Convert Anything — 35-tool file converter (iLovePDF alternative), 0 running costs, 149 USD”
- PRIVACUT — Detects sensitive information in PDFs, lets users review flagged items, and permanently redacts them before sharing.“I built a PDF redaction SaaS. Now I’m trying to figure out who actually needs it.”
- PDF Dark Mode — Applies an adjustable dark overlay with darkness and contrast controls to PDFs open in the browser.“I built an open-source dark mode for PDFs — adjustable darkness/contrast, pay-once Pro, no account”
- AURA PDF — Opens and works with PDF files on the device without an internet connection.“AURA PDF - Offline & Private”
- BytePDF — Views, edits, merges, splits, compresses, OCRs and converts PDF files locally on Windows.“BytePDF: my Windows PDF toolkit — making all 35 tools free in the next update”
- HectorPDF — Scans paper documents, runs on-device OCR, annotates and edits PDFs, and merges, splits, reorders and compresses them on Android.“I built HectorPDF for Android: scanning, OCR, annotations and PDF organization”
- ClientPDF — Merges, splits, compresses, signs, OCRs and redacts PDFs entirely in the browser without uploading files to a server.“I started building a PDF tool in Jan 2026 because I was skeptical of uploading private documents to a random website”
- PDFFreeHub — Converts, merges, splits, compresses and rotates PDF files directly in the browser.“I built a free online PDF tools website — looking for feedback”
- Processes PDF files locally in the browser so documents never leave the user's device.“I built a privacy-first PDF tool that works locally — looking for honest feedback”
- ReadFaster — Displays PDF text one word at a time in a fixed spot with a highlighted focus letter, so the reader's eyes do not have to move.“I built a Mac app that lets you read PDFs without moving your eyes and faster too”
- Webrender PDF — Selects web page content and saves it as an annotatable PDF with a real text layer.“Webrender PDF. Select web content, annotate/mark-up then save as a PDF to print and download. https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/webrender-pdf/onebodmdmkchliadncoknedmnimppadp”
- PDFreflow — Reflows the layout of text-based PDFs into a single readable column with optional true dark mode on mobile.“I built a mobile e-reader with its own PDF layout engine, because two-column papers on a phone are unreadable”
- PDF Merger — Merges multiple PDF files in the browser with drag-and-drop reordering, without uploading them to a server.“I built a 100% local PDF merger — no uploads, no tracking, just a single HTML file”
- Provides a collection of browser-based tools for compressing, converting, splitting and merging PDFs and images, plus calculators and a regex tester.“Made a free PDF/image toolkit with 68+ tools, no signup required”
- KuickKonvert — Converts files between PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and image formats, and edits PDFs by merging, splitting, compressing, rotating, watermarking and password-protecting them.“I launched KuickKonvert – 16 free file conversion tools (PDF, Word, Excel, PPT, images), no sign-up”
- Arc PDF — Reads, annotates, edits, OCRs and summarizes PDF documents in a lightweight native macOS app.“I made an 11.6 MB PDF app that reads, annotates, edits, OCRs, and does AI — free on the Mac App Store”
Most discussed
- linglo — Translates PDF documents into other languages.“got my first paying customer today !!”
- PDF Score — Lets users view and work with PDF documents in the browser, with text-to-speech and text search features.“What problem is your vibecoded app solving?”
- RevPDF — Edits PDFs offline, including permanent redaction, find-and-replace, form filling, and inline text and image editing.“My offline, zero-signup PDF editor just crossed 100K+ downloads (4.6⭐). Here is a demo of the local text editing tools.”
- PDFPookie — Edits, merges, splits, compresses and converts PDF files in a web browser.“I got tired of ugly PDF tools, so I built my own 😭”
- Parses a fixed-width AS/400 ERP stock PDF report into a filterable Excel spreadsheet via a small GUI.“Today I vibe coded a little app that will save me 30 minutes a week and save my company thousands of dollars”
- Provides privacy-first PDF and image tools in a website that is still in development.“What was your win this week??”
- PDFx — Lays out multiple PDFs and images on a 2D canvas so pages can be arranged, combined and viewed in one file.“My bank asked for 17 PDFs for a mortgage, so I built this”
- Lets users build PDF templates with drag and drop editing and generate them through an API for automation.“launching my first saas soon”
- GridPDF — Provides 28 PDF tools such as merge, split, compress, and Word to PDF that run entirely in the browser without uploading files.“> I built a free, offline, privacy-first SmallPDF alternative after my sister was charged 9usd to compress her CV - no backend, all client-side”
- PDFSnap — Provides browser-based PDF tools such as password protection, signing, OCR, summarizing and page organizing without uploading files to a server.“I built a free PDF tool site and made a video proving it beats iLovePDF's paid plan — completely free vs their premium tier”