Updated 9 October 2026 · 3 tools
Online PDF tools let you merge, split, compress, convert and edit PDF files in your browser instead of installing desktop software. The best free PDF tools below run most of the work on your own device, so your documents are not uploaded, and differ on how many PDF tasks they cover and what else they do alongside PDFs.
| Tool | Best for | PDF tasks | Processing | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ApexPDF | Serious PDF work | 100+ incl. OCR, merge, split, convert | 100% in browser, works offline | Free |
| Hivly | PDFs plus other chores | 16 PDF tools | In browser, no upload | Free |
| ToolSphare | Widest catalogue | Convert, edit and more | Mostly on device | Free |
Best dedicated PDF suite that never uploads your files. ApexPDF offers more than 100 PDF tools, from merge, split and compress to conversion across 40+ formats and OCR, all processed in your browser with WebAssembly. There are no uploads, no sign-up, no watermarks and no quotas, it works offline, and batch processing handles many files at once.
Best when you need PDF tools and everyday utilities in one place. Hivly includes 16 private PDF tools alongside hundreds of other browser utilities for images, files, text, Excel, QR codes and calculators. You open a tool, finish the job and close the tab, with no upload and no sign-up.
Best for the widest catalogue of free online tools. ToolSphare has more than 655 free browser tools across PDFs, images, text and development, in 16 languages, and you can install it as an app on desktop or phone. Most files stay on your device, any uploads are time-limited, and no account is needed.
ApexPDF is the most complete dedicated option, with over 100 PDF tools that run fully in your browser for free.
Yes. ApexPDF and Hivly process PDFs on your own device, so the files are never uploaded.
ApexPDF works offline once loaded, because all processing happens in the browser.
Built a PDF or file tool? List it on Spotlitely and it can be featured in this guide.
Submit your productThis week's race
Ends Sunday
