The 18 best free PDF tools of 2026 (no ads, no sign-up)
The full TwoThink PDF toolbox: merge, split, compress, convert to images, add headers and page numbers, extract text and embedded images — all processed locally in your browser.
While tidying up my hard drive I realised I had installed four PDF programs, and 90% of what I did in them was the same: merge, compress, convert to JPG. In the end I bookmarked the 18 TwoThink tools and the desktop apps went dusty. Below they are in the order I use them, one line each, with a direct link.
What this list guarantees
- All of them are free, need no sign-up and show no pop-up ads
- All of them process files locally in your browser — nothing is uploaded
- Every link ends with a trailing slash, so they are easy to bookmark
The 18 tools
1. Merge PDF
Combine several files into one, with drag-to-reorder. → Merge PDF
2. Split PDF
Cut a file by page or range into several files — handy for sending only the last page of a contract. → Split PDF
3. Compress PDF
Halve the file size before emailing it. I use this at least once a week. → Compress PDF
4. PDF to Images
Export every page as JPG / PNG / WebP, with a selectable DPI. → PDF to Images
5. Images to PDF
Turn invoice screenshots and photos into one PDF — a reimbursement lifesaver. → Images to PDF
6. Rotate PDF
A scan came out 90° off? Straighten it in one click. → Rotate PDF
7. Watermark PDF
Centre, tile or diagonal — essential for a portfolio. → Watermark PDF
8. Password Protect PDF
Set an open password before any contract leaves the building. → Password Protect PDF
9. Unlock PDF
Remove the protection when you know the old password, so you can carry on editing. → Unlock PDF
10. Remove PDF Pages
Tick the pages you do not need — more direct than splitting. → Remove PDF Pages
11. Reorder PDF Pages
Drag the thumbnails to rearrange them — ideal for tidying up before a merge. → Reorder PDF Pages
12. Sign PDF
Embed a text, image or handwritten signature in the document. → Sign PDF
13. PDF to Long Image
Stitch pages vertically for social posts and article illustrations. → PDF to Long Image
14. PDF Header, Footer and Page Numbers
Custom headers and footers, with a "Page {page} of {total}" placeholder, and you can skip the cover. → PDF header, footer and page numbers
15. Extract Text from PDF
Instant extraction for text PDFs; scans can go through browser OCR, and you can download a TXT. → Extract Text from PDF
16. Extract Images from PDF
Pull out the embedded Image XObjects (photos, logos) rather than screenshotting pages, and download them as PNGs in bulk. → Extract Images from PDF
17. Compare PDF
Put two PDFs side by side and highlight the text differences. → Compare PDF
18. Redact PDF
Drag over areas to black them out, processed locally. → Redact PDF
Why TwoThink
| Feature | What it means |
|---|---|
| Pure front-end | WASM + JS — you never see a PDF upload in the Network panel |
| No ads | No "watch 15 seconds to continue" |
| No sign-up | Open the URL and start working |
| Free forever | The business model of the tool matrix, not a PDF-shaped subscription |
What it cannot do: it does not edit the body text of a PDF the way Word does. For structural work — merge, split, encrypt, convert — it covers everyday needs.
How I combine them
- Expenses: Images to PDF → Merge → Compress
- Sending a contract out: Compress → Encrypt → Watermark
- Publishing for social: PDF to Long Image or PDF to Images
The end
Eighteen tools sounds like a lot, but remembering one domain is enough. Start by bookmarking Merge PDF and Compress PDF; reach for Extract Text when you need to copy words out, and for Extract Images when you need an embedded picture.
Start with the first tool → open Merge PDF, drop in any two PDFs and see how it feels to get a result in seconds without uploading anything.