Notes from
the coffee shop.
Straight talk about working with PDFs — how to edit them for free, whether it’s safe to do it online, and honest alternatives to the paid suites. No fluff, no upsell.
How to add a watermark to a PDF (free, in your browser)
Stamp DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL or a company name on every page of a PDF, free, without uploading it. Pick a layout and opacity, and see what a watermark can't do.
Explainer guides
Understand the conceptsPDF/A vs PDF/X vs regular PDF: what’s the difference?
PDF/A is the ISO standard for archiving, PDF/X is for professional printing, and a regular PDF is for everyday sharing. Here is how to tell them apart.
ReferenceServer-side vs client-side PDF tools: how each works
Server-side PDF tools upload your file and process it remotely. Client-side tools do the work in your browser. How each works, their limits, and how to tell.
ExplainerDoes a PDF contain hidden metadata? How to check it
Yes. Most PDFs carry an author name, the software used and timestamps, and some hide comments or old text. Here is how to check and clean one before sending.
GuideHow to merge PDF files for free, without uploading them
Combine PDFs into one file free in your browser: add files one by one, reorder, rotate or delete pages, then download. No upload, no account, no watermark.
ExplainerWhat does flatten a PDF mean? When and how to do it
Flattening a PDF turns form answers, comments and signatures into part of the page, so they can no longer be changed or removed. Here is when to do it, and how.
ComparisonFree alternatives to paid PDF editors: what you need
If you only edit PDFs now and then, free tools cover signing, merging, redacting and compressing. Here's what each job needs and when paying is worth it.
ExplainerPDF vs Word vs Google Docs: which should you use?
Write in Word or Google Docs while the document is still changing, then send a PDF once it is final. Here is when each fits, how to convert, and what breaks.
ExplainerHow to tell if a PDF was edited: what you can and can't see
Check its properties, fonts, selectable text and any digital signature. These hint a PDF was changed, but only a valid signature or the issuer can confirm it.
How-to guides
Get a task doneHow to add page numbers to a PDF (free, in your browser)
How-toHow to turn photos into one PDF (free, in your browser)
How-toHow to save PDF pages as JPG or PNG images (free)
How-toHow to fill in a PDF form without printing it (free)
How-toHow to convert Word to PDF without Microsoft Word
How-toHow to edit a PDF for free without a watermark
How-toHow to rotate PDF pages permanently (free, in your browser)
How-toHow to make a PDF smaller to email (free, no upload)
How-toHow to extract pages from a PDF (free, in your browser)
How-toHow to sign a PDF without printing it (free, online)
How-toHow to convert a PDF to Word free (and when it works)
Privacy & safety
Is it safe?How to redact a PDF properly (and why black boxes fail)
A black box drawn over text leaves the words in the file. How to redact a PDF so the text is really removed, step by step, and how to check before you send it.
PrivacyAre free online PDF tools safe? A checklist for any site
Some free PDF sites never see your file, others upload and keep it. Use these 12 checks to judge any tool before you give it a contract, payslip or ID scan.
PrivacyIs it safe to edit PDFs online? A practical answer
It is safe when the PDF is edited in your browser and never uploaded. How to check a site in one minute, and how to sign or fix a contract without risk.