Every PDF tool you need.
None of the uploads.
Compress, merge, convert, sign, secure and check PDFs with 17tools that run locally in your browser. Free, watermark-free, no account, and no upload step to wait through.
Recompress embedded images locally and watch the size fall.
Open the compressorMost Popular PDF Tools
Compress, merge, convert, sign, secure and check — every tool runs locally in your browser. Filter by job, or search for the one you need.
17 tools, one click from the navbar
Compress PDF
Shrink image-heavy PDFs locally.
Compress & OptimizeMerge PDF
Combine files into one, in your order.
Merge & OrganizeCompress to a Target Size
Try 500 KB, 2 MB or 5 MB. Check the result.
Compress & OptimizePDF to Word
Visual page copy or editable Word text · beta.
Convert & OCRWord to PDF
Turn .docx into a clean, searchable PDF.
Convert & OCRExcel to PDF
Print every sheet as a tidy grid.
Convert & OCRSign a PDF
Real PKCS#7 signatures, signed on device.
Security & PrivacyPassword Protect
AES-256 encryption with reader permissions.
Security & PrivacyRotate PDF
Fix sideways scans, one file or a batch.
Merge & OrganizeRedact Text
Destroy the text, then verify it's gone.
Security & PrivacyOCR a Scan
Make scans searchable, on your device.
Convert & OCRRename PDFs in Bulk
One pattern, dozens of files, live preview.
Merge & OrganizeRemove Metadata
See and scrub hidden author data.
Security & PrivacyCheck Before Sending
Portal limits, metadata and redaction checks.
Security & PrivacyCompare Versions
Line-level diff between two drafts.
Compare & TeamSecure Cleanup
Rebuild pages-only: scripts and history gone.
Compress & OptimizeTeam Workspace
Share activity, not documents.
Compare & TeamStart from the limit you're actually up against
Portals publish a hard ceiling and reject anything above it. Pick the one blocking you and the compressor opens already pointed at that target — no guessing at quality settings.
12 use-case pages in total — or start with the plain compressor.
Any tool, three simple steps
No account, no install, no upload queue — pick a tool and your browser does the work while you stay in the tab.
Pick a tool
17 tools organized by job — compression, merging, conversion, security. One click from the navbar, the command palette (⌘K) or the grid below opens the workspace.
Add your PDFs
Files are read locally and stay in this tab. Published limits keep processing fast: 150MB per file on desktop, 50MB on mobile, up to 20 files for a merge.
Download the result
A browser worker does the work and hands you a file — no upload, no waiting on a server queue. Keep your original; every output is a separate download.
Your file never needs to leave the device
Upload-based tools take your PDF to their servers. BytesPDF reads and rewrites selected PDF content in browser workers instead — device security and the eventual recipient still matter.
Browser-local PDF work
Selected PDF content is processed in browser workers and is not uploaded to BytesPDF servers. Working blobs stay in this tab's memory — not in storage, not in a queue, not on a disk we own.
Your file
stays put
Browser worker
does the work
Download
you keep it
No upload · No watermark · No account required
No upload wait
Processing uses your device instead of waiting for a PDF upload; time still depends on file complexity and available resources.
Reduced data exposure
PDF content is processed locally and is not sent to BytesPDF servers. Your device and destination portal remain part of the security boundary.
Free, with clear limits
No watermarks. Desktop files are capped at 150MB; mobile sessions use lower limits to protect browser memory. The site is ad-supported — an ad-free Premium tier is planned, not required.
The one row the other homepages can't fill
iLovePDF, Smallpdf and PDF24 all process your document on their servers — that is the deal, and their security pages say so. Here is the same deal set out as rows, so you can check it instead of taking a badge for it.
Where your file goes
Others:Uploaded to the provider's servers, processed there, then deleted on their schedule.
BytesPDF:Read and rewritten inside your browser tab. Never uploaded to BytesPDF servers.
Account needed
Others:Usually required for repeat or larger jobs, with free-tier usage quotas.
BytesPDF:Not required for any of the 16 core tools — no sign-up wall to process a file.
What limits you
Others:The provider's quota: tasks per hour, pages per document, or a paywall.
BytesPDF:Your own device memory, published up front: 150MB desktop, 50MB mobile.
After the page loads
Others:Still needs the round trip: your file up, their output back down.
BytesPDF:Processing stays local, so the file itself never needs the connection.
What it costs
Others:Free tier plus a subscription prompt for the tools people actually need.
BytesPDF:Ad-supported and free, no watermark. An ad-free tier is planned, not required.
Our limits are published, not discovered at the paywall.
Answers & Tool Comparisons
29 direct answers about compression, quality and privacy, plus honest comparisons with the tools you are probably weighing up.
Most-asked PDF questions
- Why Is My PDF File So Big? A 30-Second Diagnosis
- Why Is PDF Compression Not Making My File Smaller?
- Does Compressing a PDF Reduce Quality?
- Why Won't My PDF Upload Even Though It Is Under the Size Limit?
- Is Browser-Based PDF Compression Safe?
- Can You Compress a Digitally Signed PDF?
- Why Is a Scanned PDF So Large?
- Does PDF Compression Affect OCR Accuracy?
Frequently Asked Questions
Understand the processing model, practical limits, and the checks that still matter.
Still unsure about something?
17 tools, one processing model. If your question is not answered here, ask us directly.
Is it free, and what file limits apply?
The core tools are free. Desktop PDF inputs are limited to 150MB; mobile compression and merge sessions use a 50MB limit. Desktop merge supports up to 20 files and mobile merge up to 10, subject to available browser memory.
How does BytesPDF process files privately?
Selected PDF content is read and rewritten in browser workers and is not uploaded to BytesPDF servers. Your device and browser remain part of the security boundary.
Is BytesPDF safe for sensitive documents?
PDF content is processed locally and is not uploaded to BytesPDF servers. Security still depends on your device, browser, extensions, downloaded-file handling, and the portal where you later submit the result.
Does BytesPDF work offline?
BytesPDF requires a connection to load the site and its assets. Once the required code is available in the current session, the selected PDF is processed locally and is not uploaded to BytesPDF servers.
What happens to my files after processing?
Working PDF data remains in this tab's memory and is not stored on BytesPDF servers or in persistent browser storage. Closing the tab releases it; any file you download remains where you saved it.
Latest PDF Guides & Insights
Learn best practices for PDF compression, security, and document optimization.
Document workflowsHow to Combine PDF Files on Mac: Preview and Browser Workflows
Use Preview for individual-page assembly or a browser-local merger for whole files. Preserve originals and verify the combined document, not just its thumbnails.
Privacy and securityHow to Password Protect a PDF on Mac Without Acrobat
Follow Apple's Preview password workflow or use browser-local encryption. An open password protects access; permission flags and a locked-file icon mean different things.
Compression guideHow to Reduce PDF Size on Mac: Preview and Browser Options
Two local workflows for a smaller PDF on Mac: Preview's export filter or browser-based quality controls. Keep the original, check the bytes and inspect the copy.
Document workflowsCollege Financial Aid Uploads: IDOC 9 MB, AMCAS 5 MB, and the Portals With Tiny Caps
Aid season runs on upload boxes: College Board IDOC at 9 MB per file, AMCAS letters at 5 MB, the AAMC letter portal at 1 MB, plus school portals that publish their own caps. Here is how to fit every one of them without re-scanning.
Document workflowsCertificate Password Rejected When Signing a PDF (PFX/PKCS#12)
The password opens the bank app and fails the signer. Certificate password errors are often algorithm-era mismatches, not memory slips — diagnose the container before you reset anything.
Document workflowsCompress PDF for Grant Application Uploads (Funder Limits)
Funder portals rarely publish a friendly compressor — they publish a megabyte cap and a deadline. Build the pack to fit without crushing the figures reviewers must read.
Ready to work with your PDFs?
Pick any of the 17 tools — everything runs in your browser, and the file never leaves this tab.
No account · No watermark · No PDF upload