Best Free Online PDF Tools in 2026: Complete Roundup

Best free online PDF tools in 2026 reviewed and compared on ConvertKr

Why You Need Reliable PDF Tools in 2026

PDFs remain the universal standard for sharing documents. Whether you’re a student submitting assignments, a freelancer sending invoices, or a business professional preparing contracts, you need tools that handle PDFs quickly, securely, and without breaking the bank. The problem is that most desktop software comes with expensive subscriptions, and many online tools upload your files to remote servers where privacy is never guaranteed.

ConvertKr solves both problems. Every tool on the platform runs entirely in your browser. Your files never leave your device, processing happens locally, and you pay nothing. Below is a complete roundup of every PDF tool available, with a clear explanation of what each one does and when you should reach for it.

Editing and Annotating PDFs

PDF Editor

The PDF Editor is the most versatile tool in the lineup. Open any PDF and add text, images, shapes, highlights, or freehand drawings directly on the page. Need to fill out a form that isn’t interactive? Type right on top of the fields. Want to redact sensitive information before sharing? Drop an opaque rectangle over it. The editor preserves the original layout and exports a clean PDF when you’re done.

Use the PDF Editor when you need to annotate reports, sign documents without printing, fill non-interactive forms, or add visual callouts to presentations.

Add Page Numbers

Long documents without page numbers are frustrating for everyone. The Page Numbers tool lets you choose a position (top or bottom, left, center, or right), pick a starting number, select a font size, and apply numbering to every page in seconds. This is especially useful for manuscripts, legal filings, and multi-chapter guides.

Add Watermarks

Protect drafts, mark confidential files, or brand your documents with the Watermark tool. Add text-based watermarks like “DRAFT” or “CONFIDENTIAL” with full control over font size, color, opacity, and rotation. It’s the fastest way to signal a document’s status without editing the content itself.

Combining and Splitting Documents

Merge PDF

When you have several related PDFs — individual report chapters, scanned receipts, signed contract pages — the Merge PDF tool combines them into a single file. Drag and drop your files, reorder them as needed, and download one unified document. No page limits, no file size restrictions.

Split PDF

The opposite scenario is just as common. A 50-page PDF arrives and you only need pages 12 through 18. The Split PDF tool extracts exactly the pages you specify, creating a new, smaller file. You can split by page range or extract every page as an individual file.

Organize PDF

Sometimes you need more granular control than a simple split or merge. The Organize PDF tool displays thumbnail previews of every page and lets you drag them into a new order, delete pages you don’t need, or duplicate pages that should appear more than once. Think of it as a visual page manager for any PDF.

Optimizing File Size

Compress PDF

Email attachment limits, upload restrictions on web forms, and slow downloads over mobile networks all make file size a real concern. The Compress PDF tool reduces your PDF’s size while preserving readable quality. Choose a compression level that balances quality and size, then download the optimized file. Documents that were 15 MB can often shrink to 2 or 3 MB without noticeable quality loss.

Rotating and Reorienting Pages

Rotate PDF

Scanned documents frequently arrive sideways or upside down. The Rotate PDF tool lets you rotate individual pages or the entire document in 90-degree increments. Fix orientation issues in a few clicks and save the corrected version.

Converting Between Formats

PDF to Image

Need to embed a PDF page in a presentation, social media post, or website? The PDF to Image converter turns each page into a high-quality PNG or JPG file. Choose your preferred resolution and format, and download the images instantly.

Image to PDF

Going the other direction, the Image to PDF tool takes one or more images and packages them into a single PDF. This is perfect for converting photo receipts into a shareable document, compiling a portfolio, or creating a simple photo book.

PDF to Text

When you need the raw text content of a PDF — for quoting, data entry, or accessibility — the PDF to Text extractor pulls all readable text from your document. The output is plain text you can paste into any application.

Choosing the Right Tool for the Job

With so many options, here’s a quick reference to help you pick the right tool:

Privacy and Security: The ConvertKr Difference

Every tool listed above processes files entirely in your browser using client-side JavaScript. Your documents are never uploaded to a server, never stored in the cloud, and never accessible to anyone but you. This makes ConvertKr one of the safest options available for handling sensitive documents such as tax returns, medical records, legal contracts, and personal identification.

If you’re looking for a free, private, and comprehensive set of PDF tools in 2026, ConvertKr covers every common task without requiring a download, an account, or a subscription. Bookmark the tools you use most and keep them ready whenever a PDF challenge appears.