10 Best Free Online PDF Tools in 2026

PDF files are everywhere—contracts, reports, ebooks, forms. But working with them often requires expensive software. Not anymore. Here are the 10 essential free PDF tools you need in 2026.

1. PDF to Word Converter

What it does: Converts PDF documents to editable Word (.docx) files.

Best for: Editing documents you only have in PDF format, extracting text from scanned documents.

Our PDF to Word converter preserves formatting and handles complex layouts with ease.

2. PDF Compressor

What it does: Reduces PDF file size without significant quality loss.

Best for: Email attachments, web uploads, saving storage space.

Try our PDF compressor to shrink files by up to 90%.

3. PDF Merger

What it does: Combines multiple PDF files into a single document.

Best for: Combining reports, creating portfolios, merging scanned pages.

Use our PDF merge tool to join unlimited PDFs instantly.

4. PDF Splitter

What it does: Extracts specific pages or splits a PDF into multiple files.

Best for: Extracting chapters, separating forms, sharing specific pages.

Our PDF splitter lets you select exactly which pages to extract.

5. PDF to JPG Converter

What it does: Converts PDF pages into image files.

Best for: Creating thumbnails, sharing on social media, presentations.

Convert with our PDF to JPG tool.

6. Image to PDF Converter

What it does: Creates PDF documents from images.

Best for: Digitizing documents, creating photo albums, combining screenshots.

7. PDF Editor

What it does: Add text, images, and annotations to existing PDFs.

Best for: Filling forms, adding signatures, commenting on documents.

8. PDF Password Protector

What it does: Encrypts PDFs with password protection.

Best for: Sensitive documents, confidential reports, private contracts.

9. OCR (Text Recognition)

What it does: Extracts text from scanned PDFs and images.

Best for: Digitizing old documents, making scans searchable.

10. PDF Form Filler

What it does: Fill out PDF forms digitally.

Best for: Applications, government forms, contracts.

Why Use Online PDF Tools?

• No installation: Works directly in your browser
• Cross-platform: Use on Windows, Mac, Linux, or mobile
• Always updated: No need to download updates
• Free: No subscription fees or hidden costs

Privacy Matters

When choosing PDF tools, consider privacy. Tools that process files locally (in your browser) are safer than those that upload to servers. All XCT Labs tools use client-side processing—your files never leave your device.