30 free tools · 5 AI tools · nothing to install

Everything you need to
work with PDFs.

Organise, convert, edit and protect your documents for free. Plus AI tools that translate, summarise, answer questions about them — or turn them into audio you can listen to anywhere.

  • No sign-up for free tools
  • No watermark
  • Files deleted in 1 hour
Documents, notes and a coffee cup on a warm wooden desk
Free forever 30 everyday tools
Powered by AI Translate & summarise
Always free

Start here - the tools everyone uses

No account, no watermark, no trial countdown. Open the tool, drop your file in, download the result.

Explore all 35 tools

Need something else? There are 30 free tools in total - converting, editing, security and more.

Powered by AI

Read less. Understand more.

Some documents are too long, in the wrong language, or hiding the one line you need. These three tools do the reading for you - and hand back exactly what you came for.

Most popular

Translate PDF

A whole document in another language, page by page.

Upload the file, pick a language, download a finished PDF that still looks like the original - same headings, same page order, same layout. Built for manuals, study material, contracts and reports.

  • Hindi, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, English
  • Keeps the page structure instead of dumping plain text
  • Simple, readable wording - not a word-for-word machine translation
  • See the exact page count and cost before you start
Translate a PDF
Saves the most time

AI PDF Summaries

A 200-page document, understood in five minutes.

The AI reads the whole thing, works out what kind of document it is, and writes a clear chapter-by-chapter summary with the key points, numbers and conclusions pulled out for you.

  • Chapter-by-chapter breakdown, not one vague paragraph
  • Summary style matched to your document automatically
  • Key points, figures and takeaways listed separately
  • Works on research papers, textbooks, reports and contracts
Summarise a PDF
Best for research

Chat with PDF

Ask a question, get the answer with the receipt.

Type a normal question - "what is the refund policy?", "which page explains photosynthesis?" - and get an answer that quotes the document, so you can check it yourself in seconds.

  • Ask in plain English, no special commands
  • Every answer cites the part it came from
  • Ask as many follow-up questions as you like
  • Ideal for contracts, manuals, papers and long reports
Chat with a PDF

Smart Data Extraction AI OCR

Feed it a stack of invoices, receipts or reports and get back a clean spreadsheet. It reads tables, totals, dates and names - even from scanned pages - and exports to Excel, CSV or JSON.

Extract data

How it works

Three steps, no software to install, no manual to read.

  1. 1

    Upload your PDF

    Drag the file in or pick it from your device. Files up to 50 MB on the free plan.

  2. 2

    Choose what you want

    Any of the 30 free tools - or a language to translate into, a summary, a question to ask.

  3. 3

    Download the result

    Your finished file is ready in seconds. Server-processed files are deleted automatically within an hour.

Complete toolkit

All 35 PDF tools, sorted by what you need

Every everyday PDF job in one place. Pick a category, or type what you want to do.

Who uses The PDF Lab

Same tools, very different jobs.

Student working through books and notes at a desk Students

Students and researchers

Summarise a textbook chapter before an exam, translate a research paper into your own language, and ask the PDF where a concept is explained. Then merge your notes and export to Word.

Invoices and paperwork spread across a wooden desk Business

Small businesses

Turn a folder of supplier invoices into one spreadsheet, compress reports so they actually send by email, and put your logo on every quote you send out.

Hand signing a contract with a fountain pen Legal

Legal and admin teams

Compare two contract versions, black out private details before sharing, sign documents electronically, and ask the AI what the termination clause actually says.

Person working at a laptop by warm lamplight at night Translators

Translators and publishers

Translate a full manual page by page with the layout intact, convert the result to Word for a final edit, and archive the signed-off version as PDF/A.

Why people trust us with their documents

Your files do not stick around

Tools like merge, split, rotate and watermark run inside your browser, so the file never leaves your computer. Anything that needs a server is sent encrypted and deleted automatically within one hour.

Fast, even on big documents

Browser-based tools finish instantly because there is nothing to upload. The AI tools stream results as they are generated, so you start reading before the job is finished.

No install, no watermark on your work

Everything runs in the browser you already have - Windows, Mac, Linux, Android or iPhone. We never stamp our own branding onto the files you make.

Free where it can be, paid where it costs us

30 tools are free forever. The AI tools use paid models on every page they read, so those sit behind a plan - and we show you the cost before you run one.

Free

$0/forever

  • All 30 everyday PDF tools
  • Files up to 50 MB
  • No account needed
Browse free tools

Business

$24/month

  • Everything in Pro
  • Team seats
  • Priority processing
Compare plans

Questions people ask

Which tools are free?

Merging, splitting, rotating, compressing, converting, watermarking, page numbers, signing, password protection and the rest of the everyday tools are free to use - 30 of them, with no account needed. Only the AI tools (Translate PDF, AI Summaries and Chat with PDF) need a paid plan, because they cost real money to run on every page they read.

Can I really translate a whole PDF and keep the layout?

Yes. The Translate PDF tool works page by page, so headings, paragraph order and page breaks stay where they were. You download a finished PDF, not a wall of plain text. You can translate between English, Hindi, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese and Arabic.

How long does an AI summary take?

Most documents are summarised in under a minute. A long book or a scanned report can take a few minutes because every chapter is read separately. You get a chapter-by-chapter breakdown with the key points listed out, not a single vague paragraph.

Is Chat with PDF accurate?

Every answer points back to the part of the document it came from, so you can verify it in a couple of seconds. If the document does not contain the answer, the tool says so instead of guessing.

Do I need to create an account?

No account is needed for the free tools - open the tool, drop your file in, download the result. You only sign up when you want the AI tools, larger file limits, or a dashboard that keeps a history of your files.

What happens to my files?

Many tools - merge, split, rotate, organise, watermark, page numbers and more - run entirely inside your browser, so the file never leaves your computer. Tools that need a server, such as the AI tools, Office conversion and OCR, upload the file over an encrypted connection, process it, and delete it automatically within one hour.

What file size can I upload?

Up to 50 MB on the free plan. Paid plans raise that limit and let you process many files in a single batch.

Does it work on a phone?

Yes. Every tool works in a mobile browser - there is nothing to install. You can even use Scan to PDF to turn your phone camera into a document scanner.

Pick a tool and get it done

Most people start by merging a few files or asking their PDF a question. Both take under a minute.