PDF tools
Merge, split, shrink and sign PDFs without sending them to anyone's server. The documents people most often run through online converters — contracts, tax forms, payslips, scans of IDs — are exactly the ones that shouldn't be uploaded, so every tool here works entirely in your browser.
All PDF tools
Merge PDF
Combine multiple PDFs into one.
Compress PDF
Reduce PDF file size.
JPG to PDF
Turn images into a PDF file.
PDF to JPG
Export PDF pages as JPG images.
Sign a PDF
Draw or type a signature onto a PDF.
PDF Metadata Editor
Edit or remove a PDF's title, author and properties.
Split PDF
Pull pages out of a PDF file.
Which tool do I need?
- You have several PDFs or scans that need to be one file Merge PDF →
- You only need to send some pages, or the pages are in the wrong order Split PDF →
- The PDF is over an email or upload size limit Compress PDF →
- A contract or form needs your signature, and you don't want to print it Sign a PDF →
- You have photos of receipts or documents to turn into one PDF JPG to PDF →
- You need the pages as images, for slides or a post PDF to JPG →
- The PDF shows the wrong title, or reveals an author name you want to remove PDF Metadata Editor →
How they work without uploading
These tools are built on two open-source libraries: pdf-lib, which reads and writes PDF files, and Mozilla's pdf.js, the same engine Firefox uses to display PDFs. Both run as JavaScript in the page, so your document is opened, changed and saved on your own device. Your original file is never modified; you always download a new copy.
What to expect (honestly)
Compress PDF helps most with scanned or image-heavy files, where it re-renders each page as a compressed image (which also means text in the output is no longer selectable). A PDF that's mostly text is usually already small and won't shrink much (see why PDFs get so big). Sign a PDF places a drawn or typed signature on the page, which is what most everyday agreements need; it isn't a certificate-based digital signature, which some official documents require (see what counts as a valid signature). Password-protected PDFs generally need to be unlocked first.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Are my PDFs uploaded anywhere?
No. All the PDF tools on TheHandyKit process files inside your browser using pdf-lib and pdf.js. Your documents never leave your device, and nothing is stored after you close the page.
Will these tools change my original file?
No. Each tool reads your file and lets you download a new PDF. The original on your device stays exactly as it was.
Is a signature added with Sign a PDF legally valid?
For most everyday documents — rental agreements, permission slips, many business contracts — a simple electronic signature like this is widely accepted. Some documents legally require a certificate-based or qualified digital signature, so check with the recipient if you're unsure.
Why didn't Compress PDF make my file much smaller?
Compress PDF re-renders each page as a compressed image, which shrinks scans dramatically. If your file is mostly text or vector graphics, it's already compact and there's little to remove. Scanned documents and PDFs full of photos shrink the most.