Five everyday PDF tasks you can do free in your browser

Most people meet PDFs every week: a contract to sign, a long report to send by email, a set of scans to combine. You rarely need expensive software for these jobs. Here are five common tasks and the free tool for each.

1. Combine several files into one PDF

Use Merge PDF when a form, invoice and cover letter need to go out as a single file. Add your PDFs, drag them into the order you want, and download the result. The files are merged on your own device.

2. Pull out the pages you need

Use Split PDF to extract a page range, such as pages 4 to 9 of a long report, or to save every page as its own file. This is useful when you only need one chapter or one certificate from a bigger document.

3. Make a file small enough to email

Many email providers limit attachments to around 20 to 25 MB. Compress PDF reduces the file size. Scanned documents and files with many photos usually shrink the most. Check the result before you send it, because a stronger setting can make images look softer.

4. Sign a document

Use Sign PDF to draw, type or upload your signature and place it on the page. It works well for forms and agreements you need to return the same day. Check the signed copy before sending, and use a dedicated e-signature service if the document requires a certified signature.

5. Protect a file with a password

Use Protect PDF to encrypt a file with a password (AES-256). Choose a long password and share it through a different channel from the file, such as a phone call. Keep the password somewhere safe, because a lost password cannot be recovered.

Before you start

Keep a copy of the original file. Every tool creates a new PDF and leaves your original unchanged. For a full list of tools, see the homepage.