Hi there! 👋 What inspired me: A few months ago, I needed to merge some financial PDFs and remove a few pages. I searched "free PDF editor" and every single result asked me to upload my files to a server. I hesitated — these were tax documents and contracts. I didn't want them sitting on some unknown server, potentially being mined for data. I realized millions of people face this same dilemma daily: convenience vs. privacy. The problem: Most "free" PDF tools aren't actually free — they cost your data. They upload your files, process them server-side, and who knows what happens next. Some add watermarks. Others force you to create accounts. Many are just gateways to expensive subscriptions. For something as simple as merging two PDFs, the trade-off felt absurd. How the approach evolved: I started with a simple question: Can I do this entirely in the browser? Turns out, yes — thanks to incredible open-source libraries like pdf-lib and PDF.js. V1 was a bare-bones merge tool. But as I showed it to friends, requests kept coming: "Can it split? Rotate? Convert to Word?" Each tool added complexity, but the core constraint never changed: zero server uploads, ever. The biggest evolution was the business model. I considered ads. I considered a freemium with feature gates. Ultimately, I chose a simple, honest approach: genuinely free for daily use (10 pages/file covers 80% of use cases), with a straightforward Pro upgrade for power users. No dark patterns, no data selling, no VC pressure. What makes PDF Mate different: 🔒 100% client-side — pdf-lib + PDF.js in your browser. No server, no cloud, no leaks. ⚡ Zero friction — Install, drag files, done. No signup, no email, no catch. 🆓 Actually free — Daily needs covered at zero cost. Pro ($2.99/mo or $19.99 lifetime) is for power users. Would love your feedback! What PDF tool do you use today, and what frustrates you about it?

PDF Mate

Free PDF toolkit that works entirely offline.

Free PDF toolkit that works entirely offline.