Private PDF editor — 100% local

Edit PDFs Locally — Private PDF Editor, Merger & OCR in Your Browser

A full PDF workspace that runs entirely on your device. Edit text, merge documents, run OCR on scans, compress, split, and convert — with zero uploads, no server storage, and full offline support. Drag pages between documents visually, like paper on a desk.

Free to use — no account required
0 bytes uploaded Works offline No account needed Used by legal, finance & HR
PDF
Drag & drop your PDF here or click to choose file Free to try for standard documents • No credit card required
100% Local & Private
All Utilities

A complete private PDF toolkit on your device

Core PDF processing stays in your browser. The free tier is built for quick tasks; Pro adds higher limits for recurring PDF work.

Before and after

The old way vs the LocalPDF way

If you've ever needed to move a page between PDFs or just wanted to edit a document without uploading it somewhere — here's how the experience changes.

With online PDF tools

  • Upload the file to a remote server
  • Use a separate page for each operation
  • Extract pages with one tool, merge with another
  • Wait for every upload and download
  • Accept whatever their privacy policy says
  • Create an account to do more than one thing

With LocalPDF

  • Open a file from your device — zero upload
  • All tools in one canvas, switch freely
  • Drag pages between documents directly
  • Instant response, no network roundtrips
  • PDF contents stay local during core processing
  • No account required for the free tier; Pro billing uses LemonSqueezy
How it works

Open, work, export — in three steps

Open a file locally, work in the browser, and export the result. Hosting, analytics, billing, and license services still use normal web infrastructure.

1

Open a PDF

Drag any PDF into the Studio or open it from your device. The file stays in your browser's memory — zero bytes sent anywhere. Works offline too.

2

Work visually

Edit text, merge documents, run OCR, reorder pages by dragging, or move pages between open PDFs — all on the canvas.

3

Export the result

Download the finished PDF. No cleanup, no accounts to delete, no files left on someone else's server.

Core tools

The most in-demand PDF tools

Six most-used tools, all in one workspace. Switch between them without leaving the document.

Quick guides

How to edit, merge, and OCR PDFs — privately

Real workflows that make the most of local-first PDF processing.

Why LocalPDF

Local-first vs upload-first PDF tools

The difference is simple: your files never leave your device. Here's what that means in practice.

LocalPDF

  • Files stay in your browser
  • Drag-and-drop between documents
  • One workspace for everything
  • Works offline
  • No account required
  • Zero bytes sent to servers

Smallpdf / iLovePDF / Adobe

  • Files uploaded to remote servers
  • One tool per page, no workspace
  • Separate page for each operation
  • Requires internet connection
  • Account upsells everywhere
  • Privacy depends on a policy page

Best for

  • Contracts and legal documents
  • Invoices and financial records
  • HR files and offer letters
  • Sensitive operational PDFs
  • Offline work on the go
  • Anyone who values privacy
FAQ

Common questions about private PDF editing

Do I need to upload my PDF to use LocalPDF?

Core PDF processing runs in your browser. Your PDF contents are not uploaded for the processing workflow, while the broader site may still use normal hosting, analytics, billing, and license-validation services.

Can I really drag pages between different PDFs?

Yes. Open two PDFs side by side in the canvas, select a page from one, and drag it into the other. The page is copied instantly — no extract-then-merge workflow required.

Is LocalPDF really free? What's the catch?

LocalPDF has a free tier for quick tasks, with limits such as up to 3 workspaces and 25 pages per document. Pro is available for recurring PDF work, with current pricing shown on the pricing page. Eligible users may also see a 3-day free trial.

How is this different from Smallpdf or Adobe Acrobat?

Core PDF processing stays on your device instead of uploading document contents to a processing server. The broader website still uses normal hosting, analytics, billing, and license-validation infrastructure. LocalPDF also uses a visual canvas where you can work with multiple documents side by side and drag pages between them.

Does LocalPDF work without internet?

Yes. After the initial page load, all processing runs locally in your browser via WebAssembly. You can edit, merge, OCR, compress, split, and convert PDFs on a plane, train, or anywhere with no internet connection.

What browsers does LocalPDF support?

LocalPDF works in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. All processing uses WebAssembly, so there's nothing to install. You can also install it as a Chrome app via the PWA prompt for quick access.

Try the PDF workspace that keeps your files private

No signup, no upload, no commitment. Just a PDF tool that works the way it should.