About PDF-Zips
Last updated: May 2026
What is PDF-Zips?
PDF-Zips is a free online PDF toolkit that processes files entirely in your browser. Unlike traditional PDF services that upload your documents to remote servers, PDF-Zips uses pdf-lib, an open-source JavaScript PDF library, to perform all operations locally on your device. Your files never leave your computer.
We offer 10 tools: merge, split, compress, PDF-to-JPG, JPG-to-PDF, rotate, watermark, password protect, unlock, and page numbering. Every tool is free to use with no signup required.
How It Works
When you upload a file to PDF-Zips, it stays in your browser's memory. The pdf-lib library reads and manipulates the PDF data using JavaScript, then generates the output file for download — all without any network requests to our servers.
This approach has measurable privacy and performance benefits:
- ✓Zero server uploads — your documents never leave your device
- ✓Instant processing — no upload/download wait times
- ✓Works offline — once loaded, tools work without internet
- ✓No data retention — nothing is stored after you close the tab
Technology
| Component | Technology | Why |
|---|---|---|
| PDF processing | pdf-lib | Open-source, runs in browser, no server needed |
| Font embedding | @pdf-lib/fontkit | Custom font support for watermarks and page numbers |
| Framework | Next.js 16 | Static HTML export for fast loading, zero server costs |
| Hosting | Cloudflare Pages | Global CDN, fast edge delivery |
PDF-Zips vs. Other PDF Tools
| Feature | PDF-Zips | iLovePDF | Smallpdf |
|---|---|---|---|
| File upload to server | No (browser-only) | Yes | Yes |
| Free tier | Unlimited tools, free | Limited daily tasks | 2 tasks/day |
| Signup required | No | Optional | For some features |
| Works offline | Yes | No | No |
| GDPR-friendly | Inherent (no data transfer) | Policy-based | Policy-based |
| Pro price | $5/month | $7/month | $9/month |
Privacy Commitment
PDF-Zips does not collect, store, or transmit your PDF files. We have no file servers, no upload endpoints, and no document database. The only analytics we use is Google Analytics for page views — your file contents are never part of any analytics event. This architecture is privacy by design, not privacy by policy.
Our Team
PDF-Zips is built by a small engineering team with experience in document processing, web performance, and privacy-focused software. We have worked with PDF internals (cross-reference tables, object streams, font subsetting) for years and chose browser-based processing because we believe privacy should be architectural, not policy-based.
Our benchmark research — including the browser vs server comparison and compression benchmarks — is conducted using controlled methodology with published hardware specs, browser versions, and repeated trials.
Contact
For questions, feedback, or support, reach us via the GitHub repository.