Which PDF tool should you use? A browser-local guide
Choose the tool from the output you need: annotations for a quick note, form filling for standard interactive fields, a visual signer for a signature image, conversion for text or page images, splitting or merging for page arrangement, and compression only after comparing the result.
Updated 7 October 2026. The workflow targets people in the US and Europe who need a browser-local PDF task.
Direct answer
Choose the tool from the output you need: annotations for a quick note, form filling for standard interactive fields, a visual signer for a signature image, conversion for text or page images, splitting or merging for page arrangement, and compression only after comparing the result.
Choose by task
| Your task | Use | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| Add a note or mark | PDF editor | Adds an annotation. It does not edit existing text or redact content. |
| Complete standard fields | PDF form filler | Does not support XFA forms, flat scans or certificate-based signatures. |
| Place a signature image | PDF signer | Creates a visual signature, not a certificate-based digital signature. |
| Reuse the words | PDF to Word or PDF to text | Scans need OCR and complex layout needs review. |
| Share a page image | PDF to JPG or PDF to PNG | Images lose selectable text, links and form interaction. |
| Reorder pages | Splitter or merger | New copies may not preserve every advanced PDF feature. |
Start with the required output
If the recipient needs editable words, use a text converter. If they need the page to look exactly the same, keep the PDF or use an image only when interaction is not needed.
Keep a review step
Every tool creates a new copy or a new representation. Open it, compare important pages and keep the original until you accept the result.
Questions
Can these tools process a PDF without uploading it?
Yes. The listed tools process selected files locally in the browser without an account.
Which tool permanently removes PDF text?
None of these annotation and crop tools should be treated as redaction. Use a verified redaction workflow when removal is required.