When you need to submit documents
Job applications, online applications to city offices and schools, quotes for clients: more and more documents are submitted as PDFs. These tools help when a file is too large to send, when you want to turn photos into a PDF, or when you need to combine several documents into one.
When you need to edit a PDF
Add your name or the date to a PDF you received, add a signature or hanko seal, or delete pages you don’t need. You can also add watermarks such as “CONFIDENTIAL”, and add or remove passwords.
When you need to convert files
Turn Word and Excel files into PDFs, or turn PDFs into Word files or images. Text in scanned documents and photos can be turned into editable text with OCR. iPhone HEIC photos are supported too.
Which tool should I use?
Pick a tool by what you want to do. Every tool is free, needs no sign-up, and processes your files in your browser.
| What you want to do | Recommended tool | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Get a PDF under 1MB to submit it | Compress PDF to 1MB | Shrinks photos and scans first |
| Turn phone photos of documents into a PDF | JPG to PDF | Choose A4, B5 and other paper sizes |
| Combine several PDFs into one | Merge PDF | You can pick the pages to use from each file |
| Fill in your name or the date on a PDF | Add Text to PDF | Vertical Japanese and Reiwa dates supported |
| Add a hanko seal or signature | Digital Hanko Stamp / Sign PDF | Also saves as a transparent image |
| Turn Word or Excel into a PDF | Word to PDF / Excel to PDF | Text in the PDF can be selected and searched |
| Edit a PDF’s text in Word | PDF to Word | Ruled tables become Word tables |
| Use the text of a scanned document | OCR | Can also create a searchable PDF |
| Add or remove a PDF password | Password-Protect PDF / Unlock PDF | Unlocking needs the correct password |
Features for Japanese documents
The site also includes features built around formats and customs common in Japanese documents.
- Writing vertical Japanese text on PDFs, and reading vertical text with OCR
- Western and Japanese era (Reiwa) dates, and Japanese era formats in Excel
- Digital hanko name and date stamps
- ID photos for résumés and passports, with L-size sheets to print at convenience stores
- B5 and B4 (JIS) paper sizes, and spread splitting for manga and vertical books
- Shift_JIS CSV files
How your files stay on your device
Many online tools upload your files to a server to process them. The tools on this site load the processing program into your browser and convert or compress files only on your device. The files you choose and the passwords you enter are never sent anywhere, including to this site’s server.
That means processing speed depends on your device. Some tools, such as OCR, load processing data (a few MB) from this site the first time you use them.
In-browser tools vs. upload-based tools
Some online PDF tools upload your file to a server to process it; others, like this site, process it inside your browser. The main differences are:
In-browser processing can take a while on slower devices. For large files or PDFs with many pages, a computer is recommended.
| In your browser (this site) | Upload-based tools (typical) | |
|---|---|---|
| Sending your file | Not sent; processed on your device | Sent to a server for processing |
| Speed | Depends on your device | Depends on the server and your connection |
| Data use | Only loading the tool | Uploading and downloading the file |
| File size limit | Depends on your device’s memory (100MB here) | Depends on each service |
| Confidential documents | Processed without leaving your device | Check the service’s data policy |
What is a PDF?
PDF (Portable Document Format) is a file format designed so that a document looks and prints the same on any computer or phone. Adobe released it in 1993, and in 2008 it became an international standard as ISO 32000-1. The latest version is PDF 2.0 (ISO 32000-2).
Because it keeps text, images and layout exactly as they are, PDF is widely used for documents that should reach the recipient unchanged, such as official applications, contracts, invoices and résumés.
How to use
Every tool works the same way.
- Choose the tool you need.
- Select a file, or drag and drop it.
- Choose any settings and tap the button.
- Check the result in the preview and download it.