About Our Free PDF Tools

All five FreeToolVault PDF tools are powered by pdf-lib, a professional open-source JavaScript library. Your documents are never uploaded — everything runs in your browser's memory. The PDF Compressor uniquely re-encodes embedded images for real compression, not just structural compression. All tools support files up to 100MB and work offline after the first page load.

About Our Free Image Tools

FreeToolVault's image tools use the browser's HTML5 Canvas API for local processing. The Image Resizer supports pixel-precise dimensions and percentage scaling. The Compressor uses the browser's JPEG encoder with a quality slider for fine control. The Converter handles JPG, PNG, and WEBP format switching. The Crop tool supports both drag selection and exact pixel coordinate input.

About Our Free Business Generators

Built for South African freelancers and small businesses. The Invoice Maker supports ZAR, 15% VAT, and EFT banking details. The QR Code Generator creates WiFi, vCard, URL, email, and SMS codes using qrcode.js. The Business Card Maker renders a 600×340px card using the Canvas API. The Resume Builder produces an ATS-compatible CV printable as PDF.

About Our Free Text Tools

All text tools process content locally in your browser — no text is sent to any server. The Case Converter handles 9 formats including camelCase, snake_case, and kebab-case. The Word Counter provides real-time stats including reading time and keyword frequency. Text to Speech uses the Web Speech API with any voice installed on your operating system.

About Our Free Utilities

The Password Generator uses crypto.getRandomValues() — a cryptographically secure API — with live entropy scoring. The Unit Converter covers 100+ units across 10 categories with displayed conversion formulas. The JSON Formatter validates, beautifies, and minifies JSON in real time with exact error positions. The Colour Picker converts between HEX, RGB, and HSL and generates four types of professional colour palettes with WCAG contrast checking.

How This PDF Compressor Is Different

Most free PDF compressors only compress the document structure (cross-reference tables and object streams). FreeToolVault goes further by also re-encoding embedded images through the browser's Canvas API at your chosen quality level. This means image-heavy PDFs — scanned documents, design files, and photo-heavy reports — are reduced dramatically more than with structural compression alone.

• Low compression: Images are preserved at high quality (82% JPEG), max dimension 2400px. Structure compression only slightly reduces size. Best for print-ready documents.
• Medium compression: Images re-encoded at 65% quality, max 1800px. Typically 30–70% reduction. Best for email and digital sharing.
• High compression: Images re-encoded at 42% quality, max 1200px. Typically 50–90% reduction. Ideal for archiving and upload size limits.

All processing happens locally in your browser — your documents never leave your device. The output PDF is fully compatible with Adobe Acrobat, macOS Preview, and all browser PDF viewers.

How to Merge PDF Files for Free

Upload two or more PDF files. They'll appear in a list — remove any you don't want. Click "Merge All PDFs Into One" to combine them in order. Common uses: combining a cover letter, CV, and portfolio into one file; merging monthly financial statements; joining multiple scanned pages into one searchable document.

How to Split a PDF for Free

Upload your PDF (page count is detected automatically), enter your page range, and click Extract. To get a single page, set both From and To to the same number. Common uses: extracting a signed page from a contract, pulling specific chapters from a report, separating invoices from a batch PDF.

How to Rotate a PDF for Free

Upload your PDF, choose your rotation angle, and download. Rotation is applied at the PDF metadata level using pdf-lib — no re-rendering, no quality loss. Common uses: fixing scanned documents that came out sideways, correcting orientation on landscape exports, fixing photos converted to PDF.

How to Watermark a PDF for Free

Upload your PDF, type your watermark text (CONFIDENTIAL, DRAFT, SAMPLE, COPY, FOR REVIEW), adjust opacity, and download. Watermark is rendered diagonally at 45° across every page using pdf-lib's HelveticaBold font. Lower opacity = more subtle; higher = more prominent. Your documents never leave your device.

How to Resize Images for Free

Upload any image, choose pixel dimensions or a percentage scale, and click Resize. Enable "Keep aspect ratio" to avoid distortion. Common uses: resizing product photos for e-commerce platforms like Takealot or Shopify, scaling images for email attachments, creating social media profile pictures (400×400 for LinkedIn), and preparing images for faster website loading.

Image Compression Quality Guide

• Website images: 70–80% — significantly smaller with no visible on-screen difference
• Email attachments: 60–75% — keeps images under common size limits
• Social media uploads: 80–85% — platforms re-compress anyway
• Print materials: 90–95% — retain as much detail as possible

Which Format Should You Use?

• JPG: Photos, product images, anything with many colours. Smaller files, lossy compression.
• PNG: Logos, icons, screenshots, images needing transparency. Lossless, larger files.
• WEBP: Best of both worlds — smaller than JPG, supports transparency like PNG. Ideal for websites.

How to Crop Images for Free

Upload an image, drag a selection rectangle on the preview, or enter exact pixel coordinates. X and Y are pixels from the top-left corner. Width and Height define the crop size. The result downloads as lossless PNG. Common uses: cropping profile pictures from group photos, removing borders from scanned documents, extracting product images from wider photos.

QR Code Types for South African Businesses

• WiFi QR codes are especially popular in South Africa — display one at your business so customers can connect without asking for the password.
• vCard QR codes let you share your contact details instantly at networking events.
• URL QR codes link to your website, menu, booking page, or Google Maps location.
• Use 512px size and High error correction for QR codes that will be printed on physical materials.

Using Your Digital Business Card

Share via WhatsApp or email as an image. Use as a social media cover image. Print at 85mm × 54mm (standard SA business card size) at 300 DPI. Include in proposals or quote documents as a professional header.

Text Case Formats Explained

• camelCase — JavaScript variable names: myVariableName
• PascalCase — Class names: MyClassName
• snake_case — Python, databases: my_variable_name
• kebab-case — URLs, CSS classes: my-class-name
• Title Case — Headings and names: My Variable Name

Understanding Password Entropy

Entropy measures how many guesses a computer needs to crack your password. 60+ bits = good. 80+ bits = excellent. 100+ bits = near-uncrackable. This generator uses crypto.getRandomValues() — the same API used by professional password managers. Passwords are generated in your browser memory and never transmitted.

Common South African Conversions

• km to miles: 1 km = 0.621 miles (for US navigation apps)
• °C to °F: (°C × 9/5) + 32 (for international communication)
• kg to lb: 1 kg = 2.205 lb (for US suppliers)
• kPa to PSI: 100 kPa ≈ 14.5 PSI (tyre pressure)
• Hectares to acres: 1 ha = 2.471 acres (property)