Get things done, step by step.
Short, practical guides for everyday tasks at work, school and home, each with a free tool to finish the job.
How to compress a PDF for email
Get a PDF under your email provider's attachment limit, choose the right compression level for scans or text, and what to do when it is still too big.
4 min readHow to redact a PDF
Black out names, account numbers and signatures in a PDF so they cannot be copied back out, and check the result before you share it.
3 min readHow to remove pages from a PDF
Delete blank, duplicate or private pages from a PDF by picking them visually or typing ranges like 2, 5-7, without uploading the file.
4 min readHow to convert PDF to Excel
Get tables out of bank statements, invoices and reports into an .xlsx spreadsheet you can sort and sum, without retyping and without uploading the file.
4 min readHow to convert PDF to Word
Turn a PDF into a .docx you can edit in Word, Google Docs or LibreOffice. What converts well, what needs tidying, and what to do with scanned PDFs.
3 min readHow to extract PDF pages
Save only the pages you need as a new PDF, split a long PDF into several files, or delete pages you do not want, all in your browser.
4 min readHow to protect a PDF
Encrypt a PDF with a password before sharing it, choose what others may print or copy, and remove a password you know when you no longer need it.
4 min readHow to reduce PDF size
Make a PDF small enough for email or an upload form. Which compression level to pick, why some PDFs barely shrink, and how to keep text sharp.
4 min readHow to sign a PDF
Add your signature and the date to a PDF on a computer or phone, without printing and scanning, and without uploading the document.
4 min readHow to merge PDF files
Combine several PDFs into one document in under a minute, on any device, without installing software or uploading your files.
Developer
How to convert a Unix timestamp
Turn epoch seconds or milliseconds into a readable date in UTC or your time zone, convert a date back to a timestamp, and avoid the usual off-by-1000 and time-zone mistakes.
4 min readHow to convert YAML to JSON
Convert YAML config files to JSON and JSON to YAML, and avoid the classic YAML traps such as no becoming false and version numbers losing zeros.
4 min readHow to format SQL
Turn one-line SQL into readable, consistently indented queries, choose the right dialect, and follow a few conventions that make reviews easier.
4 min readHow to convert CSV to JSON
Turn spreadsheet exports into JSON arrays for code and APIs, with header rows, quoted fields and number detection, and convert JSON back to CSV.
4 min readHow to decode a JWT
Read the header, payload and expiry of a JSON Web Token safely, understand exp, iat and nbf, and why decoding is not the same as verifying.
4 min readHow to format and validate JSON
Pretty-print or minify JSON, find the exact line and column of a syntax error, and fix trailing commas, comments and quotes, privately in your browser.
5 min readHow to test a regex
Build and debug JavaScript regular expressions with live highlighting, capture groups, flags and replacement previews, plus patterns for everyday tasks.
Productivity
How to create a QR code
Make QR codes for a link, Wi-Fi, a contact card or a message, choose colors and size for print, and avoid codes that stop working or will not scan.
4 min readHow to create a Kanban board
Set up To do, Doing and Done columns, limit work in progress, and run a simple Kanban board for a team, a client or yourself.
6 min readHow to create a project plan
Define the goal, break work into tasks with owners and dates, set a deadline, and keep documents, budget and meetings in one free, private project.
5 min readHow to manage tasks locally
A simple, private task system without an account or cloud sync. Capture, plan today, review weekly, and keep tasks as plain files you own.
5 min readHow to organize your workspace
A folder structure that stays tidy, naming that makes files findable, projects that hold everything together, and backups you can trust.
Work
How to make a free invoice
Create a professional PDF invoice without invoicing software. What every invoice needs, how to add tax and discounts, and how to keep your records.
6 min readHow to make a resume
Write a clear one-page resume, structure your experience as achievements, keep it readable for applicant tracking systems, and download a clean PDF.
Images
How to resize images for a website
Pick the right pixel width for each image on your site, resize it without losing sharpness, and compress it so pages load fast.
4 min readHow to resize images for email
Shrink photos for email so they attach without errors and open quickly, with the right pixel size, format and quality for each use.
4 min readHow to compress an image
Shrink JPG, PNG and WebP photos to a target size like 200 KB, choose the right format, and batch-compress many images at once, without uploading them.
3 min readHow to convert HEIC to JPG
Open and share iPhone photos on Windows, Android and websites by converting HEIC to JPG, privately in your browser, one photo or a whole batch.
3 min readHow to convert WebP to JPG
Turn WebP images saved from websites into JPG or PNG files that open in any app, one at a time or in a batch, without uploading them.
4 min readHow to resize for social media
Resize and crop photos for Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and more with presets, keep them sharp, and batch-export them, privately in your browser.
Free alternatives
Free Microsoft Word alternative
A free word processor that saves real Word files.
CompareFree Google Docs alternative
Documents in your browser, saved on your own computer.
CompareFree Microsoft Excel alternative
Free spreadsheets with the formulas you know.
CompareFree Google Sheets alternative
Spreadsheets that stay off the cloud.
CompareFree Google Calendar alternative
A calendar that belongs to you.
CompareFree Asana alternative
A free alternative to Asana for your own projects.
CompareFree Notion alternative
Notes and wikis that you own.
CompareFree Trello alternative
Kanban boards, free and unlimited.
CompareFree Miro alternative
An infinite whiteboard, free and private.
CompareFree iLovePDF alternative
Every PDF tool, without uploading your files.
CompareFree Smallpdf alternative
PDF tools that work on your device.
CompareFree Todoist alternative
A to-do list that understands what you type.