Read and find
Reading Mode, thumbnails, outline navigation, search, zoom and printing.
alphaPDF
PDF workspace for Chrome
Free PDF tools,
together in Chrome.
Merge, split, compress and annotate PDFs for free. alphaPDF Pro adds PDF to Word conversion and OCR. Document processing stays on your device.
Free essentials · Pro is a one-time purchase · No recurring charge
See how alphaPDF compares with Acrobat
Local-firstPDF contents are not uploaded to alphaPDF
Useful for freeReading, annotation and common page tools
One purchasePro has no subscription or recurring charge
A practical document desk
Merge, split, annotate and prepare PDFs in Chrome.
Open a PDF from your computer or a page you choose, then keep the work together in Documents and Workspace.
Organise pages
Combine, split, reorder, rotate, crop, replace and add pages without leaving Chrome.
Mark up clearly
Annotations, comments, drawings, attachments and visual signatures.
Prepare professionally
Pro adds OCR, secure redaction, forms, Bates numbering, sanitisation and batch workflows.
PDF tools and guides
Choose the PDF task you need.
Learn the steps, check what is free and review the result before sharing your document.
alphaPDF & Adobe Acrobat
Everyday PDF tools.
Already in the free tier.
Merge, split, organise and convert PDFs for free with alphaPDF. These tools sit beyond Adobe’s free desktop Reader and are included in paid Acrobat plans.
01 / Page toolsMerge. Split. Rearrange.
Common document jobs, included free.
02 / On your deviceNo PDF upload needed.
Free tools process your files locally in Chrome.
03 / Free to keep usingNo monthly task quota.
Use Free without an alphaPDF account. Your device’s capacity still matters.
| What you want to do | alphaPDFFree · $0 | Acrobat ReaderFree desktop app | Paid AcrobatStandard / Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Read, print, comment & visually sign | Free | Free | Included |
| Merge & split PDFs | Free | Not included | Subscription |
| Reorder, delete, insert & replace pages | Free | Not included | Subscription |
| Crop pages & save rotated pages | Free | Not included | Subscription |
| Convert PDF pages ↔ JPEG / PNG | Free | Not included | Subscription |
| Compress PDFs | Free | Not included | Subscription |
| Fill existing interactive PDF form fields | Pro | Free | Included |
| Export an editable Word document | Pro | Paid upgrade | Subscription |
| OCR: make scanned PDFs searchable | Pro | Not included | Pro subscription |
| Edit existing PDF text in place | Not supported | Not included | Subscription |
Adobe has free online tools, too.
Adobe also offers online merge, split, conversion and compression tools with free usage limits. Its published FAQ says most tools allow one transaction without signing in; signed-in free users can try premium tools once per rolling 30 days. These online services upload files to Adobe’s servers. The table above compares desktop tools.
Choose for the work you do.
alphaPDF is built for local PDF work in desktop Chrome. Acrobat offers broader desktop and mobile support, existing-text editing, certificate signing and managed e-signature workflows. alphaPDF’s visual signatures are not certificate signatures or a managed signing service.
For alphaPDF’s advanced tools, Pro is US$59 once, including applicable transaction tax, while alphaPDF remains supported. Adobe also sells Acrobat Pro 2024 with a three-year, non-recurring desktop licence.
Private by design
Your document is not our data.
PDF contents, annotations, OCR and exports are processed locally in Chrome. alphaPDF servers handle only checkout, licence activation, recovery and limited installation management.
If you explicitly import a PDF from a website, Chrome may use your existing site cookies locally to retrieve it. The PDF is not sent to Maskia.
Read the Privacy Policy →Simple pricing
Start free. Buy Pro once.
No monthly plan, no annual renewal and no surprise paywall after a long operation.
Free
$0
Reading, search, annotations and a useful collection of everyday PDF tools.
Add to ChromealphaPDF Pro
$59
One-time purchase, including applicable transaction tax. Sold through Link, Stripe's merchant of record.
Get alphaPDF ProFree and Pro
Know what is included before you begin.
| Capability | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Read, search, print and organise documents | Included | Included |
| Annotate, visually sign and add images | Included | Included |
| Combine, split, reorder, rotate and crop pages | Included | Included |
| Convert pages, extract images and attachments | Included | Included |
| OCR, searchable scans and text export | — | Included |
| Secure redaction and sanitisation | — | Included |
| Forms, bookmarks, links, Bates numbers and reusable headers | — | Included |
| Batch preparation, document comparison and cryptographic seals | — | Included |
Good to know
Questions, answered plainly.
Does alphaPDF upload my PDFs?
No. Document contents and transformations stay in Chrome. Network access is used for the specific website PDF you ask Chrome to retrieve, checkout, licence activation and recovery.
Is Pro a subscription?
No. Pro is a one-time purchase with no recurring charge. It covers the Pro tools listed when you buy it while alphaPDF remains supported.
Who handles payment and tax?
Checkout is provided through Stripe Managed Payments. Link acts as merchant of record and handles payment, applicable transaction taxes and transaction support in the jurisdictions it covers. Your final total is shown before purchase.
How many installations can I use?
You can activate up to three installations you control. The recovery flow lets you deactivate an old installation when moving to another computer.
What is the refund policy?
The initial Pro purchase has a voluntary 30-day money-back guarantee, in addition to any stronger rights required by law.
Does it replace Adobe Acrobat?
No. alphaPDF is a practical local-first toolkit. It does not claim Adobe-compatible certificate signing, managed e-signatures or in-place editing of arbitrary source text.
Which browsers are supported?
The first release is built for current desktop Google Chrome versions that support Manifest V3 and the Side Panel API.