About SandboxPDF
SandboxPDF is an independent project with a practical purpose: make everyday PDF work available for free while keeping document processing on the user’s own device.
Why this workspace exists
Merging a few pages, reading a scanned document or preparing an attachment should not require an account or a subscription. It should also be clear where the document goes. SandboxPDF brings those tasks into one browser workspace and explains what each operation preserves, changes or removes. The server delivers the application; the browser processes the files you choose.
This project grew from a straightforward set of priorities: accessible tools, local processing, useful previews and downloads without a site watermark. That purpose guides both the software and the field guides. A smaller PDF is only useful if it remains readable. A summary is only useful if it reflects its source. A privacy tool should explain its limits before someone relies on it.
Who it is for
Students can organise course material and prepare study handouts. Independent workers can assemble invoices, complete forms and make delivery copies. People handling sensitive paperwork can perform supported operations without sending their documents to a processing service. The tools are also useful for occasional tasks where installing a full desktop suite would be unnecessary.
Local processing has practical limits. Large conversions and downloadable language models require memory, storage and time. Some operations work better on a desktop than a phone. A browser tool cannot recreate every original Office layout, guarantee OCR accuracy or certify a legal disclosure. The capability notes describe these boundaries so you can choose an appropriate workflow.
How the guides are written
The PDF field guides focus on specific document problems, with examples, output checks and explanations of the trade-offs. They distinguish what the file looks like from what it contains. Relevant technical references are linked where they help readers check a claim or understand a standard. Guidance is updated alongside changes to the tools.
The library does not present legal advice, a certification service or guaranteed AI answers. Its aim is to help you ask better questions about your document and inspect the result yourself. If an explanation is unclear or an output behaves differently from what the guide describes, please send a correction. Concrete examples of the steps taken are especially useful; confidential files are not needed for an initial report.
What you can expect
- Free access to the listed tools, with no account required.
- No automatic SandboxPDF watermark on exported documents.
- Document processing inside your browser, including optional local recognition and language models.
- Clear explanations of important changes, such as losing searchable text during a visual rebuild.
- A contact route for bugs, editorial corrections, feature ideas and privacy questions.
Your originals remain your responsibility. Keep a separate copy, inspect exported files and follow any requirements imposed by the organisation receiving them. Read our privacy policy for the distinction between local document processing, ordinary website requests and messages you choose to send through the contact form.