PDF questions. Real answers.

Working with PDFs

The how-to questions people ask most — answered plainly. Want the long version? Browse the hands-on guides on the blog.

How do I merge PDF files into one?

Open the merge tool, add every PDF (and any JPG/PNG pages), drag them into the order you want, then merge. A proper merge is lossless — it copies the page objects and rebuilds the index, so text stays selectable and images stay sharp. With Arthize the files are combined in your private workspace and deleted after the job, so a contract never lands on a stranger's server.

How do I combine many PDFs into a single document?

Add all of them at once — there's no two-at-a-time limit. Reorder the list (the list order is the final page order), then merge once. If the combined file is too big to email afterward, compress the result rather than re-merging.

How do I split a PDF into multiple files or separate pages?

Use the split tool and choose how to divide: by page ranges (e.g. 1-3, 4-8), at fixed intervals (every N pages), or into one file per page. Splitting extracts the original pages untouched — no re-rendering — so quality is identical to the source.

How do I compress a PDF without losing quality?

Compress by downsampling oversized images and stripping redundant data rather than flattening the whole page to a picture. Text and vector content stay crisp because they aren't touched. Scans shrink the most. In Arthize the compress tool targets a smaller size while keeping the document searchable.

How do I compress a PDF to 100KB or under 1MB for email?

Most email limits are around 20-25MB, but if you need to hit 100KB-1MB, image-heavy scans give the most room: downsample images and remove embedded thumbnails and metadata. A text-only PDF is usually already small; the size almost always comes from scanned images.

How do I reduce the size of a PDF?

The biggest wins come from images — downsampling photos and scans to screen resolution typically cuts file size by 50-90% with no visible change on screen. Removing unused fonts, attachments and metadata helps too. Run the compress tool once on the finished file instead of compressing each input.

How do I convert a PDF to Word without losing formatting?

Use a converter that reconstructs the document structure — paragraphs, tables and headings — rather than dumping text into a single block. Native (digital) PDFs convert cleanly; scanned PDFs need OCR first so there's real text to map into Word. Always skim the .docx afterward, since complex multi-column layouts are the hardest to preserve.

How do I convert Word, JPG or Excel files to PDF?

Upload the source file and convert — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, images (JPG/PNG) and HTML all map to clean PDF pages. Images become a page sized to the picture; Office files keep their layout. This is the reliable way to bundle mixed files before merging them into one packet.

How do I edit a PDF online for free?

For light edits, Arthize's free plan covers 15 tasks a month — fill form fields, add text and stamps, rotate, delete or reorder pages, add page numbers and watermarks. No account-killing watermark on your output and no card required. Heavier or higher-volume editing is what the paid plans lift the caps for.

How do I unlock a PDF or remove its password?

If you know the password, the remove-password tool strips it so the file opens freely afterward — useful before merging or editing, since most tools can't touch an encrypted file. You can't legitimately bypass a password you don't have; that's the protection working as intended.

How do I password-protect a PDF?

Add an open password (and optionally a permissions password to restrict printing or copying) using AES encryption. Pick a strong, unique password and share it over a different channel than the file itself — emailing the PDF and its password in the same thread defeats the point.

How do I redact a PDF properly?

True redaction removes the underlying text and image data, not just draws a black box over it — a box you can copy text out from or delete isn't redaction. Arthize's redact tool deletes the content beneath and flattens the page so the information is genuinely gone, which matters for contracts, filings and anything with personal data.

How do I OCR a scanned PDF to make it searchable?

Run OCR (optical character recognition) on the scan — it reads the image of the text and adds a hidden, searchable text layer behind it. The page still looks identical, but you can now select, copy, search and convert the content. OCR is also the prerequisite for converting a scanned PDF to Word accurately.

How do I sign a PDF without Adobe?

You don't need Acrobat to sign a PDF. Add a drawn, typed or uploaded signature image to the page, or apply a cryptographic digital signature for documents that need verifiable authenticity. Arthize does both, so you can skip a separate e-sign subscription for everyday signing.

How do I convert a PDF to JPG or images?

Use the PDF-to-image tool to render each page as a JPG or PNG at the resolution you choose. Higher DPI gives sharper images and larger files. This is handy for thumbnails, slide decks or posting a single page where a PDF would be awkward.

Is it safe to use free online PDF tools?

It depends entirely on what happens to your upload. Most free PDF sites send your file to their servers, and their terms often allow them to retain or analyze it. For a flyer that's fine; for anything with a name, number or signature it's a copy of a private document on someone else's disk. Arthize processes files in a private workspace and deletes them after the job, with no training on your data.

What's a good free alternative to Adobe Acrobat?

Arthize covers the tools most people actually use Acrobat for — merge, split, convert, OCR, redact, sign and compress — starting free, with Pro at $6/mo versus Acrobat's $20/mo, and a one-time $149 lifetime option. It runs in the browser, so there's nothing to install.

Plans, privacy & the lifetime deal

Is the lifetime deal actually lifetime?

Yes. One $149 payment buys forever access to Arthize, including every tool we ship later. We'd rather you tell ten friends than pay us monthly.

What happens after 200 seats?

The lifetime tier closes. New buyers move to $6/month. Anyone who grabbed a lifetime seat keeps it — forever, no asterisks.

Can I get a refund?

No. All sales are final. Start with the free plan first, then upgrade only when Arthize fits your workflow.

Where does Arthize run?

Arthize is a hosted workspace. Buyers sign in and use the app online — no servers, scripts, deploy guide, or self-hosting required.

How is it different from Adobe Acrobat?

Acrobat is $20/month, per user, forever. Arthize starts free, Pro is cheaper, and Lifetime is one payment for long-term access.

How is it different from Smallpdf or iLovePDF?

Arthize gives buyers a private hosted workspace with clear plans, account history, and stronger limits than throwaway free PDF sites.

Will you train AI on my files?

No. No telemetry, no scraping, no model training. Files are processed and discarded per your retention policy.

What about GDPR and HIPAA?

Arthize is built for GDPR and HIPAA-sensitive workflows. EU region by default, custom retention, role-based access.

Can my team use my plan?

Each plan is tied to one account. For teams, grab a plan per person, or email support@arthize.com and we'll sort out a team arrangement.

Do you have an affiliate program?

Yes — 30% of every sale for 12 months. Drop a note to support@arthize.com once you've grabbed a seat.