PDFShed Blog
Posts on PDF processing, browser-based privacy, free alternatives to paid PDF tools, and how WebAssembly enables real PDF work without a server.
Why We Built PDFShed — A Free, Browser-Based Smallpdf Alternative
The free PDF tool market has a quiet bait-and-switch: free for two tasks a day, then $9/month forever. We thought "$0/month forever" was a better offer. Here's how that's possible technically — and why we're not pivoting to a Pro tier.
How Browser-Based PDF Processing Actually Works (WebAssembly Deep Dive)
When we say "files never leave your browser," skeptics ask: how is that possible? Compress, merge, OCR — these are heavy operations. The answer is WebAssembly, and it's not magic. Here's the technical deep dive.
The Hidden Cost of "Free" PDF Tools — What You Pay When You Don't Pay
Free isn't free. The big PDF SaaS — Smallpdf, iLovePDF, Sejda — extract value somehow. Here's what each one actually takes when you use the free tier.
PDF Compression Explained — Why Your File Is Big and How to Shrink It
A 30-page Word doc exports to a 2 MB PDF. A 30-page scan exports to an 80 MB PDF. Why? And which compression setting do you actually want? Practical breakdown.
When to Redact a PDF vs. Just Delete the Page — A Practical Guide
You've been asked to "redact this before sending." Sometimes redaction is right. Sometimes deleting the page is right. The choice has legal, evidentiary, and practical consequences.