How Timesnap PDF works
Your files stay on your device
Most online PDF sites upload your file to their servers, process it there, and send it back. Timesnap works differently: every tool runs inside your own web browser. When you drop a file, the browser reads it straight from your device's memory. Nothing is sent over the internet — not the file, not its pages, not the passwords you type — so there is nothing for anyone to intercept, store or leak.
Built with the same technology as desktop apps
Modern browsers can run code at near-native speed. Timesnap uses pdf.js (made by Mozilla, the engine behind Firefox's PDF viewer) to read and draw pages, pdf-lib to build new PDFs, and qpdf — a respected open-source PDF toolkit — compiled to WebAssembly for AES-256 encryption, unlocking and compression. Photos are processed with the browser's own image engine. Fonts are embedded in your PDFs cut down to just the letters you used, so files stay small and text stays real and searchable.
Works on any device
Because the work happens on your device, the tools are fast — there's no waiting for your files to upload or download, however slow your connection. They run in current versions of Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox, on Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone and iPad. Phones can do everything too, with touch-friendly controls.
Questions people ask
Is it really free?
Yes. Every tool is free, with no sign-up, no watermark and no daily limit. The site is supported by ads on the PDF and photo tool pages; the photo-checking page has none.
How does client-side PDF processing keep my documents secure?
“Client-side” means the work is done by your own device, not by a server. Your PDF is opened by the browser, changed in its memory and saved back to your device as a new file. Because the file is never transmitted, it can't be intercepted on the way, copied on a server, or kept in someone else's backups.
What is the maximum file size?
There's no fixed limit — the only limit is your device's memory. Computers handle large PDFs with hundreds of pages, and phones handle everyday documents and photos easily. If a very large file is slow, close other tabs or use a computer.
How do I compress a large PDF for email without losing image quality?
Open Compress PDF and choose Recommended. It re-saves the photos inside the PDF at up to 2000 pixels with good quality and leaves text untouched, which often makes photo-heavy PDFs half the size or smaller while still looking sharp. If the file is still too big for your email provider (often 20–25 MB), choose Strong, or split it into parts with Split PDF.
Will my PDF look the same after editing?
Yes. Original pages are copied unchanged, and anything you add is placed exactly where you put it on screen: text is saved as real text in the same font, shapes as sharp vector drawings, and photos at the quality you choose.
Can I use it on my phone?
Yes. Every tool works on Android phones, iPhones and tablets. The editor has a phone layout with pinch-to-zoom, large handles and panels that open from the bottom of the screen.
Do you keep any copies of my files?
No — we never receive them. There are no accounts and no file history on our side. When you close the tab, everything you worked on in it is gone from the browser's memory.
Which browsers are supported?
Current versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari, on computers, phones and tablets. Older browsers may not support some tools.