PDF Tools - Convert, Resize & Merge is a strong option, but it is not the right fit for everyone. Below are 10 alternatives compared on rating, install base, pricing and the use case each one actually wins on.
PDF Tools, is a simple add-on which allows you to easily manipulate (convert, resize, merge, etc.) PDF documents right in your browser. It uses an open-source software called Ghostscript. Ghostscript is an engine for interpreting portable document formats (PDF) and postscript (PS). In order to get more info about Ghostscript please read this (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghostscript) Wikipedia page. To download and install Ghostscript on your machine, please visit this (https://www.ghostscript.com/download/gsdnld.html) page. This add-on uses nativeMessaging (https://developer.chrome.com/apps/nativeMessaging) technology to communicate with Ghostscript client on your machine. Before using this add-on, you need to install Ghostscript on your machine. You also need the native client patch in order to build the communication between Ghostscript and your browser. Please visit this (https://github.com/alexmarcoo-nt/open-in-native-client/releases) GitHub repo and download the related patch for your machine. Follow the instruction in the above GitHub page in order to install the patch in your system. After installing, the "PDF Tools" add-on in your browser can communicate with the Ghostscript client on your machine (Window, Linux, or Mac). If you have a feature request or found a bug to report, please fill the bug report form in the add-on's homepage (https://mybrowseraddon.com/pdf-tools.html).
| Extension | Rating | Users | Pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PDF Tools - Convert, Resize & Merge (original) | 1.0 | 453 | Free | Manipulate PDF documents via Ghostscript interpreter right in your browser! |
| Adobe Acrobat: PDF edit, convert, sign tools | 4.4 | 311M+ | Freemium | Do more in Google Chrome with Adobe Acrobat PDF tools. View, fill, comment, sign, and try convert and compress tools. |
| Foxit PDF Creator | — | — | Free | To convert the web page to Foxit PDF |
| Immersive Translate: AI Web, PDF & Video Translator | 3.9 | 3M+ | Free | Free Translate Website, Translate PDF & Epub eBook, Translate Video Subtitles in Bilingual |
| Smallpdf—Edit, Convert, Compress, & AI Summarize PDF | 4.6 | 2M+ | Freemium | Get instant access to dozens of PDF tools directly in your browser – no downloads, no switching tabs. |
| Adblock Plus - free ad blocker | 4.4 | 37M+ | Freemium | Users who want an easy-to-use ad blocker with optional acceptable ads support. |
| Chrome Remote Desktop | 3.1 | 37M+ | Free | Chrome Remote Desktop extension |
| VPN for Chrome: NordVPN proxy protection | — | — | Free | Connect to the fastest VPN out there — NordVPN. Hide your IP, block ads, and be safer online with our VPN proxy extension for Chrome |
| Free VPN for Chrome - VPN Proxy VeePN | 4.5 | 14M+ | Free | VeePN is a VPN extension that unblocks websites and secures your connection with encrypted tunneling and unlimited bandwidth. |
| Tampermonkey | 4.7 | 11M+ | Free | Power users who want to customize websites and automate tasks with userscripts. |
| Adblock for Youtube™ | 4.4 | 10M+ | Free | ✓ Permissions: like common ad-blocking extensions we do need default permissions on every website to remove ads or popups for exam. |
Do more in Google Chrome with Adobe Acrobat PDF tools. View, fill, comment, sign, and try convert and compress tools.
Why it replaces PDF Tools - Convert, Resize & Merge: Covers similar ground in the Productivity category: Do more in Google Chrome with Adobe Acrobat PDF tools. View, fill, comment, sign, and try convert and compress tools.
To convert the web page to Foxit PDF
Why it replaces PDF Tools - Convert, Resize & Merge: Covers similar ground in the Productivity category: To convert the web page to Foxit PDF
Free Translate Website, Translate PDF & Epub eBook, Translate Video Subtitles in Bilingual
Why it replaces PDF Tools - Convert, Resize & Merge: Covers similar ground in the Productivity category: Free Translate Website, Translate PDF & Epub eBook, Translate Video Subtitles in Bilingual
Get instant access to dozens of PDF tools directly in your browser – no downloads, no switching tabs.
Why it replaces PDF Tools - Convert, Resize & Merge: Covers similar ground in the Productivity category: Get instant access to dozens of PDF tools directly in your browser – no downloads, no switching tabs.
Remove ads on YouTube and everywhere else you browse.
Why it replaces PDF Tools - Convert, Resize & Merge: Another popular Productivity extension: Remove ads on YouTube and everywhere else you browse.
Chrome Remote Desktop extension
Why it replaces PDF Tools - Convert, Resize & Merge: Another popular Productivity extension: Chrome Remote Desktop extension
Connect to the fastest VPN out there — NordVPN. Hide your IP, block ads, and be safer online with our VPN proxy extension for Chrome
Why it replaces PDF Tools - Convert, Resize & Merge: Another popular Productivity extension: Connect to the fastest VPN out there — NordVPN. Hide your IP, block ads, and be safer online with our VPN proxy extension for Chrome
VeePN is a VPN extension that unblocks websites and secures your connection with encrypted tunneling and unlimited bandwidth.
Why it replaces PDF Tools - Convert, Resize & Merge: Another popular Productivity extension: VeePN is a VPN extension that unblocks websites and secures your connection with encrypted tunneling and unlimited bandwidth.
Tampermonkey lets you install and run userscripts to customize websites, automate repetitive tasks and enhance functionality.
Why it replaces PDF Tools - Convert, Resize & Merge: Another popular Productivity extension: Tampermonkey lets you install and run userscripts to customize websites, automate repetitive tasks and enhance functionality.
✓ Permissions: like common ad-blocking extensions we do need default permissions on every website to remove ads or popups for exam.
Why it replaces PDF Tools - Convert, Resize & Merge: Another popular Productivity extension: ✓ Permissions: like common ad-blocking extensions we do need default permissions on every website to remove ads or popups for exam.
Direct comparisons with the extensions people weigh against it.
Adobe Acrobat: PDF edit, convert, sign tools is the closest match. Covers similar ground in the Productivity category: Do more in Google Chrome with Adobe Acrobat PDF tools. View, fill, comment, sign, and try convert and compress tools.
Yes — Foxit PDF Creator, Immersive Translate: AI Web, PDF & Video Translator, Chrome Remote Desktop are free.
