Free Tools
A suite of free online PDF and image utilities powered by the REFRACT PDF engine. No sign-up required for basic use. Upload a PDF and get results instantly.
Overview
REFRACT PDF offers a set of free tools available at /tools. All tools are powered by the same rendering and processing engine used in REFRACT PDF document generation. No account is needed to get started. Sign in to unlock higher file-size limits and additional features.
Available tools
| Tool | URL | Description |
|---|---|---|
| REFRACT Image Lab | /tools/pdf-to-image | Convert PDF pages to WebP images and generate QR codes |
| PDF Compressor | /tools/pdf-shrinker | Convert each PDF page to a size-reduced WebP image |
| Marketing Card Maker | /tools/document-card | Turn a PDF page into a styled social share image |
Tier limits
All tools share a two-tier access model.
| Tier | Condition | File size limit | Pages limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | No account needed | 5 MB | 3 pages |
| Signed-in | Logged in with a REFRACT PDF account | 10-20 MB (varies by tool) | 5 pages |
Unlock higher limits
Sign in with a REFRACT PDF account to raise file size caps and unlock multi-page selection.
REFRACT Image Lab
URL: /tools/pdf-to-image
A two-tab utility combining a PDF-to-image converter and a QR code generator.
PDF to Image tab
Convert any PDF into high-resolution WebP images, one image per page. Useful for previews, thumbnails, and embedding PDF content in web pages or presentations.
| Property | Free | Signed-in |
|---|---|---|
| Max file size | 5 MB | 10 MB |
| Max pages converted | 3 | 5 |
| Output format | WebP | WebP |
| Bulk ZIP download | - | Yes |
How to use:
- Drop a PDF onto the upload zone or click to browse.
- Click Convert. Pages are processed and returned as WebP images.
- Download individual pages or all pages as a ZIP archive.
QR Generator tab
Generate QR codes from any URL or plain text. Supports colour themes, optional logo overlay, printed labels, and multi-code sticker sheet layouts.
| Option | Description | Tier required |
|---|---|---|
| Text / URL | The content encoded in the QR code. Accepts any URL or plain text string. | Free |
| Colour | Foreground colour. Choose from six preset swatches or enter a custom hex value. | Free (swatches), Signed-in (custom hex) |
| Layout | Output layout: 1x1 (single), 2x1 (strip), 2x2 (sheet). | Free |
| Logo | Overlay the default REFRACT PDF logo or upload a custom PNG/SVG. | Signed-in |
| Label | Printed text placed above or below the QR code. | Signed-in |
Tip
Use the 2x2 sheet layout combined with a custom logo and label to produce print-ready sticker sheets for events or product packaging.
Colour swatches
| Label | Hex |
|---|---|
| Black | #000000 |
| REFRACT PDF Blue | #0077B6 |
| Sky Blue | #0EA5E9 |
| Navy | #1E3A5F |
| Forest | #16A34A |
| Purple | #7C3AED |
PDF Compressor
URL: /tools/pdf-shrinker
This tool does not produce a compressed PDF. It rasterises each page of the uploaded PDF to a full-page image (via pdfjs and a canvas renderer) at a fixed scale, then re-encodes that image as WebP - the output is one WebP image per page, not a smaller PDF. Because every page is rasterised, text stops being real, searchable text and vector graphics stop being vectors - both become part of the page image, at the render scale used. There is no option to compress only the embedded images while leaving text and vectors intact.
| Property | Free (not signed in) | Signed-in |
|---|---|---|
| Max file size | 5 MB | 20 MB |
| Max pages processed | 3 | Unlimited |
| Render scale | 150 DPI equivalent | 150 DPI equivalent |
| Output | Per-page WebP images | Per-page WebP images |
How to use:
- Drop a PDF onto the upload zone or click to browse.
- Click Compress. Each page is rendered and converted to WebP.
- The result panel shows the original file size, the total size of the WebP images, and the percentage saved.
- Download the per-page WebP images.
Output is images, not a PDF
The result is a set of WebP page images, not a smaller version of the original PDF. Text becomes unselectable and unsearchable once rasterised. Use this tool for size-constrained previews or thumbnails, not as a general PDF compressor for documents that need to stay editable, searchable, or text-selectable.
Marketing Card Maker
URL: /tools/document-card
Renders a single PDF page as a styled social media share card with a gradient background, rounded corners, drop shadow, and an optional label. Ready for LinkedIn, X, or portfolio sites.
| Property | Free | Signed-in |
|---|---|---|
| Max file size | 10 MB | 10 MB |
| Page selection | Page 1 only | Multi-select (toggle) |
| Theme choice | Yes | Yes |
| Custom label | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-page stacked export | - | Yes |
Themes
| Theme | Description |
|---|---|
ocean | Dark navy to REFRACT PDF blue gradient |
slate | Deep slate to cool grey gradient |
ink | Near-black to soft zinc gradient |
Page selection behaviour
- Free: Page 1 is always used. The page picker is hidden.
- Signed-in: A visual page thumbnail picker appears after upload. Toggle individual pages to include them. At least one page must remain selected.
How to use:
- Drop a PDF onto the upload zone. The tool counts pages before showing the picker.
- Choose a theme and optionally enter a label (e.g.
"Q1 2026 Report"). - Click Generate. The card image is returned as a PNG.
- Click Download to save it.
Tip
Keep labels short (under 40 characters) so they render cleanly within the card footer area at all output sizes.
🔒 Instant-Wipe: Files are processed in-RAM and never touch our disks.
⚡ Fair-Use: Limited to first 3 pages and 150 DPI for public users.
⚖️ By uploading, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.
Consent Policies
The REFRACT system consent policies, with the full text, SHA-256, and file of every version the products can present, and how to publish and select your own policy.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the REFRACT Platform - covering general usage, security and compliance, architecture, licensing, template management, and how REFRACT Platform compares to traditional PDF tools.