January 19, 2026
Love at first byte
Show HN: Pdfwithlove – PDF tools that run 100% locally (no uploads, no back end)
Privacy-first PDF tool goes fully local — cue name drama, “just use PDF24,” and “make it an app”
TLDR: A new privacy-first PDF tool runs entirely in your browser with no file uploads. Commenters loved the idea but clashed over the name, argued it already exists via PDF24/Stirling PDF, and pushed for a downloadable app and workflow features—privacy meets branding and usability in one spicy thread.
A new Show HN entrant, Pdfwithlove, promises no uploads, all-in-browser PDF wizardry with a big privacy bow on top. Fans cheered the privacy-first pitch—no files touching the cloud—while power users immediately asked for workflows: merge-then-compress, page extraction, and size-targeted outputs. One commenter practically storyboarded the feature roadmap in real time, and the vibe was: “This could replace a toolbox if it gets automation.”
Then the drama showed up. A sharp jab claimed the name “feels like” riding on iLovePDF, sparking a mini trademark courtroom in the comments. Skeptics asked why we need this when PDF24 exists, while another camp demanded comparisons to Stirling PDF. The chorus of “just use PDF24” became the day’s meme, as another thread begged for a downloadable app instead of trusting the browser—because irony alert: some users don’t trust privacy tools that live in the browser.
So yes, it’s the full internet trifecta: branding beef, feature wishlists, and the eternal “build it native” plea. If Pdfwithlove ships slick workflows and an offline build, it could win hearts. Until then, Hacker News is doing what it does best: being lawyers, product managers, and sysadmins—all at once.
Key Points
- •Pdfwithlove offers professional-grade PDF tools that run entirely in the user’s browser.
- •The service claims no uploads and no backend, keeping files on the device for absolute privacy.
- •It positions itself as a privacy-first alternative to cloud-based PDF services such as iLovePDF.
- •All computation is stated to occur in browser memory using a local PDF engine.
- •The project aims to be a free, professional alternative to expensive SaaS utilities and seeks user support for independence.