June 17, 2026
No paywall? The comments are shook
Show HN: I built 184 free browser tools – PDF, image, dev, AI tasks, no upload
A shockingly free toolbox with no sign-up has commenters suspicious, grateful, and already asking for more
TLDR: A developer launched 166+ free tools that work in your browser, meaning files stay on your device instead of being uploaded somewhere else. Commenters were thrilled by the no-signup, no-subscription approach, while also immediately asking for bug fixes, a mailing list, and extra features.
A maker on Hacker News dropped what sounds almost too wholesome for the modern internet: 166+ free browser tools for things like PDFs, photos, resumes, calculators, and even AI helpers, all with a big promise — your files never leave your device. In a world where “free” often means “free until the paywall hits,” commenters immediately latched onto the real plot twist: people actually believed him. One of the strongest reactions was pure relief. A commenter basically said seeing “pro” in a web address usually means a subscription trap is lurking, so finding one that doesn’t ask for money or an account felt like spotting a unicorn in a checkout line.
But this wasn’t just a wholesome love-fest. The community instantly turned into a mix of fans, product managers, and bug hunters. One person asked for the GitHub page, while another jumped in with the classic launch-day reality check: the background remover didn’t work on their Mac. Others were already trying to push the creator toward the next step in the startup rom-com: “Please start an email list.” That kicked up a tiny tension point, because the site’s whole vibe is no tricks, no pressure, no data grab, and now people are literally begging to hand over their email addresses. Another wanted it as a Raycast plugin for easier use, which is internet speak for: we like this, now please make it even more convenient. The mood overall? Equal parts stunned, thankful, and playfully demanding.
Key Points
- •The article presents Brevio as a collection of 166 free browser-based tools across 14 categories.
- •The site states that its tools require no uploads, no signup, and are positioned as private and instant.
- •The catalog includes major categories such as developer tools, design tools, image tools, PDF tools, crypto tools, finance, games, health, text, and time.
- •The listed utilities cover file handling, format conversion, document editing, coding helpers, calculators, generators, and media tools.
- •The article includes a substantial set of AI-related utilities focused on LLM workflows, such as token counting, prompt formatting, cost calculation, context visualization, and evaluation tools.