Flatten a PDF online, free
Lock form answers, signatures and comments into the page so nobody can edit them. Your file never leaves your device.
- No upload
- No sign-up
- No watermark or limits
Add the PDF to flatten
Drop a PDF here or choose one. Forms, signed documents and PDFs with comments all work.
Stays on your device. Nothing is uploaded.
How to flatten a PDF
- 1
Add your PDF
Drop a PDF on the page or choose one. The tool counts its form fields, comments and stamps.
- 2
Choose what to flatten
Form fields only keeps text selectable. Whole pages locks everything, like printing to paper.
- 3
Download
The flattened copy downloads straight away, with the same page size as the original.
Your file never leaves your device
Most online PDF tools upload your document to their servers and promise to delete it later. This one opens and edits the file inside your browser with the open-source pdf.js and pdf-lib libraries, so there is nothing to upload and nothing to delete.
Check it yourself: once this page has loaded, turn off your Wi-Fi. The tool keeps working.
This free tool
- No upload, no account
- No watermark, no daily limit
- For documents you prepare yourself
When others need to sign
- Signers verify their identity with a one-time passcode sent to their email.
- Every completed document comes with a Certificate of Completion that records timestamps, IP addresses, device and browser details and email events, sealed with a SHA-256 hash.
Frequently asked questions
What does flattening a PDF do?
- It merges interactive parts of the PDF, such as form fields, comments, stamps and signature images, into the page itself. After flattening they print and display the same everywhere and can no longer be edited or removed in a PDF reader.
Form fields only or whole pages: which should I pick?
- Pick "Form fields only" to lock answers in a filled form while keeping the text selectable and the file small. Pick "Whole pages" when the PDF also has comments, stamps or a signature placed as an annotation; it locks everything, like printing to paper.
Why do some forms ask me to flatten before sending?
- Unflattened answers can be changed by anyone who opens the file, and some viewers hide them. Agencies and courts often ask for flattened PDFs so the copy they receive is exactly what you submitted.
Is my PDF uploaded?
- No. The PDF is opened and flattened in your browser with the open-source pdf.js and pdf-lib libraries, and never sent to our servers. Once the page has loaded you can turn off your Wi-Fi and it still works.
Is there a page limit or watermark?
- No limit and no watermark. Very large files depend on your device memory; whole-page flattening of a long document can take a minute.
Does flattening make a signed PDF legally binding?
- No. Flattening stops casual edits, but it does not record who signed or when. For documents others need to sign, an e-signature service keeps that record for you.
More free tools
- Fill PDF FormType straight into the fields of any fillable PDF and download the completed form.
- Add Date to PDFPlace today’s date or any date and text anywhere on a PDF, in the format you need.
- Add Stamp to PDFStamp a PDF with Approved, Paid, Received or your own image, with an optional date.
- Scan to PDFSnap photos of paper pages and turn them into one clean, readable PDF.
Need someone else to sign it?
Upload a PDF, sign it yourself or send it to others, and get a signed copy with a full record. 3 free documents every month, no card needed.
E-signature rules vary by country, state and document type, so check with a legal professional that an e-signature suits your specific agreement before you rely on it.