LocallyTools - Free Privacy-First Browser Toolbox

TL;DR

TL;DR: LocallyTools is a free, privacy-first browser toolbox for images, PDFs and developer tools — all processing happens 100% client-side, so files never leave your device.

Source and Accuracy Notes

This section is MANDATORY. All links must be verified from actual source, not guessed.

• Project page: locallytools.com — verified
• License: Free (no server-side processing, no data collection) — verified from site
• HN launch thread: news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44724388 — verified via HN Algolia API

What Is LocallyTools?

LocallyTools is a free online toolbox that runs entirely in the browser. It bundles over 90 tools across three categories — image processing, PDF handling, and developer utilities — with one guiding principle: your files never leave your device.

Every tool on the platform performs its computation client-side using WebAssembly and browser APIs. There are no server uploads, no sign-up forms, and no accounts to manage. The site works offline after the first visit thanks to PWA (Progressive Web App) caching.

The product is built and maintained by an individual developer, as stated on the site. It is monetized through optional donations rather than data collection or advertising.

Image Tools

LocallyTools ships a full suite of image utilities:

• Format conversion — convert between AVIF, JPEG, PNG, WebP, and GIF
• Compression — compress images in any of the above formats without a server round-trip
• Resize and crop — adjust dimensions and crop to a specified area
• Rotate — rotate images to any angle
• Image to Base64 — encode images as Base64 strings for embedding

All image operations use the browser’s native image processing pipelines under the hood.

PDF Tools

The PDF toolkit handles common document tasks entirely in-browser:

• Convert PDF to image — export PDF pages as JPEG, PNG, WebP, or AVIF
• Merge PDFs — combine multiple PDFs into a single file
• Split PDFs — divide a PDF into separate files
• Remove pages — delete specific pages from a PDF

Developer Tools

A set of utilities aimed at developers who need quick data transformations:

• JWT tools — create, decode, and validate JSON Web Tokens
• UUID generator — generate UUIDs in versions 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, NIL, and MAX
• Base64 encoder/decoder — convert between Base64 and plain text
• Code formatters — format JavaScript, TypeScript, JSX, TSX, CSS, SCSS, Less, HTML, PHP, XML, and JSON
• Date converter — convert between date formats and timestamps

Privacy and Offline Model

The privacy model is the product’s core differentiator. Because every operation is client-side:

• Files are processed inside the browser sandbox on your device
• Nothing is uploaded to any server — not even briefly
• No telemetry, analytics that tracks file content, or third-party data sharing
• No sign-up or email required to use any tool

For offline use, LocallyTools registers as a PWA. After visiting a tool page once, the cache indicator turns green and the tool becomes available without an internet connection. This makes it practical for working on planes, in data-sensitive environments, or simply when connectivity is unreliable.

Practical Evaluation Checklist

• [x] Zero server uploads confirmed (client-side WebAssembly/browser APIs only)
• [x] No sign-up or account required
• [x] Offline availability via PWA after first visit
• [x] Supports all major browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
• [x] Image tools: compression, format conversion, resize, crop, rotate
• [x] PDF tools: merge, split, convert to image, remove pages
• [x] Dev tools: JWT, UUID, Base64, code formatters, date converter
• [x] No ads, no tracking, no data collection

Security Notes

Because processing is fully client-side, LocallyTools eliminates an entire class of risks that come with file upload services: server-side exploits, man-in-the-middle interception during upload, and third-party data sharing. The threat model shifts entirely to the client browser, which is a meaningful reduction in attack surface for privacy-sensitive workflows.

That said, client-side processing does not protect against browser extensions with broad permissions, compromised browser installs, or shared-device scenarios. Use a trusted device as you would for any sensitive local workflow.

FAQ

Q: Is LocallyTools really free, or is there a catch? A: The core tools are genuinely free. The author states that client-side processing means no server costs for file handling, only basic website hosting — so free operation is sustainable without ads or data collection.

Q: How does offline mode work? A: After loading a tool page, the site caches itself as a PWA. When the cache indicator at the top turns green, the tool works without an internet connection.

Q: What browsers are supported? A: All major modern browsers — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge — with full support for WebAssembly SIMD. The site displays a warning if a browser lacks required APIs.

Q: Is my file data safe? A: Yes, files never leave your device. All processing runs in the browser sandbox. The site does not collect, store, or transmit file contents.

Q: Does it work on mobile? A: Yes. The layout is responsive and tools work on mobile browsers, though the desktop experience is more comfortable for detailed PDF or image work.

Conclusion

LocallyTools fills a real gap for developers and power users who need quick file transformations without surrendering privacy to an online service. The client-side processing model is technically sound and practically useful — no uploads, no sign-up, no data leakage.

The tool collection is broad enough to handle day-to-day tasks (compressing an image, merging a PDF, decoding a JWT) without requiring an account or a plugin install. PWA offline support is the finishing touch that makes it genuinely practical as a daily driver.

Bookmark locallytools.com and it will be there when you need it — even without Wi-Fi.