I Built a Free PDF Page Numbering Tool (Because Smallpdf Charges for That)
I needed to add page numbers to a PDF for a client presentation. You know the drill — open Smallpdf, upload the file, customize, download.
Except I hit a wall. The free tier only lets you do a handful of tasks before asking for payment. And I realized: my client documents were being uploaded to a third-party server just to add page numbers.
That shouldn't be the default.
So I built something better.
PDF Page Numbering Tool is a free, client-side tool that runs entirely in your browser. No uploads. No accounts. No subscriptions.
What it does:
- Add page numbers — Configure position, font size, start number, and format.
- Multiple formats — Simple numbers (1, 2, 3), "1 of N" style, dash style (-1-), or "Page 1" prefix.
- Six positions — Top/ bottom center, left, or right.
Everything happens locally using pdf-lib. Your files never leave your device. The whole thing is a single HTML file with no server component.
Why this matters
Most online PDF tools follow the same playbook: free for one or two tasks, then pay up. Or require an account just to use basic features. And somewhere between "upload" and "download," your documents are sitting on a remote server.
For confidential documents — contracts, financial reports, personal records — that's a privacy problem.
This tool solves all three issues at once: it's free, private, and works offline after the first load.
Open and use it
No signup, no install, no tricks. Just open the tool, upload your PDF, configure the numbering, and download.
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