Paperforge

Free plan LinuxMacWindows

What Paperforge is

Paperforge is a free, open-source desktop toolkit for working with PDFs offline on Linux, macOS, and Windows. It can combine files, extract page ranges or individual pages, and build custom page sets. A thumbnail interface supports drag-and-drop reordering and page deletion. Users can choose compression levels from screen to printer grade, compare PDF versions in a side-by-side view, and convert between PDFs and JPG, PNG, or WebP images. Paperforge says files are processed locally with native Rust, with no uploads, tracking, or API calls. It is released under the MIT License, which permits free use, modification, and distribution. The Free plan costs nothing, requires no account, and has no subscription. Downloads are listed for Linux distributions, Apple Silicon and Intel Macs, and Windows. Building from source requires Node 18+, Rust stable, and Tauri prerequisites for the target platform. Support links include GitHub Discussions, bug reporting, and feature requests.

Who it suits

Paperforge suits people who want a free desktop PDF toolkit that processes files locally on Linux, macOS, or Windows.

What it does well

Processes files locally
No uploads, tracking, or API calls
Combines, splits, and reorders PDFs
Compares PDF versions side by side
Available for Linux, macOS, and Windows

What to know first

Building from source requires Node 18+
Source builds require Rust stable
Source builds require platform Tauri prerequisites

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Free	No account needed · No subscription	Free

As paperforge.asyncat.com lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Open the Paperforge website.
Choose a download for Linux, macOS, or Windows.
Select the package or build matching your system, such as Debian or Ubuntu, Fedora or RHEL, Arch Linux, Apple Silicon, Intel, or a Windows installer or executable.
Install and open the desktop app.
To build from source, prepare Node 18+, Rust stable, and the Tauri prerequisites for your target platform.

Verdict

Paperforge covers PDF page editing, compression, image conversion, and version comparison in an offline desktop app. Its MIT License permits free use, modification, and distribution.

Questions

How much does Paperforge cost?

The Free plan costs nothing. It has no subscription and requires no account.

Is Paperforge open source?

Yes. Paperforge is released under the MIT License, which permits free use, modification, and distribution.

Which platforms does Paperforge support?

Downloads are listed for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Options include Debian or Ubuntu, Fedora or RHEL, Arch Linux, Apple Silicon and Intel, and Windows installer or executable formats.

Does Paperforge process files online?

The product page says processing happens locally through native Rust, with no uploads, tracking, or API calls.

What can Paperforge do with PDF pages?

It can combine PDFs, extract page ranges or selected pages, reorder or delete pages, and compare versions. It can also compress PDFs and convert between PDFs and supported image formats.

What is required to build Paperforge from source?

Building from source requires Node 18+, Rust stable, and Tauri prerequisites for the target platform.

Facts from Paperforge's own pages

Build requirements: Building from source requires Node 18+, Rust stable, and Tauri prerequisites for the target platform. · paperforge.asyncat.com, 9 Oct 2026
Compression: It reduces PDF file size with selectable compression levels from screen to printer grade. · paperforge.asyncat.com, 9 Oct 2026
Desktop platforms: Downloads are listed for Linux, macOS, and Windows, including Debian or Ubuntu, Fedora or RHEL, Arch Linux, Apple Silicon, Intel, and Windows installer or executable options. · paperforge.asyncat.com, 9 Oct 2026
Image conversion: It combines JPG, PNG, and WebP images into PDFs and exports PDF pages as PNG or JPG images. · paperforge.asyncat.com, 9 Oct 2026
License: Paperforge is released under the MIT License, which the page says permits free use, modification, and distribution. · paperforge.asyncat.com, 9 Oct 2026
Merge and split: It can combine multiple PDFs and extract page ranges, individual pages, or arbitrary page sets. · paperforge.asyncat.com, 9 Oct 2026
Network and tracking: The product page describes the app as having no upload, no tracking, and no API calls. · paperforge.asyncat.com, 9 Oct 2026
Offline processing: The product page says file processing happens locally via native Rust and that no files are uploaded. · paperforge.asyncat.com, 9 Oct 2026
Page editing: It provides a visual drag-and-drop page thumbnail view for reordering and deleting pages. · paperforge.asyncat.com, 9 Oct 2026
PDF comparison: Its side-by-side diff view highlights changed, added, and removed content between PDF versions. · paperforge.asyncat.com, 9 Oct 2026
Product: Paperforge is a free, open-source offline PDF toolkit. · paperforge.asyncat.com, 9 Oct 2026
Support: The download page links to GitHub Discussions, bug reporting, and feature requests. · paperforge.asyncat.com, 9 Oct 2026

Where Paperforge stands on Freedom251

PDF Merger Software#11 of 36