02 / TOOLBOX

Useful tools. Time better spent.

24 places to get everyday work done. See what each one does before you open it.

Images

Squoosh

Compress images with a visual quality comparison

Good for:Prepare a smaller cover image and compare quality before saving.

Before you use it
Pricing
Free to use
Account
No account required
Languages
English interface
Files & privacy
The official site says images are processed on your device.
Sources checked · 2026-09-24
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Images

Photopea

A layered image editor in your browser

Good for:Edit a PSD, crop a photo, or make a simple cover.

Before you use it
Pricing
Free editor available; see the site for other plans
Account
No account needed for basic editing
Languages
Multilingual interface
Files & privacy
The site describes local file editing; check separate terms for connected and AI features.
Sources checked · 2026-09-24
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Images

TinyPNG

Compress a batch of website images

Good for:Prepare several images at once; check the displayed file limits.

Before you use it
Pricing
Limited free use and paid plans
Account
Basic upload is available without starting an account
Languages
Primarily English
Files & privacy
Images are uploaded to the service; review its policy for sensitive files.
Sources checked · 2026-09-24
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Images

remove.bg

Remove a photo background quickly

Good for:Prepare a product cutout or avatar and inspect its edges.

Before you use it
Pricing
Free entry point; download quality and paid options vary
Account
Some features or downloads may require an account
Languages
Multilingual pages
Files & privacy
Images must be uploaded for processing.
Sources checked · 2026-09-24
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PDF & documents

iLovePDF

Merge, split, and organize PDFs

Good for:Combine application papers or extract selected pages.

Before you use it
Pricing
Basic free allowances and paid plans
Account
Basic tools are accessible directly; limits depend on plan
Languages
Multilingual, including Chinese
Files & privacy
Online tools upload documents; review the terms for sensitive material.
Sources checked · 2026-09-24
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PDF & documents

Smallpdf

Common PDF tasks in one place

Good for:Prepare scanned and office documents for sharing.

Before you use it
Pricing
Limited free services and paid plans
Account
Some features require an account
Languages
Multilingual pages
Files & privacy
Online processing uploads files; retention follows its policy.
Sources checked · 2026-09-24
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PDF & documents

Adobe Acrobat Online

Adobe's online PDF tools

Good for:Compare available conversion, compression, and signing tools.

Before you use it
Pricing
Some free tools; advanced features may be paid
Account
Download or continued use may require sign-in
Languages
Localized sites available
Files & privacy
Online actions may upload files or save them to an account; inspect prompts.
Sources checked · 2026-09-24
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PDF & documents

PDF24 Tools

A collection of browser-accessible PDF tools

Good for:Handle occasional page extraction, compression, or conversion.

Before you use it
Pricing
The site provides free online tools
Account
Online tools generally need no account
Languages
Multilingual, including Chinese
Files & privacy
Online tools differ from the desktop app; review upload information.
Sources checked · 2026-09-24
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Writing & translation

DeepL

Translate emails and short passages

Good for:Understand a foreign-language passage, then check tone and names.

Before you use it
Pricing
Limited free services and paid plans
Account
Basic text translation is accessible directly; extras may need an account
Languages
Multiple translation languages
Files & privacy
Text is sent to the service; check applicable terms for sensitive material.
Sources checked · 2026-09-24
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Writing & translation

Google Translate

Multilingual translation for everyday situations

Good for:Understand menus, short phrases, or a foreign-language webpage.

Before you use it
Pricing
Basic web translation is free
Account
Basic translation does not require sign-in
Languages
Supports multiple languages
Files & privacy
Translation input is sent to the service; regional access may vary.
Sources checked · 2026-09-24
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Writing & translation

LanguageTool

Check spelling, grammar, and phrasing

Good for:Review an English email and assess each suggestion.

Before you use it
Pricing
Basic and paid plans
Account
Some checks can be tried directly
Languages
Multiple languages, with differing coverage
Files & privacy
Web checks submit text; do not assume offline processing.
Sources checked · 2026-09-24
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Writing & translation

Hemingway Editor

Spot dense sentences in English writing

Good for:Improve readability without removing necessary technical terms.

Before you use it
Pricing
See the site for the free editor and paid enhancements
Account
Depends on the editor version
Languages
Focused on English writing
Files & privacy
Data handling can differ by version; review the selected editor.
Sources checked · 2026-09-24
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Productivity

Excalidraw

Sketch an idea before polishing it

Good for:Sketch travel responsibilities, a product idea, or a process.

Before you use it
Pricing
Free whiteboard; Plus is a separate product
Account
No account required for the basic whiteboard
Languages
Multilingual interface
Files & privacy
Sharing and collaboration use network services; check who can access a scene.
Sources checked · 2026-09-24
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Productivity

diagrams.net

Create a structured flowchart

Good for:Map a procedure, organization, or business process.

Before you use it
Pricing
Free web editor
Account
Local-file mode does not require an account
Languages
Multilingual interface
Files & privacy
Choose a storage destination; review permissions before connecting cloud storage.
Sources checked · 2026-09-24
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Productivity

Pomofocus

Make a focused block of time

Good for:Use timed sessions to organize a trip or clear small tasks.

Before you use it
Pricing
Basic timer and paid enhancements
Account
Basic timing needs no account
Languages
Primarily English
Files & privacy
Account and sync features use a service; avoid sensitive task descriptions.
Sources checked · 2026-09-24
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Productivity

Trello

Organize tasks as movable cards

Good for:Make to-do, in-progress, and done lists for a trip or project.

Before you use it
Pricing
Free plan and paid upgrades
Account
Account required
Languages
Multilingual interface
Files & privacy
Boards are stored in the cloud; check visibility and member permissions.
Sources checked · 2026-09-24
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Travel helpers

Rome2Rio

Explore transport options between places

Good for:Compare transport combinations, then verify timetables with operators.

Before you use it
Pricing
Route search is accessible; bookings cost separately
Account
Basic search is accessible directly
Languages
Multilingual pages
Files & privacy
Search sends destination details; results do not guarantee live schedules.
Sources checked · 2026-09-24
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Travel helpers

The Man in Seat 61

A guide to travelling by train

Good for:Plan an international rail trip, then check official ticket sellers.

Before you use it
Pricing
Public guides are readable; tickets cost separately
Account
No registration for reading
Languages
Primarily English
Files & privacy
Booking links lead to third parties; check their terms.
Sources checked · 2026-09-24
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Travel helpers

OpenStreetMap

Explore a community-maintained map

Good for:Inspect neighborhoods, paths, and the relationship between places.

Before you use it
Pricing
Free browsing; data reuse requires license compliance
Account
No account to browse; editing requires an account
Languages
Multilingual; place labels vary by region
Files & privacy
Search and location features involve location data; maps do not guarantee safe passage.
Sources checked · 2026-09-24
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Travel helpers

Time and Date Meeting Planner

Find a suitable time across time zones

Good for:Arrange a call across borders and account for daylight saving.

Before you use it
Pricing
Basic web lookup is available; other services may differ
Account
No account needed for basic lookup
Languages
Primarily English
Files & privacy
City names are sufficient; no need to submit a street address.
Sources checked · 2026-09-24
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Everyday tools

Speedtest

Check your current network performance

Good for:Check latency and speed before a call; one test is only a snapshot.

Before you use it
Pricing
Basic web testing is available; other products have separate terms
Account
Basic tests generally need no account
Languages
Multilingual pages
Files & privacy
Tests transfer data and involve network details such as IP addresses.
Sources checked · 2026-09-24
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Everyday tools

WolframAlpha

Compute and explore structured questions

Good for:Check a conversion or calculation and review how the query was interpreted.

Before you use it
Pricing
Basic queries and paid Pro plans
Account
Some queries need no account
Languages
Primarily English queries
Files & privacy
Queries are sent to the service; check assumptions in the result.
Sources checked · 2026-09-24
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Everyday tools

UnitConverters

Convert common units quickly

Good for:Convert luggage dimensions, temperature, area, or weight.

Before you use it
Pricing
Public web tools are directly accessible
Account
No account for public tools
Languages
Primarily English
Files & privacy
Personal identity information is unnecessary; the site policy still applies.
Sources checked · 2026-09-24
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Everyday tools

Calculator.net

A collection of everyday calculators

Good for:Calculate percentages, date intervals, or shared amounts; check assumptions.

Before you use it
Pricing
Public calculators are directly accessible
Account
Public tools need no account
Languages
Primarily English
Files & privacy
Do not enter identity or account details; outputs are not professional advice.
Sources checked · 2026-09-24
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Inclusion is not a guarantee. Refer to each provider's current terms.