FixIt Localy vs PDF2Go: The Local-First Alternative
Why thousands of privacy-conscious users choose browser-based processing over uploading to PDF2Go's servers.
FixIt Localy vs PDF2Go
Why local-first processing is the superior choice for your data privacy and document security.
| Feature | FixIt Localy | PDF2Go |
|---|---|---|
Privacy | 100% Local / No Upload | Cloud Upload |
Data Residency | User Device | International Servers |
Security | Zero Data Retention | 72-hour Retention |
Login Required | None (Stateless) | Required for Storage |
Arabic Support | Native (RTL Reshaping) | Basic (Broken Letters) |
The No-Upload Guarantee
PDF2Go imposes strict free-tier limits including a 50MB file size cap and only 3 tasks per day. All files are uploaded to their servers. Users needing to process large files or work with sensitive documents face both functional and privacy limitations.
FixIt Localy takes a fundamentally different approach. Every operation — compression, merging, splitting, conversion — runs as a WebAssembly module inside your browser tab. Your files exist only in your device's memory. When you close the tab, they are gone.
FixIt Localy is built for users who legally or operationally cannot upload documents to a third-party cloud server.
PDF2Go
- Files uploaded to remote servers
- Files stored on PDF2Go servers for a limited period after processing. Exact retention not publicly specified.
- Cloud-based processing on third-party servers. No specific PDPL or GDPR compliance documentation publicly available.
- Arabic support: Limited — Arabic text frequently loses proper letter shaping and correct reading direction during conversion operations.
- Free with 50MB limit and 3 tasks/day. Premium from $6/month.
- Does not work offline
FixIt Localy
- Files never leave your device — ever
- Zero data retention — nothing stored on any server
- No cross-border data transfer — fully PDPL & GDPR compliant
- Native Arabic RTL support with full Unicode Bidi + reshaping
- Completely free — no account, no subscription, no limits
- Works fully offline after first page load
Arabic Document Support
For users in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and across the Arab world, Arabic document handling is critical. Most Western PDF tools treat Arabic as an afterthought — extracting disconnected, reversed characters instead of properly shaped, right-to-left Arabic text.
FixIt Localy implements the complete Arabic text reshaping algorithm and the Unicode Bidirectional Algorithm for every conversion operation. The result is correctly rendered Arabic script in all output documents — the only free browser-based tool with this level of Arabic language support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is FixIt Localy a complete alternative to PDF2Go?
Yes. FixIt Localy covers the same core operations as PDF2Go: PDF compression, merging, splitting, Word conversion, image compression, and more — all without uploading files to any server. The key difference is that FixIt processes everything locally in your browser using WebAssembly.
Q: Why does PDF2Go upload my files?
PDF2Go is a cloud-based service — their business model requires server-side processing. Before WebAssembly, this was the only way to run complex document operations in a web browser. Modern browser technology now makes fully local processing possible, which is what FixIt Localy is built on.
Q: Does FixIt Localy work offline?
Yes. Once the page and WebAssembly modules have loaded in your browser, all tools work without an internet connection. Cloud-based tools like ${name} require a continuous internet connection for every operation.
Q: Does FixIt Localy have the same file size limits as PDF2Go?
No limits. Free with 50MB limit and 3 tasks/day. Premium from $6/month. FixIt Localy has no server-imposed file size limits because processing happens on your device. The practical limit is your device's available RAM.
Q: Is FixIt Localy suitable for confidential business documents?
Yes — it is specifically built for this use case. Your files never leave your device, eliminating the privacy risk entirely. For organizations operating under Saudi PDPL, GDPR, or HIPAA, local processing means there is no data transfer to a third-party processor to manage.
Q: How does Arabic support compare between FixIt and PDF2Go?
FixIt Localy: Native Arabic RTL support with full Unicode Bidirectional Algorithm and Arabic text reshaping — producing correctly ordered, connected Arabic script. PDF2Go: Limited — Arabic text frequently loses proper letter shaping and correct reading direction during conversion operations.
Q: Why is FixIt Localy completely free?
Local processing means there are no server costs to cover. Cloud services charge subscription fees primarily to pay for the compute infrastructure that processes your files. FixIt uses your device's hardware instead — making it sustainable to offer all tools for free.