PDF Pals

PDF Pals is a browser-based helper that lets me chat with any PDF and pull answers in seconds.

How to use PDF Pals

1. Open PDF Pals in your favourite browser.
2. Drag a document onto the dotted area or click to pick a file.
3. Press “Upload” and wait a moment while the text is indexed.
4. Type a question into the chat box, then hit Enter.
5. Read or copy the reply, scroll the source highlights if needed, and keep asking for extra detail.
6. When finished, clear the chat or load another file from the sidebar.

Time with PDF Pals: highs and lows

I spent a fortnight running sales contracts, academic papers and a 300-page manual through the service, switching between the free tier and the paid monthly plan. The test session showed where the tool shines and where it still needs polish.

Advantages

• Speedy replies: even a hefty handbook came back with an answer in under ten seconds during off-peak hours.
• Clear citations: every response lists line numbers from the source, making fact-checking straightforward.
• Generous free limit: three documents per day with full chat history let me try serious work before paying.
• Simple layout: only two panels and one toolbar; no training required for new colleagues.
• Dark theme option: late-night reading felt easier on my eyes.

Drawbacks

• Scanned pages frustrate the parser: image-only PDFs return patchy results unless I run OCR elsewhere first.
• Upload cap on the entry plan: files above 50 MB bounce back with an error, so technical manuals needed trimming.
• No mobile app yet: the web version works on a phone, though buttons feel cramped.
• Occasional timeout on large tables: complex spreadsheets embedded in a report caused the chat to stall twice during testing.
• Limited export formats: replies can be copied, but direct markdown or Word export is missing.

After plenty of real-world use, I’m keeping PDF Pals pinned in the bookmark bar for quick reference work, while hoping the next update tackles big file handling and adds a proper phone interface.