ClientoraHQ Free Tools
Free PDF, image, text, business and everyday tools at tools.clientorahq.com — an iLovePDF / Smallpdf-style hub in ClientoraHQ's look.
Zero running cost by design. The site is a static export (output: "export"): plain HTML/JS files, no server routes, no API keys, no AI calls. Every tool works inside the visitor's browser (pdf-lib, pdf.js, canvas, MediaRecorder, Web Crypto, localStorage), so a visitor's file never leaves their device.
Run it
npm install # npm cache is pinned to E:\DevCaches\npm-cache by .npmrc
npm run dev # http://localhost:4820
npm run build # static site in ./out
npm start # serve ./out on http://localhost:4821
Layout
| Path | What |
|---|
lib/tools.ts | Tool registry: name, category, SEO title/description, steps, FAQ. Add a tool here first. |
components/ToolLoader.tsx | Maps a slug to its lazily loaded tool component (one chunk per tool). |
app/[slug]/page.tsx | Every tool page and category page (/pdf-tools…): header, tool, how-to, FAQ, JSON-LD, ClientoraHQ CTA. |
tools/*.tsx | The tools themselves (client components). |
components/ui/ | Drop zone, file rows, result panel, toaster, small controls. |
lib/ | pdf.js loader, image pipeline, file helpers, random/strength maths. |
Adding a tool
- Add an entry to
tools in lib/tools.ts (and an icon to components/ToolIcon.tsx if needed).
- Write
tools/YourTool.tsx as a default-exported client component.
- Map the slug in
components/ToolLoader.tsx.
The page, sitemap entry, structured data and nav links appear automatically.
A landing variant (e.g. /cv-maker, which reuses the Resume Builder) goes in landings in lib/tools.ts with component set to the tool slug it reuses. It gets its own page, canonical, FAQ, sitemap entry and footer link, but no duplicate card in the grid. Only add one for a genuinely different search intent.
Decisions
- No AI calls. "AI" tools that would need a paid model are template-based instead: Resume Builder (bullet templates by role) and Cover Letter Generator (structured templates, three tones). The AI Grammar Checker from the old roadmap is left out: a grammar checker worth using needs a language model or a server (LanguageTool), and either one costs money per request.
- Background Remover runs the IS-Net model in the browser via
@imgly/background-removal. The model files (~80 MB, cached after the first use) come from IMG.LY's CDN; the photo never leaves the device. That library is AGPL-3.0, so keep this repository public (see DEPLOY.md).
- PDF text in generated PDFs (invoice, resume, letter, sign) uses the built-in Helvetica font, so only Latin characters print; others become "?". Currency symbols the font can't draw fall back to the currency code (e.g. INR 1,000.00).
See DEPLOY.md for push, Vercel and DNS steps.
