Tired of “free” PDF editors that add watermarks, lock the useful buttons, or want a monthly subscription? EthicalApp is ten complete apps – PDF, documents, spreadsheets, slides, photos, converting, databases, sticky notes, screenshots and reminders – that open your Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Photoshop files. Free forever.
Every “free” one I tried had a catch. A watermark on the saved file. The one button I needed locked behind a subscription. An installer that tried to sneak in a toolbar. Or a website that wanted me to upload my private documents to someone else's server first.
I couldn't find a good, safe, free option – so I built my own. Then I kept going: a document editor so I could stop putting up with WordPad, spreadsheets, slides, a photo editor, a converter, screenshots, sticky notes for my to-do list, and reminders so I don't forget my supplements.
These are the everyday tools I wanted on my own PC: simple, fast, private, and free for real. No accounts, no ads, no tracking, no trial that runs out. If they make your day a little easier too, that's the whole point.
— CraftingBenchGames, the maker of EthicalApp
No trial that runs out. No “export costs extra”. No account. Just the tools.
Edit PDF text, sign, fill forms, merge, split – nothing is held back for a paid tier, because there isn't one.
Everything you open, edit and save stays on your own computer. Nothing is ever uploaded – no cloud, no account, no tracking, and it works offline. Privacy policy
Word .docx, Excel .xlsx, PowerPoint .pptx, Photoshop .psd and PDF – and saves them back, so you can still swap files with anyone.
No toolbars, no “recommended offers” in the installer, no background updater. Pick the apps you want, skip the rest.
The full source code comes with every install. Anyone can check what it does – and it can't be taken away.
If it saves you money, you can chip in. If you can't, that's fine too – you get exactly the same apps.
Open them from one window, or right-click any file → Open with Ethical…
PDF Editor
Document Editor
Spreadsheet Editor
Presentation Editor
Photo Editor
Converter
Database
Sticky Notes
Snip
Planner
.wav → .mp3, .mov → .mp4, .docx → .pdf.7z
Press F1 in any app to jump to help about what you're doing. Step-by-step articles, every keyboard shortcut, troubleshooting and a glossary – written for people, not programmers.
| EthicalApp | Typical “free” editor | |
|---|---|---|
| Edit PDF text, sign, merge | ✓ Free | Often paid or trial only |
| Watermark on saved files | Never | Common |
| Account or email required | No | Often |
| Your files uploaded to a server | Never | Many online editors |
| Ads, toolbars or bundled offers | None | Common |
| Subscription | None, ever | Monthly or yearly |
| Source code you can check | ✓ Included | Rarely |
Quick jobs right in your browser. The files are processed on your own device – they're never uploaded, and nothing is stored.
EthicalApp comes with a built-in MCP server (Model Context Protocol – the standard way AI assistants use apps). Tick one box in the installer and Claude, in Claude Desktop or Claude Code, can use the apps for you – no setup, no extra downloads, no API keys.
Off by default. The apps work exactly the same without it. When it's on, only the files you ask Claude to work with are shared with it, under Anthropic's privacy policy – details.
One installer for everything. Choose which apps you want – you can add or remove them later.
⬇ Download for Windows EthicalSuite-Setup-1.0.0.exe · 139 MB
Windows may say “Windows protected your PC”. That's normal for new apps from small makers. Click More info → Run anyway. You can check the file is genuine with the fingerprint below.
SHA-256 fingerprint:
Check it in PowerShell: Get-FileHash EthicalSuite-Setup-1.0.0.exe
There isn't one. No trial, no watermarks, no “pro” version, no ads and no data collection. The project is kept going by people who choose to support it – if you don't, you get exactly the same apps.
Yes – .docx, .xlsx and .pptx, and it saves them back so others can open them in Microsoft Office.
A few advanced things aren't kept yet (for example tracked changes, pivot tables, macros, animations and SmartArt); the app warns you
when a file has them, before anything is lost. Very old .doc/.xls/.ppt files need to be saved in the new format first.
The Photo Editor opens .psd files with their layers and saves them back. Adjustment layers, layer effects and smart objects
are loaded as plain pixels.
The “Windows protected your PC” message appears for any new program that isn't yet known to Microsoft – it doesn't mean something is wrong. The installer doesn't add toolbars, offers or background services, it installs only for your user account, and the uninstaller removes everything. The full source code is included, and you can compare the file's SHA-256 fingerprint with the one on this page.
No. The apps work completely offline. The online tools on this website also run inside your browser – your files are never sent to a server.
Windows only for now. The online tools work in any modern browser, on any computer.
No. EthicalApp is independent software. It's compatible with their file formats, but it isn't affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft or Adobe.
Settings → Apps → EthicalApp → Uninstall. It removes the apps, shortcuts and right-click entries.
EthicalApp has no ads and no paid version. If it saved you a subscription, you can support the work with any amount you like. Totally optional – thank you either way. 💚
♥ Support EthicalApp pay what you wantPayments are handled securely by Stripe – we never see your card. EthicalApp is made by CraftingBenchGames, so the payment shows as CRAFTINGBENCHGAMES.COM on your statement.
Other ways to help: tell a friend, report a bug, or suggest a feature.
