How to Generate Professional PDFs for Free (No Credit Card Required)
How to Generate Professional PDFs for Free (No Credit Card Required)
Automating PDF generation from spreadsheets used to require expensive software or coding skills. Not anymore. This tutorial shows you how to generate professional PDFs completely free—no credit card, no trial that expires, no hidden fees.
What You'll Learn
By the end of this guide, you'll be able to:
- Generate up to 20 professional PDFs per month at no cost
- Automate contracts, certificates, invoices, or any document
- Work with Excel, Google Sheets, or CSV files
- Protect your data with zero-retention privacy
What You'll Need
- A spreadsheet with your data (Excel, Google Sheets, or CSV)
- A PDF template (your contract, certificate, invoice, etc.)
- 5 minutes of time
No credit card. No software installation. No technical knowledge.
Step-by-Step: Free PDF Generation
Step 1: Sign Up for Free
Visit NexoPDF.com and click "Free Registration."
You can sign up with:
- Email and password (takes 30 seconds)
- Google account (one-click signup)
Important: No credit card is required. Ever. The free plan doesn't expire.
Step 2: Prepare Your Spreadsheet
Your spreadsheet should have:
- Header row: Column names in the first row (e.g., "Name", "Date", "Amount")
- Data rows: One row per PDF you want to generate
Save this as Excel (.xlsx), CSV, or keep it in Google Sheets.
Step 3: Create Your PDF Template
Design your PDF template in any tool:
- Microsoft Word: Create your document, then save as PDF
- Google Docs: Design your document, then download as PDF
- Adobe Acrobat: Create or edit an existing PDF
- Canva: Design a beautiful certificate or invoice
Your template should have blank spaces or placeholder text where you want spreadsheet data to appear. Save this as a PDF file.
Step 4: Upload Your Files
In NexoPDF:
- Click "Upload Sheet" and select your Excel/CSV file (or paste from Google Sheets)
- Click "Upload Contract" and select your PDF template
- Click "Next" to proceed to field mapping
Takes less than 30 seconds.
Step 5: Map Your Fields (The Fun Part!)
This is where the magic happens. You'll see:
- Left side: Your spreadsheet columns as draggable chips
- Right side: Your PDF template
Simply drag a column name and drop it where you want it on the PDF.
You can also format each field:
- Change font size to make text larger or smaller
- Change color for emphasis
- Make text uppercase for a professional look
- Adjust position by dragging the placed field
Takes only seconds for a typical document.
Step 6: Preview Your PDF
Click "Preview" to see what your first PDF will look like with real data.
Make any adjustments:
- Move fields if they're not aligned perfectly
- Adjust font sizes if text is too large or small
- Change colors for visual appeal
When it looks perfect, you're ready to generate.
Step 7: Generate Your PDFs
Click "Generate PDFs" and watch the magic happen.
NexoPDF will:
- Take each row from your spreadsheet
- Create a unique PDF with that row's data
- Make all PDFs available for download
Generating 20 PDFs takes about 10-15 seconds.
Step 8: Download Your PDFs
You have two options:
- Download as ZIP: Get all PDFs in one compressed file
- Download individually: Get each PDF separately
Files are automatically deleted after download for your privacy.
Real-World Use Cases
Certificates (Training, Courses, Awards)
Spreadsheet Columns: Student Name, Course Name, Completion Date, Instructor Name
Template: Professional certificate design
Result: Personalized certificates for each student
Contracts (Employment, Freelance, Rental)
Spreadsheet Columns: Client Name, Project Details, Price, Start Date, End Date
Template: Your standard contract template
Result: Individual contracts ready to sign
Invoices (Client Billing, Sales)
Spreadsheet Columns: Client Name, Invoice Number, Amount, Due Date, Services
Template: Branded invoice template
Result: Professional invoices for each client
Letters (Offer Letters, Recommendation Letters)
Spreadsheet Columns: Recipient Name, Position, Salary, Start Date
Template: Company letterhead
Result: Personalized letters for each recipient
Tips for Professional Results
1. Design a Quality Template
Your PDFs will only look as good as your template. Invest time in:
- Professional fonts (avoid Comic Sans!)
- Consistent spacing and alignment
- Branded colors and logos
2. Use Text Formatting Features
NexoPDF lets you:
- Make all text UPPERCASE for emphasis
- Change colors for visual impact
- Adjust font sizes for hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost?
NexoPDF offers a free plan with no credit card required. You can start generating PDFs immediately at no cost.
What happens to my files?
Your files are processed entirely in your browser. NexoPDF never receives or stores your data—we can't access what we never had.
Can I use Google Sheets?
Yes! NexoPDF works with Excel, Google Sheets, and CSV files.
Do my PDFs look professional?
Yes! Your PDFs will look exactly like your template, just with personalized data. Use a professional template and you'll get professional results.
Can I generate PDFs on my phone?
Yes, NexoPDF works on mobile browsers, though we recommend desktop for easier field mapping.
Is this really free?
Yes. No trial period that expires. No credit card required to start.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Issue: Fields not aligning perfectly
Solution: Zoom in on the PDF preview and adjust field positions by dragging. You have pixel-level control.
Issue: Text is too large or too small
Solution: Select the field and use the font size dropdown to adjust (8pt to 72pt available).
Issue: Special characters not displaying
Solution: Ensure your spreadsheet is saved with UTF-8 encoding if you have accents or international characters.
Issue: PDFs are blank
Solution: Check that you've mapped at least one field. Also verify your PDF template has actual content (not just a blank page).
Advanced Tips
Batch Processing
NexoPDF makes it easy to generate multiple PDFs at once. Simply upload your spreadsheet and generate all PDFs in one batch—download them as a ZIP file for convenience.
Next Steps
Now that you know how to generate professional PDFs for free, you can:
- Try it yourself: Create a free account
- Explore templates: Design certificates, invoices, or contracts
- Automate workflows: Save hours of manual data entry
- Scale up: Upgrade if you need more than 20 PDFs per month
Conclusion
Professional PDF generation doesn't require expensive software subscriptions or technical skills. With NexoPDF's free plan, you can:
- Generate 20 PDFs per month at zero cost
- Work with any spreadsheet format
- Protect your privacy with zero data retention
- Create documents in minutes, not hours
No credit card. No trial. No commitment. Just free, professional PDF automation.