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Intro:
Some websites are so powerful, useful, or just plain unexpected… they almost feel illegal. But guess what? They’re 100% legit—and knowing about them gives you a serious edge online.
Whether you’re a student, freelancer, creator, or just curious, here are 15 online gems that do wild things, legally and for free (mostly).
Let’s face it—we all love finding websites that feel like hidden treasures. The ones that make you pause and think, “Wait… is this even legal?”
Over the years, I’ve collected bookmarks to sites that save time, unlock content, automate annoying tasks, or do things you never thought were possible—legally. These aren’t dark web hacks or shady scripts. They’re just… clever.
Whether you’re a digital creator, a productivity nerd, or someone who just likes knowing internet secrets, this list will give you that “wait, what?!” moment. Let’s dive in.
🧠 1. 12ft.io – Skip the Paywall (Legally-ish)
Want to read an article stuck behind a paywall? 12ft.io tries to bypass it by showing you a version intended for Google. Not always perfect, but often works like magic.
👉 https://12ft.io
“Show me a 12-foot ladder so I can climb over this paywall.”
🎓 2. Scholarcy – Summarize Research Papers Instantly
Paste any academic paper, and Scholarcy will break it down into bite-sized points. Saves hours of reading when doing research.
👉 https://www.scholarcy.com
🎥 3. Y2Mate / SaveTube – Download YouTube Videos or MP3s
Quickly grab a YouTube video as a file. Yes, YouTube doesn’t like it, but these tools still operate. Just don’t use them commercially.
👉 https://savethevideo.com
📚 4. PDF Candy – Edit, Merge, Convert PDFs Online
One of the best free PDF editors around. Split, merge, compress, convert—all in your browser. No signup needed.
I once had to merge 4 scanned contracts into one clean file before a call. PDF Candy did it in under a minute—free, no login.
🧠 5. Hacker Typer – Look Like a Genius Hacker Instantly
Want to look like you’re hacking the Pentagon during a Zoom call? Just mash your keyboard. Great for trolling friends or… pretending.
👉 https://hackertyper.net
📈 6. BuiltWith – See What Any Website Is Made Of
Curious what tools, CMS, or ad tech a site uses? Just enter the URL and get a full tech stack breakdown.
👉 https://builtwith.com
💬 7. TLDR This – Summarize Long Articles into Key Points
This tool uses AI to distill long articles into short summaries. Helpful for researching fast without losing context.
👉 https://tldrthis.com
🖼 8. Remove.bg – Instantly Remove Image Backgrounds
Upload any photo and get a perfect transparent PNG in seconds. Works shockingly well even on complex images.
I used this to remove the background from a product photo for a Shopify client. Took 3 seconds—no Photoshop, no layers, no headache.
📚 9. Z-Library – Access Thousands of Free eBooks
One of the largest collections of free academic and non-fiction books. Slightly gray-area, but widely used globally.
Top Chrome Extensions I Can’t Live Without Hand-picked extensions that automate, save time, and boost focus.
🧠 Micro-UX Prompt:
Bookmark this post — trust me, you’ll come back for at least 3 of these in the next month.
🔍 10. Wayback Machine – See Any Website in the Past
Ever wonder what Google or Facebook looked like in 2004? This tool lets you explore snapshots of almost any website from years ago.
I used this to pull an old version of a website I made in 2012. Total time travel. Even the broken CSS showed up perfectly.
📢 11. Copy.ai Tools Directory – Mini-Tools for Social, Ads & More
Besides being an AI writer, Copy.ai has a hidden tools hub with generators for email subject lines, product names, and more.
Best AI Tools to Launch a Blog From content to visuals to SEO—these tools can run your blog solo.
🧠 12. Cheatography – Cheat Sheets for Everything (Code, Tools, Life)
From Python to Excel to Markdown—this site has cheat sheets that save hours. Perfect for coders, students, and productivity nerds.
👉 https://cheatography.com
🎨 13. TinyWow – Swiss Army Knife for Files, Images & Videos
Crop videos, compress PDFs, upscale images, convert formats—it’s all free and online. Shockingly useful for creators.
👉 https://tinywow.com
🤖 14. ChatGPT Prompt Libraries – Steal High-Impact Prompts
There are several prompt hubs that showcase ready-made prompts for ChatGPT to do just about anything. Here’s a great one:
👉 https://flowgpt.com
🎮 15. My 90s TV – Watch 1990s TV as If It’s Live
Feel like time traveling? This site emulates actual 1990s TV—complete with commercials and static transitions. Pure nostalgia.
10 Google Docs Extensions for Power Users Turn your Docs into a productivity machine with these underrated add-ons.
🎯 Want More Hidden Tools Like These?
I’ve curated a special list of 10 extra “underground” websites that aren’t public on the blog—tools for automation, AI, research, and deep web tricks.
Sign up below and I’ll send it straight to your inbox.
🔒 We respect your privacy. No spam. Just useful internet magic.
🎁 Bonus: 3 More Websites You Might Like
Not enough? Here are three more online tools that didn’t make the main list, but still deserve a mention:
– Temp-Mail – Disposable email for signing up to stuff without spam
– CalmCode.io – Minimal, peaceful tutorials for developers
– Screenity – A powerful free screen recorder Chrome extension
⚠️ Quick Warning: Use responsibly!
Some of these sites dance close to terms of service of platforms like YouTube or news publishers. Always respect copyright, and never use them for commercial theft.
🧠 Nerd Verdict:
This post isn’t just a list—it’s a toolbox for digital power users. Whether you want to automate, research, create, or just geek out, these sites give you unfair (but totally fair) advantages.
📌 Bookmark it.
🔁 Share it.
💬 Comment which ones you knew—or didn’t.
❓ FAQ: Nerds Ask, We Answer
💬 Would You Bite?
Which one blew your mind the most?
Drop your favorite in the comments—or tag us on X and add your own! 👇
