Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! ExactPDF is completely free to use. There are no hidden fees, paywalls, or credit systems. We operate on a voluntary contribution model, meaning you can support us if you want, but it's not required.

Absolutely. ExactPDF uses a 'Privacy-First' architecture. All processing happens locally in your browser using WebAssembly. Your files are never uploaded to our servers, so we literally cannot see them.

We implement comprehensive security headers including Content-Security-Policy, X-Frame-Options, X-XSS-Protection, and Referrer-Policy. All APIs have rate limiting, file type validation, and filename sanitization. Read our security blog for full details.

We recently added PDF Reader (view PDFs in-browser with zoom and navigation), PDF Annotation (highlight and underline text), Batch QR to PDF (generate multiple QR codes), Add Page Numbers, Unlock PDF, Extract Pages, and PDF to Text.

Client-side processing means the heavy lifting is done by your own computer's processor (CPU) rather than a remote cloud server. This ensures your data stays on your machine and often results in faster processing for small to medium-sized files.

Yes, once the page and necessary resources are loaded, many tools can function without an active internet connection because the code runs in your browser.

Nothing happens to them outside of your device. They are loaded into your browser's memory, processed, and then the result is offered as a download. After you close the tab, the data is wiped from memory.

We use a single privacy-respecting analytics script (Google Analytics 4) to understand aggregate usage — which tools are popular, which error out, which locales need more attention. It's configured with IP anonymization, no ad-personalization signals, and no cross-site tracking (allow_google_signals is off, allow_ad_personalization_signals is off). We do NOT use Facebook Pixel, remarketing pixels, affiliate tags, or any other third-party tracking. Your actual PDF files are never part of any telemetry — those stay on your device. You can verify the only script that loads in Developer Tools → Network, and you can block it with any ad/tracker blocker without breaking any tool.

Open Developer Tools (F12) → Network tab and process any PDF. You'll see zero file uploads — the only outbound requests you'll see are the initial page load, fonts, and a tiny analytics ping (see the tracking FAQ above). You can also disconnect your internet after the page loads and most tools continue to work because processing happens in your browser. One exception: /tools/office-to-pdf uses a server-side converter (LibreOffice) because office formats cannot be reliably converted in-browser; that tool displays an explicit banner when you open it.

If you find our tools useful, you can make a voluntary contribution via 'Buy me a coffee' or simply share the tool with your friends and colleagues!