Is it safe to upload PDFs to online PDF tools?
Online PDF tools are convenient, and many reputable ones delete files after a few hours. But uploading always means your document sits on someone else's computer for a while. Here's how to judge the risk.
Merge PDFs nowWhat usually happens when you upload
Most online PDF sites send your file to their servers, process it there, and keep it for a period, often an hour or a few hours, before deleting it. Their privacy policy says how long and who can access it.
Questions to ask before uploading
- What's in the document? IDs, bank statements, medical or legal papers deserve more care.
- How long does the site keep files, and where are its servers?
- Does your employer or client allow uploading their documents to third-party sites?
The alternative: tools that don't upload
Some tools, like pdfSofo, do the work inside your browser. The file is read and changed on your own device and never sent anywhere. You can check: open your browser's developer tools, look at the Network tab, and use a tool, and no file upload appears. Or load the page, switch off Wi-Fi, and it still works.
Questions
Does pdfSofo keep any data?
Your files never leave your device. Saved signatures are stored in your own browser. We count anonymous usage events (like a download) without file names or contents.