Privacy Policy
Last updated: 10 August 2026. This policy explains what happens to your data when you use PDFTools.
Plain-language summary
PDFTools is not a document-storage service. We do not keep a permanent library of uploaded or converted documents, sell their contents, or use document contents for advertising. Browser-only tools keep the document on your device. Server tools need a temporary copy to perform the action you request.
Files you upload
Files submitted to a server conversion or editing tool are used only to perform the requested job. Uploaded inputs are removed when processing finishes. Generated outputs and download links normally expire within one hour, and an additional automated sweep removes orphaned output files after two hours. We do not manually read files except where strictly necessary to investigate a reported security or processing problem, and we do not sell or use document contents for advertising. Many tools marked "runs in your browser" never upload the file at all.
What may be retained
The no-document-retention promise does not mean the service keeps no records at all. We may retain account details, comments, payment or credit records, consent preferences, conversion status and error metadata, security logs, rate-limit records, and aggregated usage statistics. These records do not intentionally contain the contents of your uploaded documents. Short-lived download tokens and operational records may remain after the associated file has been deleted.
Contact messages
When you contact us, we store the name, email address, reason, subject and message you provide, together with the originating page and limited anti-abuse information. These messages are available only in the protected admin inbox and are used to answer your enquiry, investigate a problem or improve the service.
Information we collect automatically
We log basic technical data (IP address, browser type, pages visited, tool success/failure events) for security, fair-use rate limiting and first-party analytics. We do not sell this data.
Cookies and local storage
We use cookies and local storage to remember preferences such as theme, maintain the protected administrator session, record consent choices and measure which tools are used. Public tools do not require an account.
Advertising
PDFTools is free because it shows advertising. We use Google AdSense. Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this website or other websites. Google's use of advertising cookies (such as the DoubleClick cookie) enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visits to this site and/or other sites on the Internet.
- You may opt out of personalised advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings.
- You can also opt out of some third-party vendors' cookies at www.aboutads.info.
- Visitors in the EEA, UK and Switzerland are shown a consent message before any advertising cookies are used, and can change their choice at any time.
US state privacy choices
Visitors in US states with applicable privacy laws can use the Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information control displayed by Google's certified privacy message. This records an opt-out signal for sale, sharing and targeted advertising as those terms are defined by applicable law. Google also processes supported Global Privacy Control signals. PDFTools does not sell uploaded documents or use their contents for advertising.
Third parties
We use third-party infrastructure to run the service: hosting providers, Google advertising and, for clearly marked AI-powered tools, AI providers that temporarily process the text or file you submit. These providers only receive what is needed to deliver the requested service.
Your rights
You can request access to or deletion of personal data connected to a message using our contact form. Choose “Privacy or data question” and include the email address used in your original message. We aim to answer within 30 days.
Children
PDFTools is a study and office toolkit intended for general audiences. Accounts are intended for users aged 13 and above.