PDFGadget processes all files directly in your browser. Your PDFs never upload to any server. No data is collected, stored, or shared. You can even disconnect from the internet after loading the page and the tools still work.
When you use an online PDF tool, you're trusting it with potentially sensitive documents — tax forms, contracts, medical records, business files. It's smart to ask whether that trust is warranted. Here's exactly how PDFGadget handles your files and why it's built differently from most online PDF tools.
Most online PDF tools work by uploading your file to a remote server, processing it there, then sending the result back to you. Your document travels across the internet and sits on someone else's computer, at least temporarily.
PDFGadget takes a completely different approach. When you load a PDFGadget tool, your browser downloads a small JavaScript application. That application runs entirely on your device. When you select a PDF, it's processed right there in your browser using your computer's own processing power. The file never leaves your device.
You'll see "client-side processing" mentioned throughout PDFGadget. Here's what that means in plain terms:
PDFGadget is 100% client-side. There's no "uploading" step because there's nowhere to upload to. The processing happens in the same place your file already lives — on your own device.
PDFGadget is built on trusted, open-source libraries that run in modern web browsers:
These aren't obscure or experimental tools. They're industry-standard libraries used by thousands of applications. The code runs in your browser's sandboxed environment, isolated from the rest of your system.
This isn't necessarily malicious — server-side processing is simpler to build and can handle more complex operations. But it does mean your confidential documents pass through systems you don't control, handled by companies whose data practices you may not fully understand.
PDFGadget was built specifically to avoid this model. Privacy isn't a premium feature here — it's the foundation.
When you use PDFGadget's Password Protect tool, it applies real AES-256 encryption — the same standard used by governments and financial institutions. This happens entirely in your browser. Your password is never transmitted anywhere. The encrypted file is created locally and downloaded directly to your device.
You can verify this encryption using Adobe Acrobat or any PDF security checker. It's not a superficial lock — it's genuine cryptographic protection.
PDFGadget displays ads to cover operating costs. These ads are served by Google AdSense, which operates independently from the PDF tools. The ad system has no access to your PDF files. AdSense may use cookies for ad personalization based on your general browsing (which you can control through cookie settings), but this is completely separate from PDFGadget's file processing.
Your documents never interact with the advertising system.
PDFGadget is an independent project, not a product of a large corporation with complex data monetization strategies. It exists because working with PDFs shouldn't require expensive software subscriptions or trusting strangers with your sensitive files.
The business model is simple: free tools supported by ads. Your files aren't the product.
No. Your browser processes the file locally. PDFGadget's servers never receive your file, so there's nothing to see. The code that processes your PDF runs on your device, not ours.
Yes. Since files never leave your device, PDFGadget is actually safer for confidential documents than server-based alternatives. Tax returns, contracts, medical records — they all stay on your computer.
No. We can't store what we never receive. Your files exist only in your browser's memory during processing, then they're gone when you close the tab or navigate away.
You don't have to take our word for it. Open your browser's developer tools (F12 on most browsers) and watch the Network tab while processing a PDF. You'll see no file uploads occurring. The privacy claim is technically verifiable.
Yes. Once the page loads, you can disconnect from the internet entirely. The tools continue working because all processing is local. This is a direct consequence of the privacy-first architecture.
PDFGadget uses basic analytics to understand site traffic (page views, general geographic region, device type). This is standard website analytics that doesn't involve your PDF files or their contents. No personal identification, no document data.
Yes. The Password Protect tool uses AES-256 encryption via qpdf-wasm. This is genuine cryptographic protection, not a superficial access restriction. The encryption happens in your browser — your password is never transmitted anywhere.
No artificial limits. Your browser's available memory sets the practical ceiling. Most devices handle PDFs up to several hundred pages without issues. There are no daily caps, no premium tiers, no paywalls.
Process a PDF and verify the privacy claims with your browser's network inspector.
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