Privacy Policy
Last updated July 13, 2026
PDF for Free is a desktop app that edits PDFs on your own computer, for macOS
and Windows. This policy explains, in plain language, what we collect, how we use
it, and your rights. It is written for users in the United States, including
California.
Your PDFs never leave your device
All PDF editing, rendering, and OCR happen locally on your own computer. Your
documents are never uploaded to us or anyone else. We do not see, receive, or
store the files you edit, the text in them, or your OCR results. Optional cloud
features (such as cloud OCR and cloud storage) are planned but not yet available;
if you choose to use one after it launches, only the specific data you send to
that feature would leave your device, and we will update this policy with the
details before that happens.
What the app sends over the network
The app talks to our servers only to: (a) check for and download updates;
(b) the first time you use OCR, download the optional OCR component; and (c) if
you choose to create or sign in to an account, send the email, password, and
display name you type. That is all. The app contains no analytics, telemetry,
crash reporting, advertising, device fingerprinting, or “phone-home” of
any kind, and an account is optional; the app is fully functional without
one.
Information we collect
Account (optional). If you create one: your email address, a password
we store only as a secure hash, and a display name.
Download agreement. When you agree to the Terms to download, we record
your email, that you verified it, the version of the Terms you agreed to, the date
and time, your IP address, and your browser's user-agent, so the agreement is on
record.
Email verification. To confirm you own the address you enter, we email a
one-time 6-digit code through our email provider and check the code you type back.
Website analytics (anonymous). On this website we record page views and
downloads, tied to a random cookie-based visitor id that is never linked to your
name or email, plus an approximate location (country, region, city) that our
network provider derives from your IP. This is used only to understand site
traffic in aggregate, never for advertising.
Server logs. When you visit the site, download the app, or the app
checks for updates, our servers receive routine request information such as your
IP address and user-agent.
How we use it
To run optional accounts, to deliver downloads and updates, to keep a record
that you agreed to the Terms and verified your email, to understand website
traffic in aggregate, and to keep the Service secure and working. We do not use
your information for advertising, and we do not sell it.
Cookies
The website uses one first-party cookie to hold the anonymous analytics
visitor id described above, plus short-lived cookies needed to operate the
download flow. We do not use third-party advertising or cross-site tracking
cookies.
Who we share it with
We share information only with the service providers that make the Service
work, each only for its part:
- Railway: hosting for our website, API, and database.
- Cloudflare: content delivery and security for the website, and
the approximate-location data used for analytics; Cloudflare R2 stores and
serves the app installers and update files.
- Resend: sends the email-verification code and any account emails.
- Google Fonts: serves the fonts used on this website.
- Google Forms: hosts the contact form.
We do not sell your personal information and do not share it for cross-context
behavioral advertising. Donations, if you make one, go through your own Venmo
account; no payment details pass through us.
Data retention
We keep account and download-agreement records for as long as your account or
the record is needed for our legal and operational purposes, then delete or
anonymize them. Email-verification codes are short-lived and single-use, and
analytics records are anonymous.
Security
We use reasonable measures to protect your information, including hashing
passwords, storing verification codes only as hashes, and serving the site and
APIs over HTTPS. No system is perfectly secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute
security.
Your California privacy rights
If you are a California resident, you have the right to know what personal
information we collect and how we use it, to request a copy, to ask us to correct
or delete it, and not to be discriminated against for exercising these rights.
Because we do not sell or share your personal information for cross-context
behavioral advertising, there is nothing to opt out of, but you may still contact
us to exercise these rights and we will verify and respond as required by law.
Children
The Service is intended for adults and is not directed to children. We do not
knowingly collect information from anyone under 18. If you believe a minor has
given us information, contact us and we will delete it.
Changes
We may update this policy; when we do, we will change the date above.
Significant changes will be made clear on this page.
Contact
To exercise your rights, request deletion, or ask any question about privacy,
use our contact form.
Terms of Service
Last updated July 13, 2026 (version 2026-07-13)
These Terms of Service ("Terms") are a binding agreement between you and the
individual developer of PDF for Free ("we", "us", or "the Developer"). They cover
the PDF for Free desktop application (for macOS and Windows) and this website
(together, the "Service"). By checking "I agree" at download, or by downloading,
installing, or using the Service, you accept these Terms and our Privacy Policy.
If you do not agree, do not download or use the Service.
1. Eligibility
You must be at least 18 years old and able to form a binding contract to use
the Service. If you use it on behalf of an organization, you represent that you
have authority to bind that organization to these Terms, and "you" includes that
organization.
2. License
We grant you a limited, personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable
license to download and use the Service for your own document editing. We retain
all right, title, and interest in the Service, including all intellectual
property in it. These Terms grant you no rights except the license stated here.
3. Acceptable use
You agree not to: (a) resell, sublicense, rent, or redistribute the Service;
(b) use it for anything unlawful, infringing, or harmful; (c) attempt to break,
overload, probe, or gain unauthorized access to the Service or its
infrastructure; (d) circumvent or tamper with any security or access controls;
(e) use the Service to build or train a competing product; or (f) remove or alter
any notices, or misrepresent the Service as your own.
4. Your account (optional)
You do not need an account to use the app; it is fully functional without one.
If you choose to create an account, you agree to provide accurate information, to
keep your password secure, and that you are responsible for activity under your
account. We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms, abuse the
Service, or create risk for us or other users.
5. Cost
The app and all of its PDF editing are free, and today there are no paid
features, subscriptions, or charges. We plan to add optional paid features (cloud OCR for tough scans, and cloud storage to
sync files across devices) because they cost us to run. When they launch they will be optional, the core app
and its editing will stay free, and we will show each feature's price and terms
before you use it. Donations are voluntary and go through your own Venmo account.
6. Your files and content
You keep all ownership of the documents you edit; we claim no ownership of
them. Today all editing, rendering, and OCR happen on your own device, and the
app never sends your files, their contents, or your OCR results to us. If we
launch an optional cloud feature and you choose to use it, you would grant us only
the limited permission needed to provide that feature (for example, sending a page
to cloud OCR, or storing a file you choose to sync). You are solely responsible
for your files, for having the right to use and edit them, and for keeping your
own backups.
7. Third-party services
The website and download service rely on third parties, including Railway
(hosting), Cloudflare and Cloudflare R2 (content delivery and file hosting),
Resend (sending verification email), Google Fonts, and Google Forms (the contact
form). Your use of those is also subject to those providers' terms, and we are
not responsible for their acts, omissions, or availability.
8. Disclaimer of warranties
THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE", WITH ALL FAULTS AND
WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WE DISCLAIM
ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE
SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, SECURE, OR THAT IT WILL PRESERVE,
EDIT, OR RENDER YOUR DOCUMENTS CORRECTLY. YOU USE THE SERVICE AT YOUR OWN RISK
AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING YOUR OWN BACKUPS.
9. Limitation of liability
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WE WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY
INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR
FOR ANY LOST PROFITS, DATA, OR DOCUMENTS, ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO THE
SERVICE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY. OUR TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS
WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US IN THE 12 MONTHS BEFORE THE
CLAIM OR US$50. Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations, so parts of
this section may not apply to you.
10. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Developer from any
claims, damages, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees)
arising from your use of the Service, your content, or your violation of these
Terms, the law, or any third party's rights.
11. Termination
You may stop using the Service at any time. We may suspend or end your access
at any time, with or without notice, including if you violate these Terms.
Sections that by their nature should survive (including 6, 8-10, 12, and 13) survive
termination.
12. Dispute resolution; arbitration; class-action waiver
Please read this carefully; it affects your rights. You and the Developer
agree to first try to resolve any dispute informally through our contact form. If that fails,
any dispute arising out of or relating to the Service or these Terms will be
resolved by binding individual arbitration administered by a recognized
arbitration provider under its consumer rules, seated in California, rather than
in court, except that either party may bring an individual claim in small-claims
court. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, YOU AND THE DEVELOPER WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A
JURY TRIAL AND ANY RIGHT TO BRING OR PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS, COLLECTIVE, OR
REPRESENTATIVE ACTION. You may opt out of this arbitration agreement by contacting
us through our contact form within 30 days of first accepting these Terms.
13. Governing law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, without
regard to its conflict-of-laws rules. For any matter not subject to arbitration,
you agree to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts
located in California.
14. Changes to these Terms
We may update these Terms as the project evolves. When we make material
changes we will update the date and version above, and continued use after that
means you accept the updated Terms. The download gate records which version you
agreed to.
15. General
These Terms and the Privacy Policy are the entire agreement between us about
the Service. If any provision is unenforceable, the rest stays in effect. Our
failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver. You may not assign these Terms;
we may. We are not liable for delays or failures caused by events beyond our
reasonable control.
16. Copyright and DMCA notices
We respect intellectual property rights and respond to clear notices of
alleged copyright infringement that comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright
Act (DMCA). Our agent designated to receive notifications of claimed infringement
is registered with the U.S. Copyright Office under registration number
DMCA-1075531, and can be reached directly at:
Designated agent for copyright notices:
DMCA Agent
18034 Ventura Blvd, Unit #655
Encino, CA 91316, United States
Phone: (818) 794-0599
Email: [email protected]
To report material you believe infringes your copyright, send a written notice
to the designated agent above, or through our
contact form
(choose “Copyright or DMCA notice”), that includes: (a) your physical or
electronic signature; (b) identification of the copyrighted work you claim has
been infringed; (c) identification of the material you claim is infringing and
information reasonably sufficient to let us locate it; (d) your contact
information; (e) a statement that you have a good-faith belief that the use is
not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law; and (f) a
statement, made under penalty of perjury, that the information in your notice is
accurate and that you are the copyright owner or are authorized to act on the
owner's behalf. A notice missing these elements may not be valid.
We may remove or disable access to material claimed to be infringing, and in
appropriate circumstances we will terminate the accounts of repeat infringers.
17. Contact
Questions about these Terms? Use our contact form.