Help and FAQ
Privacy and security
Are my files uploaded?
No. Every tool runs in your browser, on your device. Your files, their names and their contents are never sent to us or to anyone else. How your files stay private explains how this works and shows you how to check it yourself in a few minutes.
Do you keep copies of my files?
No. We never receive them, so there’s nothing to keep. When you close the tab, the file is gone from the page’s memory. The only copy of a result is the one you download.
Do I need an account?
No. You can use every tool without signing up or signing in.
Do you use cookies or tracking?
No tracking, ever — no analytics, no advertising, no third-party scripts. The site does set a small number of strictly-necessary cookies (keeping you signed in, remembering a visual skin you chose), never anything that tracks you across sites or builds a profile. See the Cookie policy and the Privacy policy.
Is it safe to use with confidential documents?
Processing in your browser means your file never sits on someone else’s server, which removes the main risk of online PDF tools. Your device still needs to be secure: browser extensions you’ve installed can see the pages you visit, and malware on your device can see your files. The Honest limits section explains this in more detail.
Using the tools
Which browsers are supported?
The current versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari. Older browser versions may work, but we don’t test them.
Does it work on phones and tablets?
Yes. The tools work in mobile browsers on Android and iPhone or iPad. Large files and long documents may be slow on phones, or fail if the device runs out of memory.
Is there a file size limit?
We don’t set one. The only limit is your device’s memory, because the whole file is processed on your device. Very large files, or tools that draw every page such as PDF to JPG and OCR PDF, need more memory and time. If a large file fails, try closing other tabs and apps, or use a computer instead of a phone.
Is there a limit on how many tools I can use?
On the free plan, yes: 20 tools a day without an account, and 60 a day with a free account. Pro has no daily limit. The count resets each day (UTC).
Your files are not involved in this count. We only count that a tool ran, never which file you used, its name or its size. Without an account the count is kept against a one-way hash of your network address, so everyone sharing an office or campus connection shares that allowance; a free account gives you your own, larger one.
Do I need to install anything?
No. The tools run in your web browser with nothing to download or install.
Why does OCR take longer the first time?
The first time you use OCR PDF, your browser downloads the English text-recognition model (about 10 MB) from leaflockpdf.com. Your browser keeps it, so later runs start faster. Recognizing text is demanding work, so long scans can take a while on any device.
Where do my results go?
Results are saved by your browser like any other download, usually to your Downloads folder. Some tools let you download several files at once as a ZIP.
Pro and pricing
What is Pro?
Some tools carry a Pro or Practice badge and are part of a paid plan. Both are in early access: every tool is free to use for now, with no account and no payment details needed.
Pro removes the daily limit on every tool and lets you keep a finished file on your device for as long as you choose. Practice adds the six professional tools — redact, compare, batch, extract tables, Bates numbering and PDF/A — and a data processing agreement you can accept online.
How much will the paid plans cost?
When paid plans launch, the prices will be:
- Pro, monthly: US$4 per month
- Pro, yearly: US$24 per year
- Pro, ten years: US$120 once, available to a limited number of buyers
- Practice, yearly: US$249 per year
Applicable taxes may be added at checkout. Organizations that need the tools on their own network can use the Business edition.
Can I cancel?
Yes. You’ll be able to cancel any time in one click. Cancelling stops future renewals.
Is there a free trial?
There’s no trial that turns into a charge. We won’t ask for payment details to “try” Pro and then bill you automatically. During early access, Pro tools are simply free.
Will the free tools stay free?
The tools without a Pro badge are free to use, with no account.
Troubleshooting
My PDF is password-protected
If you know the password, use Unlock PDF to save a copy without it. You need the password: LeafLock PDF can’t open or remove passwords you don’t have. Only unlock files you have the right to unlock.
My PDF won’t open, or a tool says it’s damaged
Try Repair PDF. It rebuilds the file’s internal structure, which often fixes files that were cut off during a download or saved by faulty software. Check the repaired pages carefully afterward, because content that is truly missing can’t be recovered.
I can’t select, search or copy the text in my scan
The file probably contains pictures of pages, with no text inside. OCR PDF recognizes the text and adds it to the PDF, so you can search, select and copy it. To get the text on its own, OCR the file first and then use PDF to text.
The page says something went wrong
- Reload the page and try again.
- Try a different browser, or the latest version of your current one.
- If it’s a large file, close other tabs and apps to free up memory.
- If it still fails, contact us. Tell us which tool you used, the exact message on the page, and your browser and device. Please describe the file, but don’t send it.
I have a question that isn’t answered here
See Contact for how to reach us.