--- title: "FAQ — Privacy-First PDF Tools | EdgeDocs" description: "Everything you need to know about how EdgeDocs keeps your files private, how local browser processing works, and how to get the most from your PDF tools." lang: en json-ld: | { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do you guarantee my files are private?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "EdgeDocs runs entirely in your browser's sandboxed environment. Your files are loaded into local memory, processed using client-side libraries, and never transmitted across the internet. There is no server receiving your data — not ours, not anyone else's. The files exist only on your device throughout the entire process." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does EdgeDocs store my files?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No. Because processing happens locally in your browser, files are never sent to any server and therefore never stored anywhere outside your device. The moment you close the tab, nothing persists." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is EdgeDocs GDPR compliant?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "EdgeDocs operates with zero-data transmission. Because no file ever reaches our servers, EdgeDocs is not a data processor under GDPR. You remain the sole controller of your data at all times — eliminating compliance risk entirely." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is EdgeDocs HIPAA friendly?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. Because EdgeDocs never transmits files to any external server, there is no data transfer to manage under HIPAA. Healthcare professionals handling patient documents can use EdgeDocs without creating a data transmission compliance obligation." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How is EdgeDocs different from Smallpdf, ILovePDF, or Adobe?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Those tools upload your files to their servers for processing and typically store them for 1-2 hours before deletion. EdgeDocs never uploads your files at all. Processing happens entirely on your device, instantly, with no third party involved at any point." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How can a website process files without a server?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Modern browsers are significantly more capable than they were five years ago. EdgeDocs uses browser-native APIs and client-side PDF libraries to process files entirely within your browser's local environment. The same way a desktop application processes files on your computer — except it runs in your browser tab." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does EdgeDocs work offline?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Once the page has loaded, most EdgeDocs tools do not require an active internet connection to process your files. The processing happens locally regardless of your connection status." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Are there any file size limits?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Because processing happens in your browser's memory rather than on a server, the practical limit depends on your device's available RAM. Most modern devices handle files up to 100MB without issue. Very large files may be slower to process on older hardware." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Which browsers are supported?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "EdgeDocs works on all modern browsers — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Brave. For the best performance use the latest version of Chrome or Edge. Internet Explorer is not supported." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is the processing actually happening locally or is that just marketing?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "It is architectural, not marketing. You can verify it yourself — open your browser's network inspector (F12 → Network tab), run any EdgeDocs tool, and watch the network requests. You will see zero file upload traffic to any server." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do I need an account to use the tools?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "You can open and use any tool without an account — no signup needed to get started. A free account is required to download your processed files. Free accounts get 3 downloads per day. Pro subscribers get unlimited downloads across all tools." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is included in the Pro plan?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Pro gives you unlimited sessions, access to all 20+ tools, and priority processing. At $7.99/month it's less than a single coffee per month for unlimited private PDF processing." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I cancel my subscription anytime?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. Cancel anytime from your account settings with no questions asked and no cancellation fees." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is there a team or business plan?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "A team plan is coming soon with shared workspaces, admin usage dashboards, and centralised billing for teams. Join the waitlist by emailing hello@edgedocs.co." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "A tool isn't working — what should I do?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "First try refreshing the page and clearing your browser cache. If the issue persists, try a different browser. For ongoing issues email hello@edgedocs.co with your browser version and a description of the problem." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "My PDF failed to process — why?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Some PDFs are password-protected, heavily encrypted, or corrupted in ways that prevent client-side processing. If your file has restrictions on printing, editing, or copying (but opens normally), try the Unlock PDF tool first to remove those restrictions. Note that Unlock PDF cannot open files that require a password to view — it only removes owner-level restrictions from files you can already open. If your file is corrupted, try opening it in another PDF viewer to confirm it's not a file issue." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does EdgeDocs work on mobile?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. EdgeDocs works on mobile browsers though for large files or complex operations a desktop browser will be faster due to available processing power." } } ] } --- [ Edge Docs ](/) [Tools ](/tools) [Pricing](/pricing)[How It Works](/how-it-works)[Compare](/compare)[Blog](/blog) [](/feedback)[Log in](/login)[Sign Up](/signup) # Frequently Asked Questions Everything you need to know about EdgeDocs and how it keeps your documents safe. ## Security & Privacy ### How do you guarantee my files are private? ### Does EdgeDocs store my files? ### Is EdgeDocs GDPR compliant? ### Is EdgeDocs HIPAA friendly? ### How is EdgeDocs different from Smallpdf, ILovePDF, or Adobe? ## How It Works ### How can a website process files without a server? ### Does EdgeDocs work offline? ### Are there any file size limits? ### Which browsers are supported? ### Is the processing actually happening locally or is that just marketing? ## Account & Subscription ### Do I need an account to use the tools? ### What is included in the Pro plan? ### Can I cancel my subscription anytime? ### Is there a team or business plan? ## Technical Support ### A tool isn't working — what should I do? ### My PDF failed to process — why? ### Does EdgeDocs work on mobile? ## Still have questions? Email us at [hello@edgedocs.co](mailto:hello@edgedocs.co) — we usually respond within 24 hours. [ Edge Docs ](/) ### Product - [Redact PDF](/redact-pdf) - [PDF to Excel](/pdf-to-excel) - [Compress PDF](/compress-pdf) - [Merge PDF](/merge-pdf) - [Pricing](/pricing) - [Compare Us](/compare) ### Resources - [Blog](/blog) - [How It Works](/how-it-works) - [Privacy Policy](/privacy) - [Terms of Service](/terms) ### Support - [Request Feature](/feedback) - [Report Bug](/feedback) - [FAQ](/faq) - [Contact Us](mailto:support@edgedocs.co) ### Trust Your files never leave your browser © 2026 EdgeDocs. Built with privacy in mind. EdgeDocs is a product of RS Ventures