Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: August 25, 2026

Pricing & Limits

Is smartpdfconv.com really free?

Yes. Every tool on smartpdfconv.com is completely free to use. There are no registration requirements, no file count limits, no paywalls, and no premium tiers that unlock basic features.

Is there a file size limit?

No. Because files are processed in your browser, the only limit is your device's available memory. Even very large PDFs (100+ MB) can be compressed, merged, or split.

Do I need to create an account?

No. All tools work instantly without registration. Just open the site, select a tool, and start working with your files.

Privacy & Security

Are my files uploaded to your servers?

No. All processing happens entirely in your web browser using WebAssembly (WASM). Your files are never uploaded to, transmitted to, or stored on our servers. We cannot see, access, or recover any file you process.

How is this different from other online PDF tools?

Most online PDF tools require you to upload your document to their servers. This means your file exists on their infrastructure, and you have no way to verify how long it's stored or who can access it. smartpdfconv processes everything locally in your browser — your file never leaves your device.

What data do you collect?

We use Google Analytics for aggregate, anonymized usage statistics (pages visited, device types, referral sources). We do not track individual file processing, filenames, or document contents. See our Privacy Policy for full details.

Technical Questions

Which browsers are supported?

All modern browsers that support WebAssembly — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Opera. We recommend using the latest version for the best performance.

What is WebAssembly?

WebAssembly (WASM) is a technology that lets websites run code at near-native speed directly in your browser. This means smartpdfconv can process PDFs as fast as desktop software — without any downloads or installations.

What file formats are supported?

We support PDF files for compression, merging, splitting, rotation, watermarking, and text extraction. For the Images to PDF converter, we support JPG, PNG, WEBP, and GIF images.

How does PDF compression work?

PDF compression reduces file size by downsampling embedded images, re-encoding them at lower quality, removing redundant metadata, and cleaning up the PDF structure. Our tool offers light, recommended, and extreme compression presets. Learn more in our compression guide.

Tool-Specific Questions

How much can I compress a PDF?

Most PDFs can be reduced by 50–90%. Text-heavy PDFs compress less (20–40%), while image-heavy PDFs — scanned documents, photos, presentations — compress the most. The exact result depends on the original content and compression settings you choose.

Can I compress a scanned PDF?

Yes. Scanned PDFs are typically image-heavy and compress very well — often 50–90%. Our compressor detects the structure and applies aggressive image downsampling for maximum reduction.

Can I merge password-protected PDFs?

If a PDF has an owner password (permissions), most tools can still read and process it. If it has a user password (document open password), you'll need to remove it first. Our tools will show a clear error message if a file is encrypted.

How do I split a PDF to extract specific pages?

Upload your PDF to our Split PDF tool to see visual thumbnails of every page. Click pages to select them, or type a range like "1-3, 5, 8-10". The extracted pages download as a new PDF.

Can I convert JPG images to PDF?

Yes. Our Images to PDF tool accepts JPG, PNG, WEBP, and GIF images. Upload multiple images, reorder them, choose a page size (A4, Letter, or Fit), and generate your PDF instantly.

Legal & Commercial

Can I use smartpdfconv for commercial purposes?

Yes. You can use smartpdfconv to process documents for any lawful purpose — personal, educational, or commercial. You own the output files.

Do you offer an API?

Not yet, but it's on our roadmap. If you have a specific need, email us at [email protected] — we prioritize features based on user requests.

How can I contact you?

Email us at [email protected]. For privacy concerns, email [email protected]. We typically respond within 1–2 business days.