About PDFLY

Free, private, and powerful PDF tools for everyone

Our Mission

PDFLY exists to make PDF manipulation simple, accessible, and private for everyone. We believe that working with PDFs shouldn't require expensive software, complicated sign-up processes, or compromises on privacy. Whether you need to merge documents, convert file formats, or secure sensitive files, PDFLY provides the tools you need instantly and for free.

Our vision is to democratize PDF technology by offering powerful, professional-grade tools without barriers to entry. We're committed to maintaining PDFLY as 100% free forever, with no watermarks, no sign-ups, and no hidden fees—because everyone deserves access to quality document tools.

Who Built PDFLY?

PDFLY was created by a small team of developers passionate about open-source software and user privacy. We built PDFLY because we were frustrated with existing PDF tools that charge excessive fees, add watermarks to free conversions, or harvest personal data. We wanted to create an alternative that respects users while providing professional-quality results.

Our team has combined expertise in web development, document processing, and information security to build a platform that's fast, reliable, and trustworthy. We continue improving PDFLY based on community feedback and emerging technologies.

How PDFLY Works

PDFLY uses a hybrid approach: some tools process files entirely on your device (client-side), while others use secure backend servers for complex conversions.

  • Client-Side Tools: Merge, split, rotate, reorder, compress, add watermarks, and add page numbers all happen directly in your browser using JavaScript libraries. Your files never leave your device and are never stored on our servers.
  • Server-Side Tools: Complex conversions like Word ↔ PDF, Image ↔ PDF, and Excel → PDF use our backend servers powered by LibreOffice, PyPDF2, and other open-source libraries. Files are automatically deleted within 1 hour of processing.
  • Encryption: PDF locking uses AES-256 encryption, the same standard used by banks and governments. We use secure processing pipelines to ensure your passwords and files remain protected.

Technology Stack

PDFLY is built on a foundation of proven, open-source technologies:

  • Frontend: Vanilla JavaScript, pdf-lib (for client-side PDF manipulation), jsPDF (for PDF generation from images)
  • Backend: Python Flask, LibreOffice (for document conversions), PyPDF2 (for encryption/decryption), Poppler (for PDF rendering), pdf2docx (for PDF to Word)
  • Infrastructure: Vercel (frontend hosting), Render (backend server), S3-compatible storage for temporary file processing
  • Security: AES-256 encryption, automatic file deletion, HTTPS/TLS for all connections, no data logging

Privacy & Data Protection

Your privacy is paramount. Here's what we do to protect your data:

  • No Account Required: We don't collect personal information, emails, or usernames unless you voluntarily contact us.
  • No Tracking: We don't use cookies to track your activities, and we don't share data with third-party advertisers.
  • Automatic Deletion: Files uploaded to PDFLY are automatically deleted from our servers within 1 hour, even if you don't download the result.
  • Client-Side Processing: Many tools process directly in your browser, meaning your files never touch our servers.

For complete details, see our Privacy Policy.

Contact & Feedback

Have questions, suggestions, or feedback? We'd love to hear from you! You can reach out through our contact page or email us directly at support@pdfly.live.