Frequently Asked Questions
Are my files private?
Yes. Every PDFelly tool runs entirely in your browser. Your files are never uploaded to any server. You can verify this by opening your browser's developer tools (Network tab) — you'll see no file data being transmitted.
Is PDFelly free?
Yes, completely free with no daily limits, no file size caps, and no account required. The site is supported by advertising.
What's the maximum file size?
There's no hard limit, but performance depends on your device's RAM. Devices with 8GB RAM comfortably handle files up to several hundred MB. Very large files take longer and need more memory.
Why does the compressed file sometimes stay the same size?
If a PDF is already optimized, or contains mostly text (which is already compact), there's little to compress. PDFelly never produces a file larger than the original — if compression wouldn't help, it returns your original file.
What's the difference between Smart and Rasterize compression?
Smart mode keeps text searchable and only recompresses embedded images. Rasterize mode turns each page into an image — great for scanned documents, but it removes searchable text. Use Smart for normal documents and Rasterize for scans.
Can I convert Word, Excel, or PowerPoint to PDF?
Not yet. Office conversions require a document rendering engine that isn't practical to run in a browser. These tools are marked "Coming soon" and would require server-side processing.
Does OCR work offline?
OCR uses the Tesseract engine, which downloads (~10MB) the first time you use it. After that it works without re-downloading. The actual text recognition runs locally in your browser.
Which browsers are supported?
All modern browsers — Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari (recent versions). For the best experience with large files, use a desktop browser.
Can I use the output commercially?
Yes. There are no restrictions on how you use the files you create. Always keep a backup of your originals.
How does PDFelly compare to iLovePDF or Adobe?
For everyday tasks, PDFelly produces comparable results. The big difference is privacy: iLovePDF and Adobe upload your files to their servers, while PDFelly processes everything on your device. We don't have every tool they offer (no Office conversion), but the tools we have are unlimited and private.