# Do Online PDF Tools Upload Your Files? We Tested 18

**TL;DR:** We added the same test PDF and the same test photo to 18 popular free online PDF and image tools and logged every network request. 12 of the 18 sent the file to a server, and 10 of those uploads started the moment the file was chosen, before any button was pressed. All 8 PDF tools we could measure uploaded the file. The full table, deletion policies and raw CSV are on the [research page at editpdf.tools](https://editpdf.tools/research/do-online-pdf-tools-upload-your-files).

## What question did we want to answer?

"Does this website upload my file?" Most tool pages answer it vaguely. We wanted a measured answer, with the same file and the same steps for every tool.

## How was the test run?

1. Same files for every tool: a one-page PDF of 150,608 bytes and a 2400 x 1800 px JPG of 326,154 bytes, made for the test with no personal data.
2. Same browser and start: a fresh Chromium tab on Windows, not logged in, cookie banners left unanswered.
3. A script put the file into each tool's own file picker and logged every `XHR`, `fetch` and `sendBeacon` request with its address and size.
4. Each upload was confirmed a second time with the browser's `Resource Timing` list.
5. Where a result had its own web address, we opened it in a fresh tab with no cookies.

## What were the results?

| What we measured | Result |
|---|---|
| Tools that sent the file to a server | 12 of 18 |
| PDF tools that uploaded (of those we could measure) | 8 of 8 |
| Image tools that uploaded | 4 of 10 |
| Uploads that started when the file was chosen | 10 of 12 |
| Results open at a public address without login | 2 (both gone about 24 hours later) |

## Does uploading mean a tool is unsafe?

No. Many services delete files after a set time. The stated times we found range from 20 minutes to 48 hours, and some give no time at all. Each tool's own wording is quoted next to its result on the research page. Uploading means one more copy exists for a while, which matters most for ID cards, bank statements and contracts.

## How did editpdf.tools do in the same test?

We ran our own [Compress PDF](https://editpdf.tools/compress-pdf) and [Compress Image to KB](https://editpdf.tools/compress-image-to-kb) as a control. After the file was added, no request was larger than 1 KB. Edit PDF, our paid tool, does upload the file for processing, and its page says so.

## How can you check a tool yourself?

1. Open the tool and press F12.
2. Open the Network tab and clear it.
3. Add a small test file.
4. Look for a POST or PUT request about the size of your file.

## What are the limits of the test?

It reflects one browser on 4 November 2026. Any site can change after that. It shows that a file was sent and where, not what happens on the server.

## FAQ

### Do online PDF tools upload your files?
Most of the ones we tested do. All 8 measurable PDF tools uploaded the test PDF.

### Do image tools upload files too?
4 of the 10 image tools did. The other 6 processed the photo in the browser.

### Can I use the data?
Yes. The raw CSV is on the research page under a CC BY 4.0 licence.

### How often will you repeat the test?
Every six months, with the new date on the same page.

### What if a tool has changed since the test?
Tool owners can contact us, and we re-test and update the page with the date.