What did we find?
All 8 PDF tools we could measure uploaded the test PDF. 4 of the 10 image tools uploaded the test photo, and the other 6 processed it inside the browser. 10 of the 12 uploads started as soon as the file was chosen, before we pressed Compress, Resize or any other button. In two image tools the result (or a preview made on their server) could be opened at a plain web address in a fresh browser with no login or cookies. Result of the 24-hour re-check of those two addresses: On 5 November 2026, about 24 hours later, both addresses returned "page not found" (HTTP 404). The files were no longer reachable.
Which tools uploaded the file?
Results as tested on 4 November 2026 (13:04 to 13:43 UTC). The two public addresses were checked again on 5 November 2026.
The 12 tools that uploaded the file are listed here, with our own tools as a control in rows 3 and 4 (highlighted). "Bytes sent" is the size of the request that carried the file (our test PDF was 150,608 bytes and the test photo 326,154 bytes, so a slightly larger number means the file plus form data). "Third-party hosts" is the number of other companies' servers (ads, analytics and similar) the page loaded during the test.
| Tool | Type | When the file was sent | Sent to | Bytes sent | Result at a public web address? | Third-party hosts | What the tool says about deletion (checked 4 to 6 Nov 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iLovePDF (Compress PDF) | When the file was chosen | ilovepdf.com server | 150,820 | Not seen | 13 | "automatically deleted after 2 hours" iLovePDF blog, 18 Oct 2023 | |
| Smallpdf (Compress PDF) | When the file was chosen | Cloudflare R2 storage used by Smallpdf | 150,608 | Not seen | 11 | "Files deleted after 1 hour" (free tool usage) Smallpdf blog, updated 14 Jul 2026 | |
| editpdf.tools, Compress PDF (our tool) | Not sent | Nowhere, processed in the browser | None (largest request under 1 KB) | No | Not counted | Nothing to delete, the file was not sent Our test, 4 Nov 2026. Edit PDF, our paid tool, does upload. | |
| editpdf.tools, Compress Image to KB (our tool) | Image | Not sent | Nowhere, processed in the browser | None (largest request under 1 KB) | No | 9 | Nothing to delete, the file was not sent Our test, 4 Nov 2026 |
| PDF24 Tools (Compress PDF) | When the file was chosen | pdf24.org server | 150,608 | Not seen | 4 | "automatically deleted from the processing server within one hour after processing" PDF24 FAQ | |
| Sejda (Compress PDF) | When the file was chosen | sejda.com server | 150,879 | Not seen | 0 | "Automatically deleted after 2 hours" Sejda tool page | |
| Adobe Acrobat online (Compress PDF) | When the file was chosen | adobe.io server | 150,662 | Not seen | 7 | Without sign-in, Adobe "soon deletes it from its servers" (no time given) Adobe Acrobat online FAQ | |
| PDFgear online (Compress PDF) | After pressing the button | pdfgear.com server | 150,608 | Signed download link, valid 6 hours | 10 | "deleted 20 minutes after leaving the site" PDFgear tool page | |
| Soda PDF online (Compress PDF) | When the file was chosen | sodapdf.com server | 150,620 | Not seen | 28 | "deletes all files after processing" (no time given) Soda PDF blog | |
| PDF Candy (Compress PDF) | When the file was chosen | pdfcandy.com server | 150,608 | Not seen | 4 | "removed from the system within two hours" PDF Candy blog, 1 Aug 2025 | |
| Simple Image Resizer | Image | After pressing the button | simpleimageresizer.com server | 435,081 | Yes (the resized image) | 67 | "accessible for approximately 24 hours through a uniquely generated link" Simple Image Resizer privacy page |
| TinyPNG | Image | When the file was chosen | tinypng.com server | 326,154 | Not seen | 22 | "temporarily stored, optimized and deleted within 48 hours" TinyPNG terms of use |
| iLoveIMG (Compress Image) | Image | When the file was chosen | iloveimg.com server | 326,366 | Not seen | 15 | "completely deleted" (no time given) iLoveIMG FAQ |
| ResizePixel | Image | When the file was chosen | resizepixel.com server | 326,161 | Yes (a preview made on their server) | 24 | "automatically deleted from the server not later than within one hour" ResizePixel privacy policy |
Not counted: Xodo (its upload widget did not accept our scripted test file, so we could not measure it) and FreeConvert (inconclusive: the page's request log filled up before the compress step; its tool page says converted files are deleted after 8 hours).
What about editpdf.tools?
We ran our own Compress PDF and Compress Image to KB the same way, as a control (rows 3 and 4 of the table). After the file was added, no request was larger than 1 KB: only analytics, Cloudflare and ad-quality pings. Our Compress Image to KB brought the photo to 49,948 bytes for a 50 KB target. Our paid tool, Edit PDF, does upload the file for processing, and that page says so. You can repeat the check on our tools yourself with the steps below, or see the screen recording on our security page.
How did we test?
- Same files for every tool: a one-page PDF of 150,608 bytes with a unique text marker, and a 2400 x 1800 px JPG of 326,154 bytes. Both were generated for the test and contain no personal data.
- Same browser and starting point: a fresh tab in a Chromium-based browser on Windows, UAE network, not logged in to any tool, cookie banners left unanswered (what a new visitor gets).
- Scripted, not by hand: the test ran with a script. A small script in the browser put the test file into each tool's own file picker and recorded every request.
- Recording: before adding the file, a small logger on the page recorded every XHR, fetch and beacon request with its address and size. We confirmed each upload a second way with the browser's own Resource Timing list.
- Adding the file: through the tool's own file picker. We then pressed the tool's main button and waited for the result.
- Public address check: where the result was served from a web address, we opened it in a fresh tab with no login or cookies.
- Policies: each tool's own words on deletion, from its tool page, FAQ or blog, quoted with the source.
What are the limits of this test?
- It shows what one browser saw on one day. These results show each tool as it worked on 4 November 2026. Any of these websites can change how its tool works, or its deletion policy, at any time after that, so a test today may give a different result.
- It shows that a file was sent, and where to. It cannot show what happens on the server afterwards; for that we rely on each tool's stated policy.
- Image tools that uploaded the photo may offer features (like batch processing on their servers) that need it.
How can you check a tool yourself?
- Open the tool in Chrome, Edge or Firefox and press F12 (or right-click and choose Inspect).
- Pick the Network tab and clear the list.
- Add a small test file you do not mind sharing.
- Look for a new request whose size is close to your file's size, usually marked POST or PUT. If you see one, the file left your device.
Frequently asked questions
Do online PDF tools upload your files?
Most of the ones we tested do. In our test on 4 November 2026, all 8 PDF tools we could measure sent the test file to a server, and 4 of the 10 image tools did. 6 image tools processed the file inside the browser.
Is it unsafe to use a tool that uploads files?
Not by itself. Many services delete files after a set time and state it in their policy, which we list next to each result. Uploading means one more copy exists for a while, so for ID cards, bank statements or contracts it is worth choosing a tool that works in the browser or reading the policy first.
How can I check if a website uploads my file?
Open the page, press F12 to open the browser's developer tools and pick the Network tab. Add a small test file and watch for a new request whose size is about the size of your file. If one appears, the file left your device.
Does editpdf.tools upload files?
Our free tools did not send the test file anywhere in this test: after the file was added, no request was larger than 1 KB. Edit PDF, our paid tool, does upload the file for processing, and we say so on that page.
Will you test these tools again?
Yes. We plan to re-run the same test every six months and publish the new date and results here. If you run one of these tools and something has changed, contact us and we will re-test and correct the page.
Corrections
If you run one of these tools and your product works differently now, contact us with the details. We will re-test and update this page with the date. We plan to repeat the full test every six months.