Short verdict
Yes for everyday use. PDF24 is open about what happens to uploaded files and offers a genuinely offline alternative. The trade-offs are the upload itself and the advertising that pays for the free tools.
PDF24 security features
From PDF24’s FAQ and privacy policy, checked on 6 October 2026:
- Automatic deletion: uploaded files are deleted from the server after one hour and can be removed manually at once. The policy adds that storage can run longer when processing itself takes longer.
- Encryption in transit: all file transfers are encrypted (SSL).
- EU servers, German operator: processing servers are in EU data centers, and the service is run by Geek Software GmbH in Berlin.
- No evaluation or backups: PDF24 says it does not look at or evaluate files during that hour, and generally does not create backups of them.
- Data processing agreement: available on request for the online tools.
- Offline option: PDF24 Creator, a free Windows app, processes files locally without uploading.
Risks and limitations
- The online tools upload your file. A copy sits on PDF24’s servers for about an hour, longer for slow jobs.
- Ads and analytics on the page. Its privacy policy lists Google AdSense and Google Analytics, which bring third-party scripts and cookies onto the pages you work on. They do not receive your file, but they do see your visit.
- Policy, not proof. Statements about not looking at files describe how PDF24 says it operates; you cannot inspect its servers.
- Creator is Windows-only. On a Mac, Linux machine or phone, the offline route is not available from PDF24.
How iLovePDF, Smallpdf and PDF24 compare
From each company’s own security, privacy and FAQ pages, checked on 6 October 2026. Advertising was checked in each site’s page code on 5 October 2026.
| iLovePDF | Smallpdf | PDF24 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uploads your file | Yes | Yes | Yes (online tools) |
| Automatic deletion | Within 2 hours | After 1 hour (free tools); account files kept until you delete them | About 1 hour; longer for slow jobs |
| Encryption in transit | HTTPS / TLS | 256-bit TLS | SSL |
| Certification | ISO/IEC 27001:2022 | ISO/IEC 27001 | None stated on the pages checked |
| Company and servers | Europe-based (Barcelona); European servers | Swiss company; EU servers | German company (Berlin); EU data centers |
| Third-party ads on free tools | Google ad tags | None found | Google AdSense and Analytics |
| Offline option | Desktop app (Windows, Mac) | Desktop app (Windows) | PDF24 Creator (Windows, free) |
Before you upload to any online tool
- Work on a copy, and remove pages the job does not need, so less of the document leaves your device.
- Delete the file from the service as soon as you have downloaded the result, if it offers that option. PDF24 does.
- Open the result before sharing it, and check page order, forms and small print.
- If the file is one you would have to report if it leaked, do not upload it: use an offline or in-browser tool instead.
Online tools or PDF24 Creator?
- Use the online tools for everyday files where an hour on an EU server is acceptable.
- Use PDF24 Creator on Windows for confidential files, large batches or work you must keep on your own machine.
- On a Mac or phone, use a tool that processes files in the browser without uploading. FreePDFKit’s core tools do this; check it with the Network tab and offline tests. Our PDF tool privacy audit compares what PDF24 and other sites send.
Related: is iLovePDF safe, is Smallpdf safe and the best private PDF tools. This guide is general information, not legal or compliance advice.
People also ask
Common questions
Is PDF24 safe to use?
For ordinary documents, yes. Its online tools encrypt transfers, process files in EU data centers and delete them about one hour later. For confidential files, prefer its offline PDF24 Creator app or a tool that does not upload.
Does PDF24 upload my files?
Yes, its online tools do. Its FAQ says uploaded files are automatically deleted from the server after one hour and can be removed manually straight away. PDF24 Creator, its desktop app, works offline instead.
Who runs PDF24?
Geek Software GmbH, a company based in Berlin, Germany. Its processing servers are in data centers within the EU.
Why is PDF24 free?
Its FAQ says the tools are financed by advertising on its websites. Its privacy policy lists Google AdSense and Google Analytics, so those services can run on the pages where you use the tools.
Is PDF24 Creator safer than the online tools?
For confidentiality, yes: PDF24 says Creator processes files locally and offline on the computer it is installed on, so nothing is uploaded. It is Windows software, so it is not an option on a Mac or phone.
Can I get a data processing agreement from PDF24?
Its FAQ says a data processing agreement is available on request for the online tools, and is not needed for PDF24 Creator because files never leave your PC.