Don’t take our word for it. This guide shows you exactly how to confirm our privacy claims yourself using your browser’s built-in developer tools.
The short version: open any basic tool (Merge, Compress, Split, Rotate, Convert), press F12, go to the Network tab, upload a file, and watch. For browser-based tools, you’ll see zero file upload requests — because your file never leaves your browser.
Use DevTools to confirm no file upload requests appear for browser-based tools. Conversion and AI tools are clearly labeled and will show network requests when processing.
Press F12 on Windows/Linux, or Cmd + Option + I on Mac. This works in Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari. A panel opens showing browser internals.
The Network tab records every request your browser makes — page loads, API calls, file uploads, image downloads. If any file is uploaded, it appears here immediately. Make sure recording is on (the red circle in the top-left of the Network panel).
You can filter to see only file uploads by typing method:POST in the filter box, or select the Fetch/XHR filter tab.
Go to hugmypdf.com/tools/compress-pdf or merge-pdf. Select a PDF file using the file picker. Watch the Network tab as the tool processes your file.
🔍 What you’ll see: the tool runs, the progress bar fills, and the result downloads — all with zero file upload requests in the Network tab. The file was processed entirely in your browser’s JavaScript engine.
Now try an AI tool: OCR PDF, Chat with PDF, or Summarize PDF. When you upload a file, you’ll see a POST request appear in the Network tab.
⚡ This is expected and disclosed: AI tools require server-side processing. The upload is sent over HTTPS, processed once, and deleted after processing is complete. This is documented at /privacy-processing.
Open any other popular PDF tool (Smallpdf, iLovePDF, PDFCandy) with DevTools open and upload a file to their “free” basic tools like Compress or Merge. You’ll see POST requests immediately — your file is uploaded to their servers even for basic operations.
This is the fundamental difference: HugMyPDF’s browser-based tools (Merge, Split, Compress, Rotate, Sign, Protect, and others) run locally in your browser with zero server contact. Server and AI tools are clearly labeled.
These tools require server processing. Files are uploaded over HTTPS, processed once, and deleted after processing is complete. Never stored or used for training.
Full tool-by-tool breakdown: see exactly how every one of HugMyPDF’s tools handles your files at hugmypdf.com/privacy-processing
Open DevTools, try a basic tool, and confirm the zero-upload claim for yourself.