Frequently Asked Questions
We get a lot of questions, so we put together this FAQ. If you still can't find what you need, just drop us a line - we're pretty friendly.
General Questions
What is PDF Bucket?
PDF Bucket is basically your go-to spot for all things PDF. We built it because we got tired of paying for expensive PDF software or dealing with sketchy free tools. You can remove watermarks, merge files, split documents, compress them, and convert between PDFs and images - all for free, no sign-up needed.
Is PDF Bucket really free?
Yep, 100% free! No credit card, no trial period, no "free but actually paid" nonsense. We make money from ads (once we get approved), but the tools themselves will always be free. Use them as much as you want.
Do I need to create an account?
Nope! Just head to the site, pick your tool, upload your file, and you're done. We don't even ask for your email. We figured you've got enough accounts to manage already.
What PDF tools does PDF Bucket offer?
Right now we've got 6 tools: watermark remover (our most popular one), PDF merger, PDF splitter, PDF compressor, PDF to image converter, and image to PDF converter. We're always thinking about adding more based on what people actually need.
Security & Privacy
Is my data secure?
Yeah, we take this seriously. Everything runs through SSL encryption (you know, that padlock in your browser), and we use Google Cloud Platform which is pretty solid. But here's the big thing - we delete everything after 1 hour automatically. Even we can't access your files after that.
Do you store my files?
Nope, not long-term anyway. Files hang around for 1 hour max, then they're gone forever. We built it this way because honestly, we don't want the responsibility of storing your documents. Less data = less risk.
Can anyone else access my files?
No way. When you upload a file, you get a unique link that only you can use. After an hour, that link stops working and the file is deleted. Even if someone had the link, they'd be out of luck after the hour is up.
Is PDF Bucket safe to use?
We think so! We're using the same security stuff that banks use (SSL encryption), and files are processed on Google's servers which are pretty bulletproof. Plus, the auto-delete thing means even if something went wrong, your files wouldn't stick around long.
File Processing
What is the maximum file size?
We cap it at 100MB per file. Honestly, we could go bigger, but then processing gets slow and nobody wants to wait 5 minutes for their PDF. 100MB covers like 99% of use cases anyway.
How long does processing take?
Depends on the file size. Small files (under 10MB) usually finish in 10-30 seconds. Bigger files might take a minute or two. We show you a progress bar so you know what's happening.
What file formats are supported?
PDFs for everything, obviously. For the image converters, we handle JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP - basically all the common ones. If you've got something weird, try it and let us know if it doesn't work.
Can I process multiple files at once?
For merging and image-to-PDF, yeah! You can drag and drop a bunch at once. For the other tools, we do one at a time to make sure the quality stays good. We're working on batch processing for everything though.
Will the quality of my PDF be maintained?
We try our best! The watermark remover is pretty good at keeping quality while removing watermarks. Sometimes if a watermark is really embedded deep, you might see a tiny bit of quality loss, but it's usually not noticeable.
Watermark Removal
How does watermark removal work?
So basically, we convert your PDF pages into images, then our code looks for those light gray pixels that watermarks usually are. It removes them and puts everything back together as a clean PDF. It's not magic, but it works pretty well for most watermarks.
Can you remove all types of watermarks?
We're good with the common ones - you know, those light gray "DRAFT" or "CONFIDENTIAL" text watermarks. If someone went crazy and embedded a watermark really deep or made it part of an image, it might not work perfectly. But for 90% of cases, you'll be happy with the result.
Is removing watermarks legal?
Only if it's YOUR document or you have permission. We built this for people who own their PDFs and want clean versions. Don't use it to remove watermarks from stuff you downloaded illegally - that's not cool and we're not responsible if you get in trouble.
Will watermark removal affect document quality?
Usually not much. We try to keep quality high, but honestly it depends on the watermark. Simple text watermarks? No problem. Complex ones might leave a tiny bit of ghosting. Try it and see - if it looks bad, the original is still on your computer.
Technical Support
What if my file fails to process?
First, make sure it's actually a PDF (sometimes people upload Word docs by mistake). If it's huge (like 80MB+), try compressing it first. Still not working? Hit us up at support@pdfbucket.online and we'll figure it out together.
Do you support password-protected PDFs?
Not yet, sorry. You'll need to unlock it first using whatever software you used to lock it. We're thinking about adding this feature, but it's tricky to do securely.
Can I use PDF Bucket on mobile devices?
Absolutely! We made sure it works on phones and tablets. The interface adapts to smaller screens, so you can merge PDFs or remove watermarks right from your phone. Pretty handy when you're on the go.
What browsers are supported?
We support all the main ones - Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera. Basically if it's from the last couple years, you're good. Internet Explorer? Nah, that thing's ancient. Update your browser, friend.
Business & Legal
Can I use PDF Bucket for commercial purposes?
Sure! Use it for work, personal stuff, whatever. Just make sure you have the right to process whatever files you're uploading. We don't care if you're making money with it - go for it.
Is PDF Bucket GDPR compliant?
Yep. We delete files after an hour, don't collect personal info, and follow GDPR rules. Check out our Privacy Policy if you want all the legal details (it's pretty boring, but it's there).
What are the terms of use?
Keep it legal, don't upload stuff you don't own, and don't try to break our site. Pretty standard stuff. The full terms are on our Terms page if you're into that kind of reading.
How can I contact PDF Bucket?
Email us at info@pdfbucket.online or use the contact form. We usually get back to you within a day or two. We're a small team, so bear with us if it takes a bit longer sometimes.
Still Stuck?
Didn't find what you needed? No worries - shoot us an email and we'll help you out. We actually read every message (crazy, right?).
Get in Touch