Question 1

Is ToolCompanion completely free to use?

Accepted Answer

Yes, absolutely! All tools and services available on our website are 100% free for everyone. We are committed to providing simple, powerful, and accessible tools without requiring any subscriptions, payments, or hidden fees.

Question 2

Do I need to create an account or install any software?

Accepted Answer

No, not at all! Our entire suite of tools is browser-based, meaning everything runs directly in your web browser. There is nothing to download or install on your device. Furthermore, you are not required to sign up, create an account, or provide any personal information to use our services. Just open your browser and start working!

Question 3

What devices and web browsers are supported?

Accepted Answer

Our tools are designed for maximum compatibility and work seamlessly across all modern devices and major web browsers. You can use our Service on desktops (Windows, macOS, Linux), laptops, tablets, and mobile devices (Android, iOS). We support popular browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, and Microsoft Edge.

Question 4

How does ToolCompanion protect my files and data?

Accepted Answer

Your security and privacy are our highest priority and are built into the core design of our services. We use two secure processing methods:

Client-Side Processing (Maximum Privacy): For the majority of our tools (including most merging, splitting, rotating, image editing, etc.), all file processing happens directly within your web browser on your own device. Your files never leave your computer, offering the highest level of privacy and security.

Server-Side Processing (For Complex Tools): For a few advanced tools (like our OCR, more complex PDF conversions, or advanced compression) that require significant computational power, your files are securely uploaded to our servers. All such uploads use secure 256-bit SSL encrypted connections (HTTPS).

Question 5

What happens to files that are processed on your servers?

Accepted Answer

For files that require server-side processing, our policy is extremely strict:
- Your files are processed in memory to perform the requested operation.
- They are permanently and automatically deleted immediately after the task is complete and the resulting file has been sent back to you.
- We do not save, store, or archive your files, not even temporarily. Our systems are designed for instant deletion, ensuring your sensitive data is never retained.

Question 6

Do you ever view, copy, or access the content of my files?

Accepted Answer

Never. Our file processing is fully automated from start to finish. There is absolutely no manual intervention, and we do not view, copy, store, or analyze the content of your files in any way. Our commitment is to provide tools, not to access your data.

Question 7

How does ToolCompanion handle cookies and analytics?

Accepted Answer

We use cookies and Google Analytics solely for website performance monitoring and to understand aggregate usage trends.

Purpose: This helps us identify popular tools, understand how users interact with our site, spot technical issues, and make informed decisions to improve the Service for everyone.

Anonymity: The data collected is entirely anonymous and aggregated. It includes information like browser type, device type, general geographic location (country), and page visit durations. This data cannot be used to personally identify you.

AdSense Cookies: As a free service, we display ads via Google AdSense, which uses cookies to serve relevant ads based on your browsing activity (not personally identifiable data). Please see our Privacy Policy for more details on opting out of personalized advertising.

Question 8

Is ToolCompanion compliant with global privacy laws like GDPR, CCPA/CPRA, and CalOPPA?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our privacy practices are designed to comply with or exceed the requirements of major global privacy regulations, including GDPR (for EU/EEA users), CCPA/CPRA (for California residents), CalOPPA, and other applicable laws. Our commitment to minimal data collection and transparency is foundational to this compliance. For full details on your rights, please refer to our comprehensive Privacy Policy.

Question 9

What file formats do you support across your tools?

Accepted Answer

We support a wide array of popular and common file formats to cater to diverse needs.

Documents: We primarily specialize in PDF and offer conversions to and from formats like Microsoft Word (.docx) and Excel (.xlsx).

Images: We handle popular image formats including JPG, PNG, WEBP, HEIC, SVG, and more.

Other: We also support various data and code formats for tools like JSON, HTML, and binary conversions.

Question 10

What is the difference between "Compress PDF" and "Compress PDF Lite"?

Accepted Answer

Compress PDF Lite: This is a client-side tool, meaning the entire compression process happens instantly in your browser. It offers fast, basic, and very private compression without any file uploads.

Compress PDF: This tool utilizes our secure servers for more advanced and powerful compression algorithms. While it requires a brief upload, it can often achieve significantly smaller file sizes for complex or larger PDF documents, providing a more robust optimization.

Question 11

How does the "PDF To Text" tool work?

Accepted Answer

Our PDF To Text tool uses advanced OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology to analyze the content of your PDF document, including both text layers and images containing text. It extracts all detectable textual content, which is then presented on-screen and made available as a downloadable .txt file, allowing you to easily copy, edit, or archive the text from your PDF.

Question 12

Are there any file size limits for uploads?

Accepted Answer

For server-side processed tools, there are practical file size limits to ensure optimal performance for all users. These limits vary by tool and will typically be indicated directly on the tool's page. We strive to support reasonably large files, but extremely large files might encounter processing issues.

Question 13

My file is stuck or won't process. What should I do?

Accepted Answer

This can occasionally happen. Please try the following steps:
1. Refresh the page: A simple page refresh often resolves temporary glitches.
2. Upload the file again: Try re-uploading your file.
3. Check file integrity: Ensure your file is not corrupted.
4. Check password protection: Make sure your file is not password-protected (unless you are specifically using our "Unlock PDF" tool).
5. Verify format: Double-check that your file is a supported type for that specific tool.
If the issue persists, please contact us for assistance.

Question 14

How do I save my processed file?

Accepted Answer

After a tool has successfully finished processing your file, a clear download link or button will appear automatically on the page. Simply click this link/button to save the finished file directly to your computer or mobile device.

Question 15

I have another question or need to report an issue. How can I get help?

Accepted Answer

We're always here to help! If your question isn't answered in this FAQ or you need to report a bug or suggest a feature, please visit our Contact Page to get in touch with our support team. We value your feedback and strive to respond promptly.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Security & Privacy

Using the Tools

Troubleshooting & Support