Frequently asked questions
Last updated: August 2026
Short, direct answers to the questions people ask most. If yours is missing, contact us.
Pricing and accounts
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Paperly free? | Yes — all current tools are free and unlimited. |
| Do I need an account? | No. No account, login or email is required. |
| Is there a watermark? | No. Results are clean. |
Privacy
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How are my files processed? | In your browser. Files are never uploaded to a server. |
| Are my files stored? | No. Files exist only in browser memory while you work. |
| What happens when I close the tab? | The file is discarded. There is nothing stored to recover. |
Formats and processing
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What file formats are supported? | PDF, and for conversion tools: JPG, PNG, WEBP, GIF, TIFF, SVG, BMP, CSV, XLSX, DOCX, PPTX, TXT, Markdown, HTML and EPUB. See the Supported formats page. |
| Why did my PDF fail? | Corrupted files, password-protected files and unusual structures are the most common causes. |
| Why is OCR inaccurate sometimes? | OCR quality depends on the scan — low resolution, skew and unusual fonts reduce accuracy. |
| Can I process large PDFs? | Yes, within browser memory limits. Very large files may be slow on lower-end devices. |
| Can I use Paperly on mobile? | Yes — the tools work in mobile browsers. |
Troubleshooting
- Note the exact error message and the tool you used.
- Check the Troubleshooting section of the Help Center.
- If it is a conversion issue, confirm your file is not password-protected and is valid.
- Still stuck? Contact us with the tool name, file type and error message.
Comparing to other PDF sites
Many PDF websites upload your file to their servers to process it. Paperly works differently: everything runs in your browser, so your file never travels over the network. That is why there is no file-size limit imposed by a server queue — the only limit is your device memory — and why you never need an account.