Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about PdfWatch — security, pricing, features, and how it all works.
Security & Privacy
Can PdfWatch read my documents?
No. PdfWatch uses a zero-knowledge architecture. Your document is encrypted locally in your browser using AES-256-GCM before it is uploaded. The decryption key lives only in your share link's URL hash fragment — a part of the URL that browsers never send to servers. PdfWatch's servers receive only an encrypted blob of data. Even if our entire database were compromised, an attacker would find only unreadable encrypted binary. We are architecturally incapable of reading your documents.
What is zero-knowledge encryption?
Zero-knowledge means we have no knowledge of your document's contents. The term comes from cryptography and refers to a system where the service provider cannot access the data it stores. In PdfWatch's case, this is enforced by encrypting your document client-side before upload and keeping the decryption key exclusively in the share link you control.
Where are my documents stored?
Encrypted document blobs are stored in Supabase Storage, hosted on AWS infrastructure in the EU. Only the encrypted version is stored — PdfWatch never has access to the original file.
What happens to the decryption key?
The decryption key is embedded in the hash fragment of your share link (the part after the # symbol). Hash fragments are part of the browser's local state and are never transmitted to web servers. The key never leaves your link. PdfWatch's servers never see it.
Is PdfWatch GDPR compliant?
Yes. We hash all viewer IP addresses before storing them using a daily rotating salt — making them non-reversible. We never store decryption keys. You can delete all your data permanently from the Settings page. We do not sell or share user data with third parties.
What data do you collect about document viewers?
When someone views your document, we record the approximate country (derived from hashed IP), the time and duration of each page view, and the total view count. We do not collect names, email addresses, or precise location data unless you implement email gating (a future feature).
Features
How do I know when someone opens my PDF?
Your dashboard updates in real time when a viewer opens your link. If you have browser notifications enabled, you will receive an instant alert. You can also check your dashboard at any time to see view history.
What are page heatmaps?
Page heatmaps show you which sections of each page your viewer spent the most time reading. The longer they spent on a section, the more intense the heatmap highlight. This helps you understand what interested them — and what they skipped.
Can I revoke access to a shared document?
Yes. Go to your dashboard, find the document, and click Revoke. The encrypted blob is permanently deleted from storage and the link immediately stops working. This cannot be undone.
What is the anonymous burner upload?
The burner upload lets you share a document without creating an account. Drop your file on the homepage, get a secure link, and share it. The link expires after 24 hours and basic analytics are shown on a temporary dashboard. You can claim ownership of the document by creating an account before the link expires.
Can I set a password on my document?
Password protection is on the PdfWatch roadmap. Currently, access is controlled by the share link itself — only people who have the link can view the document.
Can viewers download or print my PDF?
By default, viewers can download and print the document. Download and print controls are on the PdfWatch roadmap as optional toggles for Pro users.
Pricing & Plans
Is there a free plan?
Yes. The free plan is permanent — not a trial. You can track up to 3 active documents with real-time heatmaps, view tracking, and the anonymous burner upload, forever, at no cost.
How many documents can I share on the free plan?
You can have up to 3 active documents at a time. You can delete old ones to make room for new uploads. Deleted documents cannot be recovered.
What is included in the Pro and Business plans?
Pro ($9/month) gives you unlimited documents, 100MB file limit, 5GB storage, 1-year document retention, full analytics history, viewer country data, custom document aliases, advanced analytics (per-page time breakdown, engagement scoring, real-time viewing indicator), and priority support. Business ($29/month) includes 3 seats, 20GB shared storage, 250MB file limit, and more. See the full comparison on the pricing page.
Can I cancel my Pro subscription anytime?
Yes. Cancel anytime from your account dashboard. Your Pro access continues until the end of your billing period. No cancellation fees.
Do you offer refunds?
If you experience a technical issue that prevents you from using the product, contact [email protected] and we will work to resolve it. We do not offer refunds for unused subscription time, but we encourage you to evaluate the product on the free plan before upgrading.
Advanced Analytics
What are engagement scores and per-page time analytics?
These are Pro features that give you deeper insights into how your document is read. The per-page time breakdown shows exactly how many seconds a viewer spent on each individual page. The engagement score synthesizes view count, average time, and max page depth into a simple LOW, MEDIUM, or HIGH rating, helping you quickly identify your most interested readers.
Technical
What browsers are supported?
PdfWatch works on all modern browsers — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. The document viewer uses PDF.js and requires a browser that supports the Web Crypto API for client-side encryption. Internet Explorer is not supported.
What is the maximum file size?
The free plan supports files up to 30MB. The Pro plan supports files up to 100MB. The Business plan supports files up to 250MB. For larger documents, consider compressing your PDF before upload.
Why does the document viewer look different from a normal PDF viewer?
PdfWatch renders PDFs using a custom viewer built on PDF.js. It is designed to run the decryption in your browser and display the document without ever sending the decrypted file to a server. The viewer also captures page-level analytics which require a custom rendering environment.
What happens if I lose my vault password?
Your vault password is used to encrypt your document names and links locally. PdfWatch does not store your vault password — this is part of the zero-knowledge design. If you lose it, you cannot recover your encrypted filenames or regenerate your share links. We strongly recommend storing your vault password in a password manager. Your actual documents remain in storage but will be inaccessible without the key.
Still Have Questions?
We are here to help. Check out our pricing page for more details or sign up for free to test the platform yourself.