Privacy Policy

StylusPDF ("StylusPDF", "we", "us") is operated by Hendrik de Wet, trading as Fortress Engineering, a sole proprietor based in South Africa. This policy explains what personal information we collect, why, and what rights you have. We process personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA), and, where they apply, the GDPR and CCPA.

The short version

Every PDF tool on StylusPDF runs entirely inside your web browser. The documents you open are processed on your own device and are never uploaded to, stored on, or seen by our servers. We collect only the small amount of account and usage data described below.

Your files and documents

When you use a tool such as merge, split, sign, or redact, all processing happens locally in your browser using client-side code. Your files do not leave your device. We have no ability to access, view, retain, or recover them. When you close or refresh the page, they are gone.

Information we collect

• Account information. If you create an account, we store your email address and an encrypted authentication record through our provider, Supabase.
• Usage data. To enforce free and Pro download limits, we record a daily count of downloads tied to your account. We do not record which files you processed or their contents.
• Payment information. Purchases are handled by Paddle, our Merchant of Record. Paddle collects and processes your billing details; we never receive or store your card number. We receive only your subscription status and the identifiers needed to manage it.
• Technical and advertising data. Like most sites, our hosting and advertising providers may automatically collect limited technical data such as IP address, browser type, and cookie identifiers.

How we use your information

We use it to provide and secure the service, authenticate your account, enforce plan limits, process subscriptions, send essential transactional emails (such as confirmation and password resets), and comply with our legal obligations. We do not sell your personal information.

Cookies and advertising

We use essential cookies to keep you signed in and to remember anonymous usage limits. We may display advertising through Google AdSense, which uses cookies to serve and measure ads. You can review and control Google's use of advertising cookies at policies.google.com/technologies/ads. Pro subscribers browse without ads.

Service providers

We rely on trusted providers who process data on our behalf: Supabase (authentication and database), Paddle (payments), Resend (transactional email), Vercel (hosting), Cloudflare (DNS and email routing), and Google AdSense (advertising). Each maintains its own privacy commitments. Some may process data outside South Africa; we take reasonable steps to ensure adequate protection for such transfers.

Data retention

We keep account and usage data for as long as your account is active. If you close your account, we delete or anonymise your personal information within a reasonable period, except where we are required to retain records for legal or accounting purposes.

Your rights

Depending on your location, you may have the right to access, correct, delete, or object to the processing of your personal information, and to withdraw consent. To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the details below and we will respond within the timeframes required by applicable law.

Security

We use encryption in transit, access controls, and reputable infrastructure providers to protect your information. Because your files are processed only in your browser, they are never exposed on our systems. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Children

StylusPDF is not directed to children under 16, and we do not knowingly collect their personal information.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by the "last updated" date above and, where appropriate, by notice to you.

Contact

For any privacy question or to reach our Information Officer, email support@styluspdf.com.