Why PDF Vault exists

Every year, millions of Indians fill out applications for government exams, passport renewals, driving licences, bank account openings, college admissions and job portals. Almost all of these portals enforce strict file size and format rules. A photo must be between 20KB and 50KB. A PDF must be below 300KB or 500KB. The signature image must be in JPG format and under 20KB. If any file is even 1KB over the limit, the portal rejects it — often without explaining why.

Most people discover this problem at the worst possible time: the day before the application deadline, on a mobile phone, with a slow data connection. They search for a solution and find desktop software they cannot install or paid services that ask for credit card details. PDF Vault was built as the free, mobile-friendly alternative that works right from the browser.

The goal is simple: you should be able to open pdf-vault.com on any Android or iOS browser, upload your file, get the result in under a minute, and submit it to the portal — without paying, signing up, or worrying about where your document went.

How the tools work

All core tools on PDF Vault run entirely in your browser using JavaScript. When you upload a PDF or image, the file is loaded into your browser's memory — not sent to any server. The compression, conversion or resizing happens using libraries running inside your browser tab. The result is downloaded directly to your device. PDF Vault's servers never receive, store or see your file at any point.

This architecture matters especially for sensitive documents. Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, caste certificates, income proofs and bank statements are all common files people need to resize or compress for government portals. The browser-only design means you can process these documents without trusting a third-party server with your personal information.

Some tools — like OCR (optical character recognition) — require server-side processing because they are computationally intensive. Those pages clearly state when a file leaves the browser, so users can make an informed choice.

Who uses PDF Vault

The site's main users are students and job seekers preparing applications for SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, UPSC Civil Services, RRB NTPC, Railway Group D, IBPS, SBI, NTA (JEE and NEET) and state-level government exams. A typical session looks like this: the applicant fills out the online form, reaches the document upload page, and finds that their scanned certificate is 1.2MB but the portal allows only 300KB. They reach pdf-vault.com, compress the file in 30 seconds, and complete the submission.

Small business owners and freelancers use the site to convert images to PDF for invoice submissions, merge multiple documents into a single PDF for bank or CA filing, and compress large design files before emailing them.

Students at colleges and universities use it to convert assignment scans, resize ID photos for online forms, and prepare documents for university application portals that often have strict upload requirements.

Our commitment to accuracy

Every guide and reference table on the site is researched against official portal notifications, UPSC circulars, SSC exam notifications, Railway recruitment advertisements and government-issued guidelines. Portal requirements change from cycle to cycle, so each guide is reviewed when new exam notifications are published.

When a page states that "UPSC requires PDFs under 300KB" or "SSC requires a photo between 20KB and 50KB," those figures come from the official notifications for the relevant exam year. Users are always advised to verify the latest requirement on the official portal before final submission, because requirements do change and this site may not reflect a new circular within hours of its release.

If you find outdated information — a changed file size limit, an incorrect format requirement, or a broken link — please report it using the contact details below. Corrections are made within 24 to 48 hours.

Privacy and data handling

PDF Vault does not collect, store or process the files you upload into its tools. Browser-based tools handle everything locally. There are no user accounts, no login, and no file history stored on any server.

The site uses Google Analytics to measure aggregate traffic — how many people visit, which tools are most used, which pages are most read. This data contains no file content, no personal documents and no individually identifiable information beyond what a standard web analytics tool collects (browser type, pages visited).

Google AdSense is used to display advertisements that help keep the site free. The site does not share user data directly with advertisers. For full details, see the Privacy Policy.

Business model

PDF Vault is free to use with no signup required. The site is supported by display advertising through Google AdSense. This means you may see relevant advertisements while using the tools or reading the guides. The advertising is separate from the tool functionality — ads do not affect how your files are processed, and closing an ad does not change the tool's output.

There are no premium tiers, no paid plans and no features locked behind a payment. All tools are freely available to every user.

Contact and corrections

To report a bug in a tool, a broken link, an outdated size limit, a factual error in a guide, or any other issue, email contact@pdf-vault.com. Include the page URL and a description of the problem. Corrections are typically made within 1–2 business days.

For feedback on which tools or guides would be most useful — a specific exam portal or document type not currently covered — the same email address works.