Password protect a PDF in seconds
Lock any PDF with AES-256 encryption (FIPS 197). Set owner + user passwords, restrict print/copy/edit. Free with watermark, 0 AI Deep Detect, no Adobe ID, EU hosted.
Upload your PDF
Drop a PDF up to 100 MB — TLS 1.3 in transit. RC4-40 and RC4-128 legacy files are auto-upgraded to AES-256 (PDF 2.0 mandates AES-256 since ISO 32000-2:2020).
Set password & permissions
Pick a strong user password (NIST SP 800-63B recommends 12+ chars, no composition rules). Optionally add a separate owner password and toggle print quality (none/low/high), copy text,…
Download encrypted PDF
Get a locked PDF that prompts for the password in Adobe Acrobat Reader, Apple Preview, Microsoft Edge and any FIPS 140-3 validated reader.…
Why choose iFillPDF
AES-256 (FIPS 197) — PDF 2.0 standard
The same Advanced Encryption Standard NIST SP 800-175B approves for US government TOP SECRET data and HIPAA 45 CFR §164.312(a)(2)(iv) accepts for ePHI. Stronger than Adobe Acrobat Pro free tier (still ships AES-128 by default).
Owner + user password split
Two-tier model from the PDF spec: user password gates document opening; owner password gates permission changes. Critical for paralegal e-discovery (FRCP Rule 34 ESI), HR onboarding packets and SOX §404 internal controls.
Granular permissions (8 flags)
Block print, copy, modify, annotate, fill forms, extract pages, assemble and accessibility extraction — independently. Covers GLBA Safeguards Rule 16 CFR Part 314 and FERPA 34 CFR §99.31 minimum-necessary disclosure.
Frankfurt EU — no Cloud Act exposure
Servers in Hetzner Falkenstein under EU-US Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework (TADPF). 24h auto-purge, AES-256 at rest, TLS 1.3 in transit.…
Encrypt any PDF with AES-256 (ISO 32000-2:2020, FIPS 197 — the standard NIST SP 800-175B and HIPAA 45 CFR §164.312(a)(2)(iv) accept for ePHI). Split user password (open the file) and owner password (admin), then granularly restrict print, copy, modify, extract and form-filling permissions. Compatible with Adobe Acrobat, Apple Preview, Foxit and any PDF 2.0 reader. Hosted in Frankfurt (EU), 24h auto-purge, no Adobe ID, no AI training on your documents.
Go further with lifetime access
E-signature proof log, business templates, no watermark. $8.99, one payment, for life — no subscription.
Frequently asked questions
Is iFillPDF really free for password protection?+
Yes — free with a watermark and 0 AI Deep Detect, no credit card and no Adobe ID required. Start is $8.99/mo for 8 AI Deep Detect/mo. Compare: Adobe Acrobat online is free but caps you at one protect-PDF per day after sign-in; Smallpdf free tier limits two documents per day; iLovePDF free has 25 MB cap; Sejda is $7.50/mo or 3 tasks/hour free; Foxit PhantomPDF is $129 one-time license.
How strong is AES-256 vs AES-128?+
AES-256 has 2^256 possible keys — brute-forcing one with all current Bitcoin mining hardware would take longer than the age of the universe. NIST SP 800-175B classifies it as quantum-resistant for symmetric encryption (Grover algorithm only halves effective strength to AES-128 equivalent). PDF 2.0 (ISO 32000-2:2020) deprecated RC4-40 and RC4-128 — older Adobe Acrobat, Smallpdf legacy and Soda PDF $7.99/mo still ship those weak modes by default.
Is iFillPDF HIPAA-compatible for medical PDFs?+
Yes — AES-256 satisfies the HIPAA Security Rule 45 CFR §164.312(a)(2)(iv) addressable encryption specification and §164.312(e)(2)(ii) transmission security. We sign Business Associate Agreements (BAA) on the Unlimited plan. Also covers GLBA 16 CFR Part 314 Safeguards Rule for financial advisors, ESIGN Act 15 USC §7001 for signed contracts and SOX §404 for audit trail integrity. EU hosting is HHS OCR acceptable when paired with BAA.
What if I forget my PDF password?+
There is no backdoor — AES-256 with a 12+ char password is computationally unbreakable. We do not retain your password (zero-knowledge) and we will not bypass it (would defeat the cryptography and violate 18 USC §1030 CFAA). Best practice: store passwords in 1Password, Bitwarden or Apple Keychain before sharing. PDF/A-3 (ISO 19005-3) archival files should be stored unencrypted in a separate secure vault — encryption is for transit, archival relies on access control.
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