Encrypt PDF Free
Encrypt PDF completely free with ContinuePDF — every feature, every time, with no trial timer and no paywall waiting at the download step. Most "free" PDF sites cap you at a couple of files a day, stamp a watermark on the output, or hide the real encrypt feature behind a subscription. Here the tool is free because it runs in your browser, so there are no per-file server costs to pass on to you.
Start Encrypt PDF NowHow to Encrypt PDF for Free
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Open the tool — no account
Start using Encrypt PDF immediately. There is no signup wall and no credit card to "verify".
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Encrypt PDF without limits
Add your PDF and process it. No daily cap, no locked settings, no "upgrade to continue".
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Download a clean file
Save password-protected PDF with no watermark and no branding added.
What you can do with Encrypt PDF
Encrypting a PDF locks it with a password, so the document can only be opened by someone who knows it — protecting sensitive files when they are shared, emailed, or stored somewhere less secure.
Protect financial documents
Password-protect bank statements, tax returns, or payslips before sending them.
Secure an email attachment
Add a password so a confidential file is useless to anyone who intercepts the email.
Lock personal records
Encrypt medical results, contracts, or IDs kept on a shared or cloud drive.
Share on a need-to-know basis
Give the password only to intended recipients so others cannot open the file.
What "free" actually means here
A lot of PDF tools advertise a free tier that is really a demo: you can encrypt one file, then you hit a "buy a plan" screen, or the download arrives with a watermark you have to pay to remove. That is a sales funnel, not a free tool. ContinuePDF's Encrypt PDF has no such catch — the full feature set is available to everyone at no cost.
It stays sustainably free because of how it is built. Server-side PDF tools pay for CPU and bandwidth every time someone processes a file, so they have to charge. ContinuePDF does the encrypt work on your device, so our costs don't scale with your usage — which means we can leave it free without limits or watermarks.
Why choose ContinuePDF
No paywall
Every part of Encrypt PDF is free — nothing is locked behind a plan.
No watermark
password-protected PDF downloads clean, ready for professional use.
No daily limit
Process as many files as you need, as often as you need.
No card required
No "free trial" that quietly needs payment details.
Pro tip
Use a strong, unique password and send it to the recipient through a different channel than the file itself — for example, email the PDF but share the password by message or phone. Do not lose the password; without it, the file cannot be opened.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I forget the password?
There is no back door — a forgotten password means the file cannot be opened. Keep the password somewhere safe, ideally in a password manager.
Does encryption protect the file everywhere?
Yes. The password requirement is part of the PDF itself, so any compliant reader on any device will ask for it before showing the contents.
Is Encrypt PDF really free, with no hidden cost?
Yes. There is no paid tier, no trial that expires, and no watermark you have to pay to remove. The full encrypt feature set is free for everyone because the processing runs on your device rather than on servers we have to pay for.
What's the catch with a free PDF tool?
There isn't one. We may show light ads, but the tool itself is complete and unrestricted. Because your PDF is processed locally, we don't incur per-file costs, so we don't need to gate features behind a subscription.
Is ContinuePDF free to use?
Yes. ContinuePDF and all of its tools, including Encrypt PDF, are free with no signup required. Because documents are processed in your browser rather than on our servers, we can offer the full feature set at no cost.
Other ways to Encrypt PDF
Prefer a different device, browser, or setup? Encrypt PDF works the same everywhere.
Ready to Encrypt PDF?
Start using our free encrypt tool now — no signup required.
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