Filo FAQ: questions, answered.
Privacy & Data
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
On the web, 33 of 43 tools run in your browser, so the file is not uploaded. The other 10 use a secure server pass, and the file is deleted when the conversion finishes: 7 Office conversions and the OCR tools (PDF to TXT and OCR PDF read pages that already contain text in your browser, and upload only for scanned pages). In the app, most tools run on your device; PDF to Word, PowerPoint, Excel or Text, PowerPoint or Excel to PDF, and background removal on Android are processed on a secure server.
Which 10 web tools use a server?
DOC to PDF, PDF to DOC, PDF to PPT, PDF to XLS, PPT to PDF, XLS to PDF, Document Viewer, Extract Text (OCR) and PDF to TXT (OCR), which sends a PDF only when it has scanned pages. Browsers have no reliable engine for Office layouts, and our server reads text more accurately than a browser can, so these files are processed on our server over an encrypted connection and deleted when the conversion finishes.
Can Filo see my documents?
Browser tools do not send your file to us, so there is nothing for us to see. Files that go through the secure server pass are processed automatically, are not shared, and are deleted when the conversion finishes. The same applies to the few app conversions that use our server.
Is it safe to scan my passport or ID?
On the web, the scan tools run in your browser and do not upload your photo. In the app, document, ID and passport scanning runs on your device.
Account & Pricing
Is Filo free?
Yes. The app is free for life, supported by ads, with no daily limit. On the web you get 3 free conversions with no sign-up, then optional plans with more credits.
Do I need an account?
No. You do not need an account on the web or in the app.
Can I earn more conversions on the web?
Yes. Sign in and share your personal link: you get 3 credits for each friend who converts a file with it, for up to 5 friends a month. Earned credits last 60 days, and files made with them carry the small Filo mark. A friend counts once they open your link on a device that has not used Filo on the web before and finish their first conversion. Referral credits are for the web; the Filo app is free for life, with no daily limit.
Are there file limits or watermarks?
Files you make with the free web conversions carry a small Filo mark in one corner (images, PDF pages and Office files; ID photos, signed PDFs and text results have none). Files made with a plan have no mark, and the Filo app never adds one. On the web you get 3 free conversions in total: each file you convert uses one, and a combined document such as a merged PDF or a multi-page scan uses one; the app is free for life, with no daily limit. Browser tools run on your device, so the main limit is its memory, plus a few caps that keep browsers stable: for example 50 images per batch, 100 PDFs per merge, and very large photos scaled to about 16 megapixels. The 10 server tools have an upload size limit to keep conversions fast.
Using the Tools
Can I convert many files at once?
Yes, most tools take several files at once, including the HEIC and WEBP conversions, Image to PDF, Merge PDF, Image Compress, Resize Image, Extract Text and the Smart Scan tools. Tools that edit one document, such as Sign PDF or Crop Image, work on one file at a time. On the web, each file in a batch uses one of your 3 free conversions, so a batch converts as many files as you have left, while a merged PDF, an Image to PDF file or a multi-page scan uses one in all; the app is free for life, with no daily limit.
Will conversion reduce quality?
Conversions keep full resolution by default. To shrink files, use Image Compress.
Which languages does OCR support?
Extract Text, PDF to TXT and OCR PDF read printed English and other languages written in Latin letters, such as French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Dutch, plus Arabic, so a page that mixes Arabic and English works. There is no language to choose. PDF to TXT and OCR PDF read pages that already contain text directly, Arabic included. Clear printed text works best.
Platforms & Devices
Does it work without internet?
Web tools need a connection to load the page and the tool itself, which downloads when you add your first file. Once a tool has loaded, browser tools work on your device without a connection; ID Photo Maker also downloads its model the first time you use it. The 10 server tools (Office conversions and OCR) need a connection for the server pass. In the app, many tools work offline, and a few conversions need a connection.
Which devices are supported?
iPhone and iPad, Android phones and tablets, and current versions of Chrome, Safari, Edge and Firefox on desktop or mobile.
What is the difference between the web and the app?
Most tools are on both. The web gives you 3 free conversions; the app is free for life, with no daily limit, and adds automatic edge detection when scanning, offline use for many tools, and a history of your files.
Still have a question?
Write to support@filodocs.app or send us a message, and the Filo team will reply.
