Last updated: 1 January 2026 · Governing jurisdiction: Republic of South Africa
🔒 Plain-language summary: FreeToolVault never receives, stores, or transmits any file you process with our tools. Every operation runs locally inside your browser. We collect no personal data through tool usage. We display Google AdSense advertising, which may set cookies. Email correspondence is retained to reply to you.
FreeToolVault is a free online tool platform operated from Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. Our website is at https://freetoolvault.com. We provide browser-based productivity and business tools — PDF compressors, image editors, invoice generators, QR code generators, password generators, and developer utilities — all completely free and requiring no account registration.
For privacy enquiries, our Information Officer can be reached at hello@freetoolvault.com. We respond to privacy requests within 5 business days.
The most important privacy fact about FreeToolVault is that we never receive your files. This is not merely a policy — it is an architectural reality. When you upload a file to any FreeToolVault tool, that file is loaded into your web browser's memory using the browser's File API. It is processed by JavaScript libraries (pdf-lib for PDFs, the Canvas API for images) running entirely within your browser tab. The processed output is downloaded through browser memory. No file data ever travels to any server.
We have no file servers, no cloud storage, no upload infrastructure. Your confidential business documents, financial records, legal papers, personal photographs, and any other sensitive materials remain on your device throughout the entire process. This provides real privacy benefits:
We use your browser's localStorage to save your interface preference (dark or light mode). This is stored on your device only and is never transmitted anywhere. You can clear it at any time through your browser's site data settings.
If you email us at hello@freetoolvault.com or use our contact form, we receive your name, email address, and message content. We retain email correspondence for up to 24 months for the sole purpose of responding to you. We do not use contact data for marketing or share it with third parties.
FreeToolVault is funded by advertising through Google AdSense (publisher ID: ca-pub-9046181750703855). To serve relevant ads, Google may set cookies on your device, collect your IP address for fraud prevention and geographic targeting, and use browser technologies to track ad impressions. This is governed by Google's Privacy Policy. Opt out via Google Ad Settings or the NAI opt-out tool.
FreeToolVault loads resources from external CDNs: Google Fonts, Tailwind CSS CDN, unpkg.com (pdf-lib), and jsDelivr (qrcode.js). These CDNs may log your IP address and request details per their own policies. We have no access to these logs.
FreeToolVault sets no first-party cookies. We use localStorage for preferences. Google AdSense may set third-party cookies including __gads, NID, DSID, and IDE for advertising purposes. You can block these via your browser settings without affecting tool functionality.
Information is used exclusively for: saving your dark/light mode preference; replying to your support emails; and serving advertisements via Google AdSense to fund the free service. We do not sell, rent, or share personal information with any third party for commercial purposes and have no data-broker relationships.
EEA users have the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict, and port personal data we hold, and to object to processing. Our lawful bases are legitimate interests (advertising to fund a free service) and consent where legally required. Since we hold minimal personal data, most requests will relate to Google's advertising data — address those to Google directly. Contact us at hello@freetoolvault.com for any data related to contact correspondence.
FreeToolVault complies with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA). You have the right to be notified of collection, to access your information, to request correction or deletion, and to object to processing. You may also lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa. Our Information Officer is reachable at hello@freetoolvault.com. We do not transfer personal information outside South Africa except as required for Google AdSense to function internationally.
FreeToolVault is not directed at children under 13 (or under 16 in the EEA). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has submitted personal data to us, contact us at hello@freetoolvault.com and we will delete it promptly.
Because we do not store your files, the primary data security risk of document exposure through a server breach is eliminated by design. For contact emails, we rely on HTTPS encryption and a secure email provider. No electronic system is 100% secure, but we take commercially reasonable steps to protect information we hold.
Our site may link to third-party websites. We are not responsible for their privacy practices. Please review the privacy policy of any external site you visit.
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will update the "Last updated" date when we do. Continued use of FreeToolVault after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
Privacy questions and data rights requests: hello@freetoolvault.com
Response time: 5 business days for privacy requests
Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng, Republic of South Africa
Hours: Monday–Friday, 09:00–17:00 SAST (UTC+2)