Because encryption happens on your device, neither the document nor the password is sent anywhere — which matters, since the files people encrypt are statements, contracts, IDs and medical records. There is also a second mode: restrictions only, which leaves the file readable but sets permissions for printing, copying and editing that well-behaved viewers honour. For anything sensitive, use a password to open. Send the password by a different channel than the file, and keep it somewhere safe: nobody, including Bindery, can recover it.
How it works
- Drop the PDF and open Protect
- Choose “password to open” and type the password twice
- Download the encrypted copy — it now asks for the password in every viewer
Questions people ask
What is the difference between encrypting and password protecting a PDF?
For PDFs they are the same thing: a password to open encrypts the document’s contents, so it cannot be read without the password. Restrictions only is the weaker mode — the file opens for anyone and only printing, copying or editing is limited.
Can the recipient open an encrypted PDF on a phone?
Yes. Standard PDF encryption is supported by every mainstream viewer, including Acrobat, macOS Preview, Chrome, Edge, Firefox and phone PDF apps, which ask for the password.
Is the file or the password uploaded?
No. Encryption is applied in your browser before the file goes anywhere. Protect is part of the free plan — three completed jobs per UTC day and files up to 25 MB; free exports carry a small “Made with Bindery” watermark that Pro removes.