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PDFBolt FAQ

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about our service:

Is there a free plan?

Yes. The Free plan includes 100 document conversions per month and 1 AI template generation (one-time).

Are failed requests charged?

No, only successful conversions are charged.

How are document conversions counted?
  • On the Free plan, each conversion counts as 1 document and can generate PDFs up to 2MB.
  • On paid plans, PDF file size is unlimited, and each 5MB portion counts as 1 document.
  • For example, a 7MB PDF uses 2 documents, and a 12MB PDF uses 3 documents from your monthly usage.
  • For each conversion, we return an x-pdfbolt-conversion-cost response header showing exactly how many documents were counted for that particular conversion.
Which conversion endpoint should I use?

Use /v1/direct when you need PDF bytes in the HTTP response, /v1/sync when you want a JSON response with a temporary documentUrl, and /v1/async for background jobs delivered by signed webhook.

Can I customize the PDF output?

Yes. You can customize the PDF with options like header/footer templates, page size, margins, and more. See the Conversion Parameters section for detailed options.

Can I generate print-ready PDFs?

Yes. PDFBolt supports PDF/X-4 and PDF/X-1a standards for prepress-compliant output (Growth plan and above). You can enable CMYK color conversion with industry-standard ICC color profiles (Fogra39, Fogra51, SWOP, GRACoL) and control black rendering with the preserveBlack option. See the Print Production parameters for details.

What happens if I exceed my quota?
  • By default, overage is disabled. Requests exceeding 100% of your quota will be blocked with a 403 error.
  • To avoid interruptions, you can enable overage in your Dashboard. Extra usage will be billed at your plan's overage rates.
How do you handle data privacy?
  • PDFBolt runs conversions on EU-hosted infrastructure.
  • HTML content and template data are used to render PDFs. After processing is complete, their values are redacted from stored request logs by default and are not stored or logged in those records.
  • By default, PDFBolt redacts html, templateData, httpCredentials, and customS3PresignedUrl from stored request logs. You can configure additional parameter redaction in the Dashboard.
  • PDFs stored by PDFBolt for retrieval through documentUrl expire after 24 hours. Paid plans can upload PDFs directly to your S3-compatible storage.
  • PDFBolt supports GDPR-compliant document conversion workflows with EU-hosted conversion infrastructure and a DPA. For more details, see Privacy.
What happens if I exceed my plan's limit with the overage system enabled?
  • When the overage system is enabled, extra usage beyond your plan's limit incurs charges based on your plan's overage rate.
  • Additional usage will be billed in a separate invoice during your next subscription cycle.
Will I be notified when nearing my monthly document limit?
  • Email notifications for 90% and 100% of your usage are enabled by default.
  • You can customize these notifications in your Dashboard settings.
Can PDFBolt upload PDFs to my own storage?

Yes. On paid plans, send customS3PresignedUrl with a /v1/sync or /v1/async request. PDFBolt uploads the generated PDF to your HTTPS pre-signed PUT URL, so the PDF is stored in your S3-compatible bucket. See Uploading to Your S3 Bucket.

Does PDFBolt store my credit card details?

No. Card details are handled by Stripe and are not stored by PDFBolt.

How can I upgrade my plan?
  • Visit the "Subscription" page in your Dashboard to upgrade.
  • Upgrades are prorated, so you only pay for the difference.
  • Additional document conversions will be immediately added to your account in proportion to your new plan.
How can I cancel my subscription?
  • Go to the "Subscription" page in your Dashboard.
  • After cancellation takes effect, no further subscription charges apply.
  • Remaining document conversions stay active until the billing period ends.
Can I request custom features?

Yes. Contact us with your requirements, and we will evaluate the request based on fit and feasibility.

What are PDF Templates and how do they work?
  • Templates let you create reusable PDF layouts that separate design from data.
  • Send only your template ID and JSON data instead of complete HTML for each PDF.
  • Use Handlebars syntax like {{customer_name}} for dynamic content.
  • Learn more in our Templates Documentation.
Do I need coding knowledge to use Templates?

Not necessarily. You can:

  • Use AI Template Generation to create templates from descriptions or reference files – no coding required.
  • Start with ready-made templates from the template gallery and customize them for your brand.
  • Use our visual designer with real-time preview.
  • Handlebars syntax is simple – use {{variable_name}} for data insertion.
What types of templates can AI generate?

AI can generate common business document templates, including invoices, contracts, NDAs, reports, certificates, receipts, shipping labels, medical forms, resumes, and similar layouts.

How do I get the best results from AI?
  • Be specific in your prompt. Describe the layout structure, data fields, visual elements, and styling preferences.
  • You have up to 10,000 characters to work with.
  • Attach reference files for better context: PDFs of existing templates, images (PNG, JPG, SVG), or text and code files (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, JSON, TXT).
Are Templates included in all plans?

Yes. Free plan includes 1 template, paid plans offer higher limits. All plans include access to our template gallery and visual designer.

Can I work on templates with my team?

Yes. Templates support team collaboration with version control, drafts, and team access.

What happens to my template data during PDF generation?

Template data is used to render the PDF. After processing is complete, its value is redacted from stored request logs by default and is not stored or logged in those records.

Can I modify published templates?

Yes. Edit templates to create new drafts, preview changes, and publish new versions when ready. Auto-save protects your work.

Do you support other templating engines besides Handlebars?

We currently support the Handlebars templating engine. If you need a different engine, contact us at contact@pdfbolt.com.

Do you have static IP addresses I can add to my allowlist?

Yes. PDFBolt uses two fixed IP addresses when fetching source URLs, delivering webhooks, or uploading PDFs to S3-compatible storage:

  • 49.13.36.211
  • 5.75.219.91

Both are EU-based (Germany). Add them to your firewall allowlist if your source URLs, webhook endpoints, or storage provider restrict access by source IP. See IP Addresses for more details.


For template-specific questions, see the Templates FAQ.

If you don't find your answer here, contact us through one of these channels: