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PDF Analytics & Document Tracking

Sent a proposal, contract or course handout and want to know whether it was opened? PDF Analytics gives you a view link that records each open, so you can follow up at a sensible time. It is meant for documents you share openly: tell recipients that the link records opens.

Upload PDF

Upload any PDF document you want to track.

Get View Link

We generate a unique shareable link with built-in tracking.

Monitor Opens

Each open of the link is recorded with its time, device type, browser and operating system.

What Is PDF Analytics?

PDF Analytics gives you a unique view link for each PDF you upload. When someone opens the link, our server records the open (time, browser, device type, operating system, IP address and referrer) and then shows the PDF. The viewer page carries a visible "Tracked by PDFCheck Analytics" label.

Each document gets a dashboard with total opens, an approximate count of unique viewers, device types, browsers, operating systems and a timeline of open events. You can also download a copy of the PDF with an embedded script that reports opens in Adobe Acrobat and Reader. Acrobat may ask the reader to allow the connection, and nothing is recorded if they decline, turn off JavaScript or are offline.

Who Is This For?

PDF Analytics is built for anyone who shares PDF documents and wants to know what happens after they hit "send":

Sales Teams

See when a prospect opens the proposal link, so you can follow up at a sensible time. An open shows that the link was loaded, not that the offer was read.

Legal & Contracts

See whether a contract shared through a view link has been opened. An open does not prove that the document was read or accepted.

Authors & Educators

Track engagement with eBooks, course materials, and guides. See how far your content reaches and on which devices readers prefer to view it.

Marketing Teams

Measure PDF whitepaper, brochure, and case study engagement. Understand which assets drive the most interest.

What We Track

Every time your tracked PDF is opened, we capture the following data points:

  • Open Events — Total opens and an approximate count of unique viewers, estimated from IP addresses. People on a shared network count as one viewer, and one person on two networks counts as two.
  • Device Type — Whether the document was opened on desktop, mobile, or tablet.
  • Browser / PDF Viewer — Which software was used to open the PDF — Adobe Acrobat, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.
  • Operating System — Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and Chrome OS detection.
  • Timestamp & Timeline — Exact date and time of every open event, displayed on an interactive 30-day chart.

How It Works Under the Hood

There are two ways an open can be recorded. The main one is the view link: when someone opens it in a browser, our server records the open before showing the PDF. This works in every browser and on every device, and the page shows a "Tracked by PDFCheck Analytics" label.

The second is an optional tracked download: a copy of the PDF with a small JavaScript action that contacts our server when the file is opened in Adobe Acrobat or Reader. Acrobat may show a security prompt asking the reader to allow the connection; if they decline, nothing is recorded. Other PDF viewers ignore the script.

Step-by-step process:

  1. You upload your original PDF to our secure server.
  2. We generate a unique shareable view link (e.g., pdfcheck.online/v/abc123).
  3. When anyone opens the link, we record the open event server-side — browser, device, OS, and time.
  4. The PDF is displayed inline in their browser with a clean viewer. On mobile, they can download it.
  5. If you share the tracked download, it contacts our server when opened in Adobe Acrobat or Reader and the reader allows the connection.

Universal Compatibility

The shareable view link works in every browser and device. The downloaded PDF with embedded tracking is a bonus for Adobe Acrobat users.

Method / Viewer Tracking Notes
Shareable View Link All Browsers Works in Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, mobile — any browser.
Adobe Acrobat Reader Link + PDF View link, plus the tracked download when the reader allows the connection.
Adobe Acrobat Pro Link + PDF View link, plus the tracked download when the reader allows the connection.
Foxit Reader Link Tracked via view link. Embedded tracking depends on JS settings.
Chrome / Edge / Firefox Link Fully tracked via the shareable view link.
macOS Preview / iOS Link Fully tracked via the shareable view link.

Privacy and Telling Your Readers

Open tracking is fair only when readers know about it. What readers see and what we store:

  • Tell recipients that the link records opens, for example in the message that carries it. Depending on where you and your readers are, privacy law may require this notice.
  • The view page shows a "Tracked by PDFCheck Analytics" label at the top, so anyone who opens the link can see that it is tracked.
  • Tracked PDFs are kept privately until you delete them or request verified deletion. Conditional upload security scanning may contact VirusTotal as described in our Privacy Policy.
  • Viewer IP addresses and technical visit data are stored for analytics and abuse prevention under the retention terms in our Privacy Policy.
  • You can pause or disable tracking at any time from your dashboard.
  • Viewer records can include IP address, browser, operating system, device type, referrer, and landing page.

How long tracked PDFs and viewer records are kept, and how to ask for their deletion, is set out in our Privacy Policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does tracking change how my PDF looks?

No. The view link shows your PDF unchanged in a simple viewer page. The tracked download keeps the same pages; the added script does not change what is shown, although Adobe Acrobat may display a security prompt when it runs.

Will readers know the PDF is tracked?

The view page shows a "Tracked by PDFCheck Analytics" label in its top bar, and Adobe Acrobat may ask readers to allow the connection when the tracked download runs its script. You should still tell recipients yourself that the link records opens.

What if someone opens the PDF offline?

If the tracked download is opened offline, its script cannot contact our server, so the open is not recorded. Opens through the view link are recorded because they need a browser and an internet connection.

Is there a file size limit?

Free accounts can upload PDFs up to 50 MB, and the Pro and AI plans up to 100 MB. The tracked version will be about the same file size as the original.

Can I track the same PDF with different recipients?

Currently, each upload creates one tracking ID and one shareable view link. All opens are recorded to the same dashboard. For per-recipient tracking, upload the same PDF multiple times — each will get a unique view link and separate analytics.

Share a PDF with a Tracked View Link

Upload a PDF with a free account and get a view link that records opens.

Track a PDF Now

  • Free to Use

    Free account required

  • Visible to Readers

    The viewer shows a tracking label

  • Instant Setup

    Ready in seconds