# Password Protect PDF for startups

_Updated July 2026 · Arthize · https://arthize.com/for/startups/protect-pdf_

Arthize lets startup founders and teams password-protect a PDF in a private workspace — free, with no watermark. Protecting a PDF encrypts it with a password, so only people with the password can open the file — the encryption travels with the document.

## Why startups password-protect a PDF

A founder exports the pitch deck to PDF, merges it with financials into a data-room file, and sends a SAFE for e-signature — without paying for enterprise document software.

**Built for pitch decks.** Whether it's pitch decks, cap tables, contracts, Arthize's password protect pdf keeps the work inside your private workspace. Fundraising materials and cap tables are highly confidential; private processing is critical.

## What matters when you password-protect a PDF

Password protection encrypts the PDF so it can't be opened without the password.

The encryption travels with the file, unlike a folder lock that stays on your computer.

A separate permissions password can restrict printing or copying.

## How to password-protect a PDF

1. **Open the protect tool** — Sign in and open the Protect tool.
2. **Add your PDF** — Upload the document you want to encrypt.
3. **Set a password** — Choose a strong open password and, optionally, a permissions password.
4. **Download** — Get an encrypted PDF that requires the password to open.

## FAQ

### How do startups password-protect a PDF for free?

Protecting a PDF encrypts it with a password, so only people with the password can open the file — the encryption travels with the document. On Arthize it's free with no watermark, and the file is deleted after the job — which is why startup founders and teams can use it for pitch decks without a confidentiality risk.

### Is it private to password-protect a PDF sensitive pitch decks?

Yes. Fundraising materials and cap tables are highly confidential; private processing is critical. Files are processed inside your private Arthize workspace and deleted after the job.

### How do I password-protect a PDF?

Protecting a PDF encrypts it with a password, so only people with the password can open the file — the encryption travels with the document. On Arthize it's free with no watermark and processed privately.

### Is a password-protected PDF actually encrypted?

Protecting a PDF encrypts it with a password, so only people with the password can open the file — the encryption travels with the document. On Arthize it's free with no watermark and processed privately.