FAQ
Is Orifold really free? Yes — Orifold is free and open source under the Apache License 2.0, with no subscription, paywall, or feature gate.
Does anything ever get uploaded? No. Import, editing, OCR, compression, encryption, and export all run on your Mac. See Privacy & local-first design.
Is there a Windows or iPad version? Not currently — Orifold is a native macOS app requiring macOS 14 or later.
Can I recover a lost password on a protected PDF? No. Orifold uses real AES-256 encryption; there’s no backdoor or recovery path. Store your password somewhere safe.
Can Orifold apply a real digital signature, or just a drawn mark?
Both. Draw, Type, or Initials place a visual mark; the Digital method applies a verifiable cryptographic signature (standards-based PAdES, SHA-256, optional trusted timestamp) using a Digital ID from a .p12 file, your Keychain, or a self-signed ID — all on your Mac. A self-signed ID shows as “identity not verified” in other viewers until trusted; use a CA-issued ID when recipients must verify automatically. See Sign documents.
How do I turn off Gami or Ori’s tips, or hide them completely? Click the companion chip and choose Hide Gami Tips to keep it visible but quiet, or use Show Orifold Buddy in the app menu to hide it entirely. See Meet Gami & Ori.
Why does macOS warn about an unidentified developer? Release builds are ad-hoc signed but not notarized. Right-click the app and choose Open once to clear it. See Installation problems.
Can I contribute? Yes — see Contributing. Bug reports and feature requests are welcome in Issues.
How is this free — what’s the catch? No catch. It’s Apache 2.0-licensed and built in public; there’s no paid tier hiding behind it.