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PDFShift’s documented request-rate limits
PDFShift’s official API documentation lists these ceilings. The page states the rates but does not give an effective date or describe account-specific exceptions, so check the current documentation and your account for applicable terms.
| Request context | Published limit | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Unauthenticated | 2 requests per minute | Do not assume the authenticated allowance applies if the request is not recognized as authenticated. |
| Authenticated | 250 documents per minute | PDFShift describes this in documents per minute; it is not a promise of sustained conversion throughput. |
| Sandbox mode | 10 requests per minute | This is a separately stated sandbox limit, not the production authenticated rate. |
Authentication status matters when interpreting the documented production allowance. If a request is unexpectedly constrained, first verify that it is being sent with the intended authentication and is not using sandbox mode.
What HTTP 429 means and how to recover
PDFShift says a request that reaches the rate limit receives HTTP 429. The response includes X-RateLimit-Remaining, X-RateLimit-Limit, and X-RateLimit-Reset headers. The reset value is a Unix timestamp in seconds.
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X-RateLimit-Remainingreports the remaining allowance.X-RateLimit-Limitreports the applicable limit.X-RateLimit-Resetindicates when the limit resets, as a Unix timestamp in seconds.
On a 429, inspect the headers and defer or pace subsequent requests until the reset time. Confirm the request context before changing code: unauthenticated requests and sandbox requests have different published ceilings from authenticated requests. The documentation does not specify per-account exceptions or a universal retry interval.
Rate limits, monthly credits, and concurrency are different
A per-minute request ceiling is not the same as a monthly usage quota or a cap on simultaneously running conversions. Treat each as a separate capacity check.
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Monthly credits measure generated output
PDFShift’s pricing page displayed 50 free monthly credits when accessed in 2026; the amount and plan terms can change, so verify the current pricing page before budgeting. PDFShift’s Help Center explains that generated file size is divided by 5 MB and rounded up to determine credits. A 4 MB output uses one credit, a 9 MB output uses two, a 14 MB output uses three, and a 23 MB output uses five. One conversion can therefore consume multiple credits if its output is larger than 5 MB. See the credit calculation explanation.
Parallel conversions measure simultaneous work
PDFShift’s FAQ states that up to 50 conversions can run in parallel by default across plans. Parallel requests are queued and return HTTP 202 Accepted, and a webhook is sent for each converted source. This concurrency limit is not a per-minute allowance. The FAQ says to contact PDFShift about a custom higher limit; it does not establish that higher capacity is automatically available. See the PDFShift FAQ.
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Quota exhaustion, alerts, and overage
PDFShift’s FAQ says usage alerts are sent at 50%, 80%, and 100% of monthly credit usage. It also describes optional overage to continue past included credits, with excess charges billed at renewal. The Help Center says overage is disabled by default and can be configured with a cap. Check the account’s current settings and plan terms rather than assuming processing will continue after the included quota is used.
The Help Center’s example uses a 25,000-credit Business plan, a configured cap of 27,500 credits, and $0.02 per extra credit. Those are figures in that example, not a universal or necessarily current overage price. Details are in the overage explanation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Other plan limits to check
The pricing page displayed a 15 MB maximum file size and a 30-second timeout for the free plan in 2026. PDFShift’s FAQ states a 30-second free-plan timeout and a 100-second default timeout for paid plans, and says premium-plan timeout adjustments can be discussed with PDFShift. These details are distinct from request rate, credits, and concurrency; verify the live terms for the plan you use.
Troubleshooting PDFShift quota problems
- HTTP 429: Read the three rate-limit headers, verify authentication and whether the request is in sandbox mode, then pace requests until the reset timestamp.
- Credits run out sooner than expected: Check generated output sizes. A result larger than 5 MB can consume more than one credit under the rounded-up calculation.
- Requests queue or return 202: Check how many conversions are already running. The stated default parallel ceiling is separate from the per-minute limit.
- Conversion exceeds the available time or file-size allowance: Check the plan’s current maximum file size and timeout, as the published free and paid plan details differ.
- Processing stops after monthly usage: Review usage alerts and account overage settings. Overage is described as disabled by default in the Help Center.
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