What is the difference between redaction and just covering text with a black box?

Covering text with a black rectangle (annotation) only hides it visually. The underlying text data is still in the PDF and can be extracted by selecting and copying, using text extraction tools, or removing the annotation layer. True redaction permanently deletes the text data from the file. After redaction, the information is irreversibly gone and cannot be recovered by any means.

Can I search for and redact all instances of a name or number?

Yes. The search-and-redact feature lets you enter a word, phrase, or pattern and automatically find every occurrence throughout the document. You can review the matches before applying redaction, then remove all instances in one operation. This is essential for redacting a person's name, Social Security number, or account number that appears on multiple pages.

Is redacted content truly unrecoverable?

Yes. Our redaction tool permanently removes the character data, not just the visual rendering. After redaction, the text is deleted from the PDF's content streams. There is no hidden layer, no undo capability, and no way to extract the original text. This meets the standards required for legal discovery, FOIA compliance, and HIPAA de-identification.

Can I review redactions before making them permanent?

Yes. The tool supports a two-step workflow. First, you mark areas for redaction, which creates visual indicators showing what will be removed. You can review, adjust, add, or remove marks during this phase. Only when you confirm the final apply step is the content permanently deleted from the PDF.

Redact PDF

Needs visual selection UI

Powerful Redact PDF Features

True Data Removal

Permanently deletes underlying text, not just visual overlays. Redacted content is irrecoverable.

Maximum Privacy

Sensitive documents are processed entirely on your device. No server uploads, no cloud storage.

Review Before Apply

Two-step workflow: mark content for redaction, review all marks, then permanently apply.

How To Redact PDF Online for Free

Upload Your Document

Drop your PDF into the tool. Your document stays entirely on your device throughout the redaction process.

Mark Sensitive Content

Select text regions, search for patterns, or mark entire pages for redaction. Review all marks before applying.

Apply and Download

Permanently remove the marked content and download your redacted PDF. The sensitive data is irreversibly deleted.

Permanently remove sensitive information from PDF documents directly in your browser. Redaction goes beyond simply covering text with black boxes. It irreversibly removes the underlying data so it cannot be recovered by copying, searching, or extracting the PDF content. This is critical for law firms producing discovery documents, government agencies releasing FOIA responses, healthcare organizations sharing de-identified records, and any business that needs to distribute documents while protecting personally identifiable information, trade secrets, or classified content. Our tool processes everything locally via WebAssembly, so your sensitive documents are never uploaded to any server.

Everything You Need in a Redact PDF

Permanent Removal

Deletes character data from PDF content streams. Cannot be recovered by copy, search, or extraction tools.

Search and Redact

Find every instance of a name, number, or pattern across all pages and redact them in one operation.

Two-Step Workflow

Mark areas for redaction first, review all marks, then apply permanently. Prevents accidental over-redaction.

Custom Appearance

Choose redaction bar color and style. Black bars for legal, white for clean appearance, or custom colors.

Region and Page Selection

Redact specific text selections, rectangular regions, or entire pages depending on your needs.

No Server Contact

WebAssembly processes your PDF locally. Privileged legal documents and medical records stay on your device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Document Work Made Easy

Process your PDFs with our collection of free, privacy-first tools. No uploads to servers, no registration required. Everything runs directly in your browser.