Compare
PDF Redactor compared with other redaction tools
You can redact a PDF in a full PDF suite, in an online tool, or in your browser. Here's how PDF Redactor differs from the tools people reach for. We make PDF Redactor, so every fact about the others comes from their own websites and help pages: Adobe's on 29 October 2026, the rest on 1 November 2026.
What PDF Redactor does differently
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Finds data for free
Emails, phone and card numbers, SSNs and IBANs are marked as the file opens. Hide each one, or all of them in one click, on every PDF.
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Nothing uploaded
No account, and it works offline in Chrome and Edge. Your PDF is opened, cleaned and saved on your computer.
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Removed, then checked
Every download deletes the text under each box and the hidden details, with no Apply step to forget. Then the new copy is checked for every word you removed.
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Local AI Pro
Finds names, street addresses and account numbers no pattern can. Runs entirely on your computer; nothing is uploaded.
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Scanned text Pro
Reads the text in scanned pages and images on your computer, so emails, numbers and the words you search for are found there too.
Every Pro feature is free on your first 3 PDF downloads, with no account and no card.
PDF Redactor against one tool
- PDF Redactor vs Adobe Acrobat A full PDF suite with redaction in its paid plans. PDF Redactor only redacts, free, on your computer.
- PDF Redactor vs Smallpdf An online PDF toolkit where you mark what to redact by hand. PDF Redactor finds personal data for you, on your computer.
- PDF Redactor vs iLovePDF An online PDF toolkit with search-and-redact for cards, phones and emails. PDF Redactor does that and more on your computer.
- PDF Redactor vs PDF24 Tools A free, ad-supported online tool that turns redacted pages into images. PDF Redactor keeps the text and works on your computer.
- PDF Redactor vs Stirling PDF An open-source PDF editor you install or self-host, with regex redaction. PDF Redactor finds personal data for you, in your browser.
- PDF Redactor vs Redactable A cloud redaction platform for teams, priced per document. PDF Redactor redacts on your computer, free.
Side by side: redaction software
"Pro" means the feature needs the paid plan, free on your first 3 PDF downloads; for Acrobat, "Pro or Studio" names its plans, and every Redactable plan is paid after 3 free documents. "Not stated" means the product doesn't say, not that it's missing.
| Feature | PDF Redactor | Adobe Acrobat | Redactable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where your file is processed | On your computer, in your browser | On your computer; AI Assistant on Adobe's servers | Uploaded to Redactable's servers (AWS, US) |
| Free to redact | Yes, on every PDF | No, Pro or Studio | 3 documents |
| Mark text and areas by hand | Free | Pro or Studio | Every plan |
| Finds emails, phone and card numbers | Free, as the file opens | Pattern search, Pro or Studio | AI auto-detect, every plan |
| Text removed from the file | Free, on every download | When you select Apply | Every plan |
| Removes metadata, comments and attachments | Free, on by default | Separate sanitize step | Metadata, every plan |
| Saved file checked for removed words | Free | Not stated | Not stated |
| AI that finds names and personal details | Local AI (Pro), on your computer | AI Assistant (Studio or add-on), on Adobe's servers | Every plan, on Redactable's servers |
| Text in scanned pages | Scanned text (Pro), on your computer | OCR, Pro or Studio | OCR, on Redactable's servers |
| Label text on the boxes, like [NAME] | Pro | Text overlay, Pro or Studio | Not stated |
| Batch redaction | Coming soon | Action Wizard, Pro or Studio | Up to 100 files per upload; API on Enterprise |
| Team redaction workspaces, audit logs, certificates | No | Not stated | Yes |
| Edit, fill and sign PDFs | No | Yes | No |
| Account | Not needed | Adobe account | Required |
| Runs on | Chrome and Edge on a computer | Windows, Mac, web and mobile | Web browser |
| Try the paid features | Free on your first 3 PDF downloads | Free trial | 3 free documents |
| Price model | Free, or Pro yearly or one-time | Subscription, from US$19.99 a month | From US$29 a month for 15 documents |
Side by side: online PDF toolkits
Smallpdf, iLovePDF and PDF24 are web sites with a redact tool among many; Stirling PDF is an open-source editor you install or host. Each has its own head-to-head above.
| Feature | PDF Redactor | Smallpdf | iLovePDF | PDF24 Tools | Stirling PDF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where your file is processed | On your computer, in your browser | Smallpdf's servers, deleted after an hour | iLovePDF's servers, deleted after 2 hours | PDF24's servers (online tool) | Desktop app, your own server, or its web version |
| Free use | Every PDF, no limit | Daily download limit | Limited document processing | Free, with ads | Free for individuals |
| Finds emails, phone and card numbers | Free, as the file opens | Not stated; you mark text by hand | Search bar finds them | Not stated | Regex patterns you add |
| Mark every match of a word | Free | Not stated | Search bar | Redact all matches | Automatic mode |
| AI that finds names and addresses | Local AI (Pro), on your computer | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Assistant; where it runs not stated |
| Rest of a redacted page stays text | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | No, pages become images | Yes, unless you convert to images |
| Text in scanned pages | Scanned text (Pro), on your computer | Separate OCR tool | Separate OCR tool first | Separate OCR tool | OCR tool |
| Saved file checked for removed words | Free | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Other PDF tools | No, redaction only | 30+ tools | Full toolkit | Full toolkit | 60+ tools, open source |
| Price model | Free, or Pro yearly or one-time | Free with limits, or Pro subscription | Free with limits, or Premium subscription | Free, with ads | Free; Team from US$99 a month |
When another tool fits better
If you redact many files the same way, Acrobat Pro's Action Wizard can speed that up; PDF Redactor works on one PDF at a time for now, with batch redaction coming soon. If you also edit, fill and sign PDFs, or need an app on your phone, Acrobat covers all of it.
If a team redacts together and needs shared workspaces, audit logs, redaction certificates or Bates numbers, Redactable is built for that, and it takes images and large batches too. Your files are uploaded to its servers, and plans are priced by documents per month.
If you want one place for every PDF job, Smallpdf, iLovePDF and PDF24 convert, merge and sign as well as redact, in any browser or on a phone. Stirling PDF does the same as open source you can install or host, with regex redaction across many files at once.
If you redact now and then and don't want a subscription, want personal data found for you, or need your files to stay on your computer, AI included, that's what PDF Redactor is built for.
Products change quickly. If something here is out of date, email support@smartbuildlabs.com and we'll correct it.