Comparison
PDF Redactor vs iLovePDF: which redaction tool to use
iLovePDF is a popular online PDF toolkit with a Redact PDF tool. You upload a file, search for words or let it find card numbers, phone numbers and emails, mark anything else by hand, then click Redact.
PDF Redactor only redacts, in your browser. It finds personal data for you, removes it from the file on every download, and checks the copy it saved. Nothing is uploaded.
We make PDF Redactor. Everything below about iLovePDF comes from its Redact PDF page, its redaction guide and its pricing page as of 1 November 2026.
The short version
Both find card numbers, phone numbers and emails for you and both search for words. iLovePDF does it on its servers, under European law, and deletes uploads after 2 hours; PDF Redactor does it on your computer, offline. PDF Redactor also finds SSNs and IBANs, and its Local AI (Pro) finds names and addresses. iLovePDF’s free plan limits how many documents you process; unlimited use needs Premium, a subscription. iLovePDF is the better choice if you also convert, merge and sign PDFs, or work on a phone.
What PDF Redactor adds
Your file isn’t uploaded
iLovePDF encrypts files, keeps its servers under European law and deletes every upload after 2 hours. PDF Redactor never uploads the file: it’s opened, cleaned and saved in your browser, and keeps working offline. Its only network requests are the optional Local AI model download and the Pro license check, and neither includes your documents.
More found for you, as the file opens
iLovePDF’s search bar can find card numbers, phone numbers and emails. PDF Redactor looks for those plus US Social Security numbers and IBANs as soon as you open the file, and shows each match as a dashed box to hide with a click, the H key or Hide all. Card numbers are checked with the card checksum, so random 16-digit numbers aren’t flagged.
With Local AI (Pro), it also finds names, street addresses and account numbers no pattern can catch, on your own computer.
Scanned pages in the same step (Pro)
iLovePDF’s guide suggests running a scan through its separate OCR tool first, then redacting. PDF Redactor’s Scanned text reads scanned pages and images on your computer as part of redaction, so emails, numbers and the words you search for are found there too.
No document limit, no subscription needed
On iLovePDF’s free plan, document processing is limited. PDF Redactor’s finding, marking and removing are free on every PDF, with no limit. Pro features are free on your first 3 PDF downloads, then a yearly plan or a one-time purchase.
The saved file is checked
After saving, PDF Redactor reopens the new copy and searches it for every word you removed. A page that fails is rebuilt as a flat image with the boxes burned in, then checked again. Remove hidden info, on by default, takes out the author, metadata, comments, attachments, scripts and bookmarks.
Where iLovePDF is the better choice
- A whole PDF toolkit. Convert, compress, merge, split, sign and more. PDF Redactor only redacts.
- Whole pages. iLovePDF can redact entire pages in one click. In PDF Redactor you drag a box over the page.
- Phones and desktop apps. iLovePDF has web, mobile and desktop apps (redaction on mobile needs Premium). PDF Redactor runs in Chrome and Edge on a computer.
Side by side
| PDF Redactor | iLovePDF | |
|---|---|---|
| Where your file is processed | On your computer, in your browser | On iLovePDF’s servers, deleted after 2 hours |
| Works offline | Yes | No |
| Free use | Every PDF, no limit | Limited document processing |
| Finds emails, phone and card numbers | Free, as the file opens | Search bar finds them |
| Finds SSNs and IBANs | Free | Not stated |
| Mark every match of a word | Free | Search bar |
| AI that finds names and addresses | Local AI (Pro), on your computer | Not stated for redaction |
| Text in scanned pages | Scanned text (Pro), on your computer | Run the separate OCR tool first |
| Removes metadata, comments and attachments | Free, on by default | Not stated |
| Saved file checked for removed words | Free | Not stated |
| Other PDF tools | No, redaction only | Yes, a full toolkit |
| Runs on | Chrome and Edge on a computer | Web, desktop and mobile |
| Price model | Free, or Pro yearly or one-time | Free with limits, or Premium subscription |
Which to choose
Choose PDF Redactor if the file shouldn’t be uploaded, you want more personal data found for you, or you redact scanned pages.
Choose iLovePDF if you already pay for Premium and use its other tools, or you need to redact on a phone.
For how PDF Redactor compares with other redaction tools, see PDF Redactor compared.
Checked on 1 November 2026 against iLovePDF’s Redact PDF page, its guide “How to redact a PDF” and its pricing page. iLovePDF is a trademark of its owner. If something has changed, email support@smartbuildlabs.com and we’ll correct it.