Comparison
PDF Redactor vs PDF24 Tools: which redaction tool to use
PDF24 Tools is a free, ad-supported set of online PDF tools. Its Redact PDF tool lets you drag black boxes over text and images, or search for a word and redact every match. When you save, every page with a box is turned into an image, so nothing remains under it.
PDF Redactor only redacts, in your browser. It removes just the content under each box and keeps the rest of the page as real text, then checks the copy it saved. Nothing is uploaded.
We make PDF Redactor. Everything below about PDF24 comes from its Redact PDF page and FAQ as of 1 November 2026.
The short version
Both are free with no limits, and both remove what’s under the boxes for good. PDF24 does it by turning each redacted page into a picture, so the rest of that page can no longer be selected, searched or read by a screen reader. PDF Redactor removes only what you marked and leaves the rest as text. PDF24’s online tool runs on its servers; PDF Redactor runs on your computer and also finds emails, phone, card and account numbers for you. PDF24 is the better choice if you want a free all-round PDF toolkit, or a Windows desktop app.
What PDF Redactor adds
The rest of the page stays text
PDF24’s FAQ says all affected pages are converted into raster images when you save, and those images replace the original page content. That’s thorough, but the rest of the page becomes a picture too: you can’t copy or search it, and screen readers can’t read it.
PDF Redactor deletes only the text, images and form values under each box. The rest of the page stays selectable and searchable. Only a page that fails its final check is rebuilt as an image.
The saved file is checked
After saving, PDF Redactor reopens the new copy and searches it for every word you removed. Earlier versions saved inside the file are dropped, and Remove hidden info, on by default, takes out the author, metadata, comments, attachments, scripts and bookmarks.
Personal data found for you
In PDF24 you draw boxes or search for a word and click “Redact all matches”. PDF Redactor does that too with Find words, and also marks emails, phone numbers, card numbers, US Social Security numbers and IBANs as soon as the file opens. With Local AI (Pro), it finds names, street addresses and account numbers no pattern can catch.
Your file isn’t uploaded
PDF24’s online tool “runs on our servers in the cloud” and removes files after a short time. PDF Redactor opens, cleans and saves the file in your browser and keeps working offline, with no ads.
Where PDF24 is the better choice
- A free toolkit. Merge, split, compress, convert, OCR and more, all free. PDF Redactor only redacts.
- Desktop app. PDF24 Creator is a free Windows app with similar tools.
- Any device. The online tools work in any browser, on any system. PDF Redactor runs in Chrome and Edge on a computer.
- You want flat pages. If you’d rather every redacted page be an image, PDF24 does that every time.
Side by side
| PDF Redactor | PDF24 Tools | |
|---|---|---|
| Where your file is processed | On your computer, in your browser | On PDF24’s servers (online tool) |
| Works offline | Yes | No; PDF24 Creator for Windows is a separate app |
| Price | Free, or Pro yearly or one-time | Free, with ads |
| How content is removed | Deletes only what’s under each box | Turns every redacted page into an image |
| Rest of the page selectable and searchable | Yes | No, on redacted pages |
| Mark every match of a word | Free | ”Redact all matches” |
| Finds emails, phone and card numbers | Free, as the file opens | Not stated |
| AI that finds names and addresses | Local AI (Pro), on your computer | Not stated |
| Text in scanned pages | Scanned text (Pro), on your computer | Separate PDF OCR tool |
| 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 free toolkit |
Which to choose
Choose PDF Redactor if the file shouldn’t be uploaded, you want the rest of the document to stay searchable and accessible, or you want personal data found for you.
Choose PDF24 if you want one free site for every PDF job and don’t mind redacted pages becoming images.
For how PDF Redactor compares with other redaction tools, see PDF Redactor compared.
Checked on 1 November 2026 against PDF24’s Redact PDF page and its questions and answers. PDF24 is a trademark of its owner. If something has changed, email support@smartbuildlabs.com and we’ll correct it.