Comparison
PDF Redactor vs Smallpdf: which redaction tool to use
Smallpdf is one of the most-used online PDF toolkits, and Redact PDF is one of its 30+ tools. You drop in a file, highlight the text or areas to remove, and click Finish. No sign-up is needed to start.
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 Smallpdf comes from its Redact PDF page, FAQ and pricing page as of 1 November 2026.
The short version
Both remove the text under each box, not just cover it. In Smallpdf you find and mark everything yourself; PDF Redactor marks emails, phone numbers, card numbers, SSNs and IBANs as the file opens, and its Local AI (Pro) finds names and addresses. Smallpdf’s FAQ says files are processed on its servers and deleted after an hour, and the free plan has a daily download limit. PDF Redactor works on your computer with no limit. Smallpdf is the better choice if you also need to convert, compress, merge and sign PDFs, or redact on a phone.
What PDF Redactor adds
Personal data found for you
Smallpdf’s guide has you tap the Redact icon and highlight each piece of text or area yourself. PDF Redactor looks for every common format as soon as you open the file and shows each match as a dashed box. Hide one with a click or the H key, or all of them with Hide all. Card numbers are checked with the card checksum, so random 16-digit numbers aren’t flagged. Find words marks every match of a name or number you type.
With Local AI (Pro), PDF Redactor also finds names, street addresses and account numbers no pattern can catch, on your own computer.
Your file isn’t uploaded
Smallpdf’s page says “Process files 100% in your browser”, but its FAQ says “All processing happens on secure servers” and that files are deleted after one hour. It’s encrypted in transit and ISO/IEC 27001 certified. PDF Redactor opens, cleans and saves the file 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.
No daily limit
Smallpdf’s free plan allows redaction with a daily download limit; unlimited use needs Smallpdf Pro, a subscription. PDF Redactor’s finding, marking and removing are free on every PDF, with no watermark and no limit. Pro features (Local AI, label boxes and Scanned text) 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 Smallpdf is the better choice
- A whole PDF toolkit. Compress, convert to and from Office, merge, split, sign and more, in the same place. PDF Redactor only redacts.
- Any device. Smallpdf works in any browser on Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android, and has mobile apps. PDF Redactor runs in Chrome and Edge on a computer.
- Nothing to install. Smallpdf runs on a web page. PDF Redactor is a browser extension, a one-click install.
Side by side
| PDF Redactor | Smallpdf | |
|---|---|---|
| Where your file is processed | On your computer, in your browser | Its FAQ says on Smallpdf’s servers, deleted after an hour |
| Works offline | Yes | No |
| Account | Not needed | Not needed to start |
| Free use | Every PDF, no limit | Daily download limit |
| Finds emails, phone and card numbers | Free, as the file opens | Not stated; you mark text by hand |
| Mark every match of a word | Free | Not stated |
| 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 | Separate PDF OCR tool |
| Removes metadata, comments and attachments | Free, on by default | Says redacted content isn’t left in metadata |
| Saved file checked for removed words | Free | Not stated |
| Other PDF tools | No, redaction only | 30+ tools |
| Runs on | Chrome and Edge on a computer | Any browser, plus mobile apps |
| Price model | Free, or Pro yearly or one-time | Free with limits, or Pro subscription |
Which to choose
Choose PDF Redactor if you don’t want to upload the file, you want personal data found for you, or you redact often enough to hit a daily limit.
Choose Smallpdf if you already use it for other PDF jobs, you’re on a phone, or you’re redacting a single short file and know exactly what to mark.
For how PDF Redactor compares with other redaction tools, see PDF Redactor compared.
Checked on 1 November 2026 against Smallpdf’s Redact PDF page, its FAQ and its pricing page. Smallpdf is a trademark of Smallpdf AG. If something has changed, email support@smartbuildlabs.com and we’ll correct it.