Free PDF Redactor
Black out names, amounts and secrets — for real. Redacted pages are flattened, so the text is gone, not just covered.
Drop your PDF here
or click to browse · redacted locally, never uploaded
Something not working?
Tell us what went wrong — it helps us fix the tool. Only what you type below is sent; your files never leave your device.
Need more power? Meet PDF Redactor Pro
One-time payment. Yours forever. No subscription.
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| PDF size / pages | Up to 50 MB / 200 pages | Unlimited |
| Drag-to-redact & search-to-redact | Yes | Yes |
| Truly destructive flattening | Yes | Yes |
| Untouched pages stay selectable text | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-detect emails, phone numbers & card numbers | — | Yes |
| Saved redaction patterns per document type | — | Yes |
| Ads | Shown on page | Ad-free |
| Updates | — | Lifetime free updates |
Frequently asked questions
Is my PDF uploaded to your servers?
No. The PDF is rendered and rebuilt entirely inside your browser. It never leaves your device — you can verify this in your browser's network panel, or disconnect from the internet after the page loads and keep redacting.
Is the redaction permanent? Can someone remove the black boxes?
Yes, it is permanent. Many "redactors" only draw a black rectangle on top of the text — the words are still in the file and can be copied out. This tool renders each redacted page to an image with the boxes burned in, then rebuilds the PDF from those images, so the covered text no longer exists anywhere in the file. Pages you did not redact are left untouched and keep their selectable text.
What changes about the redacted pages?
Redacted pages become images: the text on them is no longer selectable or searchable, and the file may get larger. That is the price of redaction that cannot be undone — and it is exactly what courts and companies require when they share contracts, medical records or financial documents.
Can I redact a word everywhere it appears?
Yes. Type the word or phrase in the search box and click "Redact all matches" — every occurrence on every page is covered, including phrases split across the line. Always check the redaction list before downloading.
What about hidden metadata in the PDF?
Redaction covers the visible text. If the file also carries hidden metadata (author name, timestamps), use our PDF Metadata Scrubber as well before sharing.