RedactionPDF is a privacy-focused online PDF redaction tool that permanently removes sensitive visible content and hidden metadata from text-based PDFs before sharing.
What is RedactionPDF?
RedactionPDF is a web-based PDF redaction tool that takes a text-based PDF as input and produces a permanently redacted PDF with optional metadata cleanup as output. It runs entirely in the browser after upload, with files processed temporarily on the server. The tool is developed by an independent team and available at redactionpdf.com.
Key Features
- Manual redaction boxes — Draw rectangles over any visible content (text, signatures, images, tables) to mark areas for permanent removal.
- Regex auto-detection — Suggest common sensitive data patterns such as emails, phone numbers, SSNs, credit card numbers, IBANs, routing numbers, IP addresses, and labeled IDs in text-based PDFs. Suggestions are review-only; nothing is removed without user approval.
- Permanent removal — Redacted content is removed from the PDF file structure, not just visually obscured. The result cannot be searched, copied, or recovered.
- Metadata cleanup — Remove standard PDF metadata (author, creator, timestamps, subject, keywords, custom fields) during the export step.
- Review-first workflow — Auto-detected items are suggestions only; users confirm each redaction box before processing.
- Secure temporary processing — Uploads occur over HTTPS, files are processed temporarily, and redacted PDFs are auto-deleted based on the plan's retention policy. No uploaded documents are used for AI training or manual review.
- Free tier available — Free users can process PDFs up to 10 MB and 10 pages, with up to 3 redaction jobs per 24 hours. Paid plans (24-hour pass, Pro) increase limits and retention.
- Multi-language support — The interface is available in over 30 languages, including English, Spanish, German, French, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, and more.
Who is it for?
- Legal professionals — Redact confidential client information (names, addresses, case details) from contracts and court documents before filing or sharing.
- HR managers — Remove employee names, SSNs, salary data, and personal contacts from HR files, tax forms, and onboarding documents.
- Financial advisors and accountants — Redact account numbers, balances, transaction details, and addresses from bank statements, invoices, and tax returns.
- Individuals preparing documents for AI tools — Clean personal data and metadata from PDFs before uploading to chatbots or document analysis platforms.
What can you do with RedactionPDF?
- Bank statements — Hide account numbers, balances, addresses, and transaction descriptions before sharing with lenders or tenants.
- Contracts — Remove names, signatures, compensation clauses, and confidential terms from legal agreements before sending to third parties.
- Tax and HR PDFs — Redact SSNs, employee IDs, tax IDs, and personal contacts from W-2s, 1099s, and payroll summaries.
- AI upload preparation — Clean personal identifiers and hidden metadata from PDFs before feeding them into ChatGPT or other AI tools.
How does RedactionPDF work?
- Upload a PDF — Drag and drop a text-based PDF (up to 10 MB for free users). The file is uploaded over HTTPS for temporary processing.
- Find sensitive areas — Draw manual redaction boxes over any visible content, or run auto-detection to suggest common patterns (emails, phones, SSNs, etc.). Review and confirm each suggestion.
- Apply redaction — Click to permanently remove the selected content from the PDF. Metadata cleanup can be applied during this step.
- Download the result — Save the redacted PDF. The original file is deleted after processing, and the redacted file is available within the plan’s retention window.
Pricing
RedactionPDF is freemium. The free tier allows PDFs up to 10 MB and 10 pages with 3 jobs per 24 hours. Paid options include a 24-hour pass and a Pro subscription, both available on the pricing page.
FAQ
Is redaction different from blacking out text?
Yes. A black box only covers text visually, while true redaction permanently removes selected content from the PDF file structure. RedactionPDF uses permanent removal, so redacted text cannot be searched, copied, or recovered.
Yes. During export, you can choose to clean standard metadata (author, creator, timestamps, subject, keywords) and custom metadata fields.
Can automatic detection redact my PDF by itself?
No. Auto-detection only suggests sensitive items. You must review and select which suggestions to add as redaction boxes before applying redaction.
How long are uploaded PDFs stored?
Uploaded PDFs are processed temporarily and deleted according to the plan's retention policy. Details are available on the data retention page.
Is RedactionPDF free?
Yes, there is a free tier with limits of 10 MB, 10 pages, and 3 redaction jobs per 24 hours. Larger or more frequent use requires a paid plan.
