Free PDF Redactor & Privacy Sanitizer
Auto-detect sensitive leaks (emails, phones, card numbers) and black out text permanently in your PDF without Adobe. 100% private in-browser redaction with deep document analytics.
Drag and drop your PDF here to Redact & Analyze
or browse your computer
100% Client-Side Processing âĸ Your PDF never leaves your device
Scanning PDF for sensitive data...
Reading document bytes...
Scanned PDF Detected
This PDF contains image pages without selectable text layers. Automated text redaction and word counting require a text-based PDF or OCR.
Document Loaded
How to Redact a PDF Without Adobe Acrobat (100% Free)
Adobe Acrobat Pro charges upwards of $20 to $30 per month just to access their redaction tool. Many online alternatives force you to upload your sensitive contracts, financial statements, or medical files to remote cloud servers where your data could be logged or stored.
Drop Your File
Drag your PDF into the tool. The file is read directly inside your browser's local sandbox memory. Zero server upload.
Auto-Detect & Select
Our engine instantly flags all emails, phone numbers, and card numbers. You can also add custom terms to black out everywhere.
Download Clean PDF
Click "Apply Blackout" to generate a clean, permanently redacted PDF file via pdf-lib on your local machine.
Many basic online editors only draw a black visual rectangle over text without removing the underlying characters. If a recipient opens that file and uses Ctrl + A or a text-selection tool, the confidential data behind the black box can still be copied and exposed.
Our tool uses client-side PDF document manipulation (pdf-lib) to synthesize solid, permanent blackout layers directly over the exact PDF coordinates, preventing inadvertent data leaks when you share documents.
Complete Document Inspection & Word Counting
Beyond redaction, this tool is also a full-featured structural PDF analyzer. Powered by Mozilla's PDF.js engine, it parses character coordinates and generates comprehensive text analytics:
Word & Page Counts
Accurate word count, total pages, character counts (with and without spaces), and average density per page.
Page-by-Page Table
Detailed breakdown of word count, sentences, and estimated reading time for each individual page in the document.
Keyword Frequency & Finder
Instant search for custom keywords with exact occurrence counts, plus top 10 most frequent vocabulary terms.
Metadata & PDF Specs
Inspect PDF author, software creator, creation timestamp, PDF version, and modification details.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I black out text in a PDF for free?
Drag your PDF into the upload box above. Our auto-scanner will immediately find emails and phone numbers. If you have custom names or numbers to conceal, type them into the Custom Keyword input and click "Apply Blackout & Download".
Can I redact a PDF without Adobe Acrobat Pro?
Yes! This tool provides 100% free PDF redaction without requiring an Adobe subscription, trial credit card, or account signup.
Does my sensitive document get uploaded to any server?
No. Unlike Smallpdf or iLovePDF which process documents on their remote cloud servers, this tool executes 100% locally in your web browser. You can even disconnect your internet after loading the page and it will still work!
What if something sensitive is not auto-detected?
Use the "Custom Keyword Blackout" box on the right. Simply type the custom name, client tag, or dollar amount, and the tool will locate and mark all occurrences across every page for permanent blackout.
What if a false positive is detected?
Every auto-detected item appears in a checklist. If an email or number shouldn't be redacted, simply uncheck its checkbox before clicking "Apply Blackout".
Can I still count words and check page stats?
Yes! All existing document analytics â including word count, reading duration, page-by-page table, vocabulary density, and metadata â are available in the "Page-by-Page" and "Text Analytics" tabs.