How to Redact a PDF for Free — Best Online Tools
Need to redact a PDF without spending money? Compare the best free PDF redaction tools and learn what to look for to ensure your redactions are thorough and effective.
Paying $19.99/month for Adobe Acrobat Pro just to redact a few PDFs does not make sense for most people. Fortunately, there are several free options that can do the job — provided you choose the right one.
The challenge is that not all free PDF redaction tools are created equal. Many only draw black boxes over text without actually removing the underlying data. Others add watermarks, limit file sizes, or compromise your privacy.
Redactly is the only free online redaction tool that supports PDF, Word, and Excel. It applies visual redactions, adds no watermarks, and processes files securely. Here is what to look for and how the free options compare.
What to Look for in a Free PDF Redaction Tool
Before choosing a free tool, evaluate it against these criteria:
Proper Redaction
The tool must remove text from the PDF content stream, not just draw boxes on top of it.
No Watermarks
The tool should not add watermarks or branding to your redacted document.
Privacy & Security
Your document should be processed securely and not stored on the tool’s servers after processing.
Format Support
Ideally, the tool should support not just PDF but also Word and Excel files.
Redactly — Free PDF Redaction (Also Supports Word & Excel)
Redactly is a free online redaction tool that handles PDF, Word, and Excel files. It uses AI to automatically detect sensitive information and applies visual redactions that obscure detected content.
Other Free PDF Redaction Options
While Redactly is our recommended free option, here are other approaches you may encounter:
PDF24 Tools
PDF24 offers a free online PDF redaction tool. It allows you to draw black boxes over text and can flatten the PDF. However, it does not offer AI-powered detection and does not support Word or Excel files. You must manually find and mark every piece of sensitive information yourself.
Smallpdf
Smallpdf has a PDF redaction feature, but it is limited in the free version. You can only redact a few pages per day before hitting a paywall. It also does not support Word or Excel redaction and does not offer AI-based detection.
iLovePDF
iLovePDF offers basic redaction by drawing rectangles over text. Like other free tools, it lacks AI detection, has daily usage limits, and only supports PDF files.
Mac Preview (Not Recommended)
Mac’s built-in Preview app lets you draw shapes over text, but this is visual only — the text remains selectable and copyable underneath. This is not real redaction.
Heads Up
Most free PDF tools only draw black boxes over text without removing the underlying data. Always verify by selecting text in redacted areas or searching for the original text in your output PDF.
Free vs. Paid — What Do You Actually Get?
To help you decide whether a free tool is sufficient or you need a paid solution, here is what each tier typically offers:
| Feature | Free Tools | Paid Tools (e.g., Adobe Pro) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | $19.99+/mo |
| Proper Redaction | Some (check carefully) | |
| AI-Powered Detection | Rare | |
| Word & Excel Support | Redactly only | |
| Usage Limits | 20 pages/mo (Redactly) | Unlimited |
For most users who redact documents occasionally, free tools like Redactly are more than sufficient. You get visual redactions, AI-powered detection, and multi-format support without paying anything. If you need to redact hundreds of pages per month, a paid plan may be worth considering.
Redact Your PDF Free — No Strings Attached
Redactly is free, secure, and supports PDF, Word, and Excel. AI detects sensitive information automatically. No account or credit card needed.
Free for 20 pages per month. No credit card required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I redact a PDF for free?
Yes. Several free online tools can redact PDFs, including Redactly. Look for tools that perform proper redaction (removing text from the content stream) rather than just drawing boxes over text.
What is the best free PDF redaction tool?
Redactly is the best free option because it not only redacts PDFs but also supports Word and Excel files. It uses AI to automatically detect sensitive information and applies visual redactions with no watermarks.
Do free PDF redaction tools leave watermarks?
Some do, but Redactly does not. Redacted files downloaded from Redactly are clean with no watermarks or branding added.
Is free PDF redaction safe?
It depends on the tool. Redactly processes files securely and does not store your documents. Always check the privacy policy of any online tool before uploading sensitive files.
What is the page limit for Redactly free?
Redactly’s free tier includes 20 pages per month. This is sufficient for occasional redaction needs. For higher volumes, paid plans are available.
More guides: Complete PDF Redaction Guide · Redact in Adobe Acrobat