PDF Redact searches your PDF's text for a keyword using PDF.js, then permanently destroys the matched text rather than just covering it: any page containing a match is rendered to a flattened image with the matched areas blacked out in the pixels themselves, and that image replaces the page's original content entirely — so there are no text objects left on that page to select, copy, or extract. Pages with no match are left untouched, keeping their original selectable, searchable text. Everything runs locally in your browser; your file is never uploaded to a server.
Is PDF Redact free to use?
Yes, it's completely free with no signup required.
Does this tool truly remove sensitive text from the PDF, or just cover it up?
It truly removes it. Any page with a match is rendered to a flattened image with the matched text blacked out in the pixels, and that image replaces the page's content — the underlying text is gone, not just hidden, so it can't be recovered by selecting or extracting text from that page.
Does this affect other text on the same page that I didn't ask to redact?
Yes — a matched page is flattened entirely, so all text on that page becomes a static image and loses selectability and searchability, not just the redacted word. Pages with no match are left as original, fully searchable text.
Can I visually select an area to redact, or preview matches first?
No — there's no click-to-select or highlighting interface. You type a keyword, and every page containing a match is processed automatically with no preview step.
Is my file uploaded to a server?
No, matching and redaction both happen locally in your browser.