Is my PDF uploaded to a server?

No. Redact is 100% client-side — your PDF is opened, rendered, redacted, signed and filled entirely in your browser. Neither the file nor its extracted text is ever uploaded. The site's Content-Security-Policy restricts connections to 'self' only, so the browser itself enforces the guarantee.

Is the redaction permanent?

Yes. Real redaction works by rasterizing the page with your redaction boxes burned into the pixels and rebuilding that page as an image, so the underlying text is destroyed and cannot be selected or recovered. This is not a black rectangle drawn on top — the text is gone. Always use the built-in 'Verify redaction' check and review the result before sharing.

Can redacted text ever be recovered?

No — not from a page that was redacted with this tool. Because the redacted page is rebuilt as an image with the sensitive regions burned to solid black, there is no text layer left to extract. We still recommend you verify the output and share responsibly, as we cannot guarantee how a third party may handle a document once you send it.

Does it use AI to find sensitive information?

No. The auto-redact feature finds common PII patterns (Social Security numbers, phone numbers, email addresses, credit-card numbers and dates) using regular expressions that run locally on the text layer in your browser. No text is sent anywhere, and there is no AI model involved.

Is redaction a legal or government guarantee?

No, and we never claim it is. Redact permanently destroys the underlying text on the pages you redact, and the built-in Verify check proves it — but we make no representation about acceptance for any specific legal, court, medical, or regulatory purpose. You remain responsible for reviewing and verifying the output before sharing, and for confirming it meets whatever requirement you're satisfying.

Does it work offline?

Yes. There is no model to download and no server to call. Install Redact as a PWA and the whole app is cached after the first load, so you can redact, sign and fill PDFs with no internet connection.

Your PDF never leaves your device.

Redact, sign & fill PDFs — right in your browser

Permanently black out sensitive text, add an e-signature and fill forms. Everything runs on your device — your pdf never leaves your device.

✓ No signup✓ No upload✓ No watermark✓ Works offline

Drop a PDF, paste it, or click to choose

It opens locally in your browser — never uploaded. Redact sensitive text, sign, and fill, then download the result.

Choose PDF

Permanent redaction

Draw a box and the underlying text is destroyed — not just covered. Each redacted page is rasterized and rebuilt as an image, so the text can't be selected or recovered.

Auto-redact PII

One click finds Social Security numbers, phone numbers, emails, credit-card numbers and dates with regex — entirely in your browser. No AI, no text upload.

Draw or type a signature

Sign your name with a trackpad/mouse or type it as styled text, then place, scale and rotate it onto any page and flatten it in.

Fill forms & type anywhere

Detect and fill AcroForm fields, or drop a text box anywhere on the page. The output is a flattened PDF with no live fields left behind.

Verify before you share

A built-in re-open check confirms no text remains under any redacted region, so you can prove the redaction held before you send the document.

Works offline

Installable PWA with no model to download. After the first load the whole tool runs with no connection — your most sensitive documents stay off the network.

How to redact a PDF in 4 steps

Permanently remove sensitive text from a PDF in minutes — no software to install, no account to create. Your PDF never leaves your device.

1
Drop, pick or paste a PDF. Everything runs in your browser — there is nothing to install or sign up for, and the file never leaves your device.
2
Draw redaction boxes over any text or region you want to black out, or use Auto-redact to find SSNs, phone numbers, emails, card numbers and dates automatically.
3
Optionally sign (draw or type) and fill the PDF. When you apply redaction, each redacted page is rasterized with the boxes burned in and rebuilt as an image — the underlying text is permanently destroyed, not just covered.
4
Download the flattened PDF. Use the built-in 'Verify redaction' check to confirm no text remains under any redacted area before you share it.

Truly private, truly permanent

Existing tools upload your document to a server. Redact never does — and its redaction destroys the text instead of hiding it. Scroll up to open a PDF and try it.

Frequently asked questions

Is my PDF uploaded to a server?: No. Redact is 100% client-side — your PDF is opened, rendered, redacted, signed and filled entirely in your browser. Neither the file nor its extracted text is ever uploaded. The site's Content-Security-Policy restricts connections to 'self' only, so the browser itself enforces the guarantee.
Is the redaction permanent?: Yes. Real redaction works by rasterizing the page with your redaction boxes burned into the pixels and rebuilding that page as an image, so the underlying text is destroyed and cannot be selected or recovered. This is not a black rectangle drawn on top — the text is gone. Always use the built-in 'Verify redaction' check and review the result before sharing.
Can redacted text ever be recovered?: No — not from a page that was redacted with this tool. Because the redacted page is rebuilt as an image with the sensitive regions burned to solid black, there is no text layer left to extract. We still recommend you verify the output and share responsibly, as we cannot guarantee how a third party may handle a document once you send it.
Does it use AI to find sensitive information?: No. The auto-redact feature finds common PII patterns (Social Security numbers, phone numbers, email addresses, credit-card numbers and dates) using regular expressions that run locally on the text layer in your browser. No text is sent anywhere, and there is no AI model involved.
Is redaction a legal or government guarantee?: No, and we never claim it is. Redact permanently destroys the underlying text on the pages you redact, and the built-in Verify check proves it — but we make no representation about acceptance for any specific legal, court, medical, or regulatory purpose. You remain responsible for reviewing and verifying the output before sharing, and for confirming it meets whatever requirement you're satisfying.
Does it work offline?: Yes. There is no model to download and no server to call. Install Redact as a PWA and the whole app is cached after the first load, so you can redact, sign and fill PDFs with no internet connection.