PDF Redaction Tool
Upload a PDF and enter the phrases you want to redact. We cover every occurrence with a black rectangle and you download the new PDF. No signup required for the first 5 pages.
Redacting a PDF means permanently covering sensitive text so it cannot be read. Our free PDF redaction tool lets you upload a document, enter the exact phrases or names you want to hide, and download a new PDF with those areas blacked out. This is essential for protecting personal data (SSNs, dates of birth, addresses), confidential business information, or legal documents before sharing or filing. We draw black rectangles over every occurrence of the text you specify, so the layout stays the same and the redacted content is no longer visible. No signup is required for the first 5 pages. For full-document redaction and batch processing, sign up for a free account. For AI-assisted identification of risky or sensitive clauses in contracts, try our Legal Risk Analyzer.
Why Use Our PDF Redaction Tool?
Simple, private redaction that covers sensitive text without storing your documents.
Phrase-based redaction
Enter the exact text or phrases to redact (one per line or comma-separated). We find every occurrence and cover it with a black rectangle. Optionally enable case-sensitive matching for precise control.
Private & secure
Your PDF is processed in memory and never stored. We don’t keep copies or log content. Redaction runs on our servers over encrypted connections so your sensitive documents stay confidential.
Download ready-to-share PDF
Get a new PDF with redactions applied. The layout is preserved; only the specified text is covered. Use it for filings, discovery, or sharing with parties who shouldn’t see the redacted content.
How It Works
Redact your PDF in three steps: upload, enter phrases, and download the redacted file.
Upload PDF
Drag and drop your PDF or click to browse. Any standard PDF is supported. The first 5 pages are free without an account; sign in for full-document redaction.
Enter phrases to redact
List the exact text or phrases you want covered—one per line or comma-separated. We find every occurrence and draw black rectangles over them. Use case-sensitive matching if needed.
Download redacted PDF
We generate a new PDF with the specified text covered. Download it and use it for sharing, filing, or discovery. Your original file is never stored.
How We Compare
See how DocLD’s PDF redaction tool compares to other options for redacting sensitive text.
| Feature | DocLD | Adobe Acrobat | Free Online Tools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redact text in PDF | |||
| Phrase-based redaction | Limited | ||
| Privacy (no storage) | |||
| Free tier | 5 pages free | Limited | |
| No sign-up required | |||
| API / batch |
Popular Use Cases
Redact PDFs for legal, HR, healthcare, and general privacy needs.
Legal discovery & filings
Redact privileged or confidential information from exhibits and filings before production or submission.
HR & personnel records
Black out SSNs, dates of birth, and other PII before sharing personnel or benefits documents.
Healthcare & HIPAA
Redact patient identifiers and sensitive health information from documents before sharing or archiving.
Contracts & NDAs
Remove party names, dollar amounts, or confidential terms before circulating drafts externally.
FOIA & public records
Redact exempt information from documents before releasing them in response to requests.
Research & publishing
Anonymize participant or source identifiers in research documents and appendices before publication.
What Is PDF Redaction?
Redaction means permanently hiding or removing sensitive information from a document so it cannot be read or recovered. In PDFs, redaction is usually done by drawing solid shapes (e.g. black rectangles) over the text or images to be hidden. Proper redaction removes or obscures the underlying content so that even if someone tries to copy text or inspect the file, the redacted material is not exposed. Our tool works by finding every occurrence of the phrases you specify and covering them with black rectangles in the output PDF. This is sometimes called “visual redaction”—the text is covered so it’s not visible when viewing or printing. For maximum assurance in high-stakes legal or regulatory contexts, you may still want to use desktop software that can strip underlying text from the PDF; for many use cases, visual redaction is sufficient and our tool provides a fast, free way to do it online without storing your files.
For contracts, you can combine redaction with our AI Legal Risk Analyzer to first identify risky or sensitive clauses, then redact specific terms before sharing.
Tips for Best Results
Get accurate, complete redaction with these tips.
Use exact phrases
Enter the exact text you want to redact. We match literally; small spelling or spacing differences can be missed.
Case-sensitive option
If the same word appears in different cases, enable case-sensitive matching to redact only the intended form.
Verify before sharing
Open the downloaded PDF and confirm all intended text is covered. Add any missed phrases and run again if needed.
We don’t store your files
Documents are processed in memory and discarded. Download the redacted PDF and close the tab when finished.
Frequently Asked Questions
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