Free PDF Redaction Tools to Hide Sensitive Information

PDF Tools Team
Feb 26, 2025
2 min read β€’ 338 words

πŸ›‘ Introduction

Need to remove confidential or sensitive information from a PDF?

Redaction tools help permanently hide text, images, or metadata from PDF documents. Adobe Acrobat offers redaction, but it requires a paid subscription.

Luckily, there are free PDF redaction tools that allow you to secure your documents without paying.

In this guide, we’ll explore the best free redaction tools to black out text in PDFs easily.


πŸ” 1. ConvertMergePDF – Free PDF Redaction Tool

βœ”οΈ Best for: Online, quick redactions
βœ”οΈ Why Use It?

  • Black out or remove sensitive data
  • No software installation needed
  • 100% free and secure

πŸ”— Try it now: ConvertMergePDF Redaction Tool

How to use it:

  1. Upload your PDF
  2. Select the text or area you want to redact
  3. Apply the redaction
  4. Download your redacted PDF

πŸš€ Quick, free, and effective!


πŸ–₯ 2. PDFzorro – Free Online PDF Redactor

βœ”οΈ Best for: Cloud-based redaction
βœ”οΈ How to Use It:

  1. Visit PDFzorro
  2. Upload your PDF
  3. Use the black marker tool to hide sensitive information
  4. Save and download the redacted file

βœ… Works directly in your browser!


πŸ›  3. PDFescape – Free PDF Editor with Redaction

βœ”οΈ Best for: Redacting and editing PDFs online
βœ”οΈ How to Use It:

  1. Go to PDFescape
  2. Open your PDF and select the whiteout tool
  3. Cover the text you want to redact
  4. Save your file

πŸš€ Easy, free, and no registration required!


πŸ” 4. Use Open-Source Software (Offline)

For offline redaction, try these free software options:

  • PDF Redactor – Simple tool to blackout text
  • LibreOffice Draw – Remove text manually from a PDF
  • GIMP (Image Editor) – Convert PDF to an image, edit, and save

These tools let you edit PDFs securely on your device without an internet connection.


⚠️ Important Redaction Tips

  • Don’t just highlight or change text color! (Text can still be copied)
  • Use a real redaction tool that removes data permanently
  • Double-check your document before sharing

βœ… Conclusion

Redacting PDFs doesn’t have to be expensive!

For the best free online redaction tool, try ConvertMergePDF.

πŸ“Œ Secure your PDFs now!