Redact a PDF for free — 100% local, no upload
SladdPDF permanently removes names, ID numbers, account details and other sensitive information from PDF documents — entirely in your browser. Your file is never uploaded to a server: everything happens on your own device, and the tool keeps working even with the network switched off.
- 100% local processing
- Irreversible Secure mode
- Metadata removal
- Works offline
- Free, no registration
Why a black box is not redaction
Most "redacted" PDFs that leak did not fail because someone forgot a box — they failed because the box only covered the text. The characters are still in the file, and anyone can copy-paste them out. Real redaction removes the information itself.
How it works
- Open your PDF. Drop the file onto the page. It is processed with JavaScript and WebAssembly in your browser — nothing is sent anywhere, which you can verify in your browser's Network tab.
- Draw boxes over what has to go. Smart Detect can suggest sensitive details automatically — including on scanned documents, using local OCR that runs on your device.
- Export in Secure mode. Pages are rasterized so redacted text is unrecoverable, and metadata is removed. The finished file saves straight to your device.
Built for privacy-critical work
Legal & compliance
Redact filings, contracts and disclosure bundles without the file ever leaving your machine — no vendor DPA needed for the document itself.
HR & recruitment
Anonymize CVs for blind hiring and prepare personnel documents for access requests, locally.
Public sector
Handle FOIA/DSAR-style requests with redaction that survives scrutiny — and the copy-paste test.
Everyone else
Bank statements for a landlord, medical letters, scanned IDs — black it out properly before you share it.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to redact a PDF in a web browser?
With SladdPDF, yes: the PDF is processed locally and never uploaded. Once the page has loaded, the tool even works offline — switch off your network and try it.
Is SladdPDF free?
Yes. Redaction is free with no page limit, no account and no registration. A paid Pro license key unlocks high-resolution 300 DPI export.
Can someone remove a black box and read the text underneath?
If the box was only drawn on top, yes — that is exactly the mistake behind most famous redaction failures. Secure mode destroys the text instead of covering it. Read more in why a black box isn't redaction.