Best Redaction Software in 2026: Complete Comparison Guide
Choosing the right redaction software can mean the difference between a secure, efficient workflow and a costly data breach. With dozens of redaction tools on the market — from free browser-based options to enterprise platforms — finding the right fit requires understanding what actually matters.
We evaluated eight redaction software options across features, security, pricing, and usability. Here is what we found.
What Makes Good Redaction Software?
Before diving into specific tools, here are the features that separate effective redaction software from tools that create a false sense of security.
True Permanent Redaction
The most critical requirement. The software must remove text data from the document's structure — not just draw a visual overlay. Any redaction tool that only places a black box over text leaves the underlying data fully extractable. This is the single most common cause of redaction failures.
AI-Powered Detection
Manual redaction requires a human to find every instance of sensitive information in a document. AI-powered redaction software automatically scans for sensitive data types — Social Security numbers, names, addresses, credit card numbers, medical record numbers, and more. This dramatically reduces both the time required and the risk of missing something.
OCR for Scanned Documents
Many documents that need redaction are scanned PDFs — paper documents that were digitized. Without Optical Character Recognition (OCR), scanned documents are treated as images, and the text within them cannot be selectively identified or redacted. Any serious redaction tool needs OCR support.
Batch Processing
Organizations that handle document redaction regularly need to process multiple files efficiently. Batch processing lets you apply redaction across dozens or hundreds of documents in a single workflow rather than opening and processing each file individually.
Security and Compliance
When you upload sensitive documents to redaction software, you need confidence that the tool handles your data securely. Look for SOC 2 Type II certification, HIPAA compliance (if handling health data), zero data retention policies, and encryption in transit and at rest.
Audit Trails
For regulated industries, maintaining a record of what was redacted, by whom, and when is essential for compliance. Audit trails provide accountability and evidence of proper handling.
The 8 Best Redaction Software Tools
1. AI-Redact
Website: ai-redact.com Type: Browser-based (SaaS) Starting Price: Free tier available; Pro from $29/month
AI-Redact is an AI-powered PDF redaction tool that automatically detects and permanently removes sensitive information from documents. It uses machine learning to identify 40+ types of sensitive data including names, Social Security numbers, addresses, credit card numbers, phone numbers, email addresses, and medical record numbers.
Key Features:
- AI auto-detection of 40+ sensitive data types
- OCR for scanned PDF support
- Permanent redaction (data removed from document structure)
- Batch processing (Pro tier)
- Review interface to verify detections before applying
- Metadata scrubbing
- SOC 2 Type II certified
- HIPAA compliant with BAA available
- Zero data retention
Best For: Organizations and individuals who need fast, accurate redaction with minimal manual effort. The AI detection makes it particularly strong for compliance-heavy workflows in legal, healthcare, and financial services.
Pricing:
- Free: 5 documents/month with AI detection
- Pro: $29/month for unlimited documents, batch processing, and priority support
- Enterprise: Custom pricing with API access and dedicated support
2. Adobe Acrobat Pro
Type: Desktop + Cloud Starting Price: $22.99/month
Adobe Acrobat Pro is the most well-known PDF tool with built-in redaction capabilities. It has been the default choice for many organizations for years.
Key Features:
- Manual text selection and search-and-redact
- Pattern matching for common data types (SSN, phone, email)
- Permanent redaction with metadata removal
- Part of the broader Adobe PDF ecosystem
- Desktop and cloud versions available
Limitations:
- No AI-powered auto-detection — relies on patterns and manual selection
- Steep learning curve for redaction features
- Expensive for redaction-only needs
- Limited OCR accuracy on complex scanned documents
- No batch redaction in standard workflows
Best For: Organizations already invested in the Adobe ecosystem that need general PDF editing alongside occasional redaction.
3. Relativity Redact
Type: Enterprise platform Starting Price: Custom (enterprise pricing)
Relativity is an e-discovery platform used by large law firms and corporations. Its redaction module is designed for high-volume document review during litigation.
Key Features:
- Integration with Relativity e-discovery platform
- Bulk redaction across document sets
- AI-assisted review capabilities
- Comprehensive audit trails
- Advanced search and filter for sensitive terms
Limitations:
- Enterprise pricing — not accessible for small teams
- Requires Relativity platform
- Complex setup and administration
- Overkill for standard redaction needs
Best For: Large law firms and legal departments processing thousands of documents for litigation or regulatory compliance.
4. Blackfly by Zapproved
Type: Cloud-based e-discovery tool Starting Price: Custom pricing
Blackfly provides document redaction as part of a broader legal hold and e-discovery platform.
Key Features:
- Redaction within e-discovery workflows
- Pattern-based detection of sensitive data
- Batch processing for document sets
- Legal hold and preservation capabilities
- Audit trails for compliance
Limitations:
- Primarily designed for legal use cases
- Enterprise pricing
- Requires training to use effectively
- Not suitable for ad-hoc redaction needs
Best For: Corporate legal teams managing litigation holds and document production.
5. Redactable
Type: Cloud-based SaaS Starting Price: From $39/month
Redactable is a dedicated redaction platform designed specifically for document redaction rather than general PDF editing.
Key Features:
- AI-assisted detection of PII
- Permanent redaction
- Batch processing
- Audit trails and compliance reporting
- Team collaboration features
Limitations:
- Higher starting price point
- Newer platform with smaller user base
- Limited integrations compared to established tools
Best For: Teams that need dedicated redaction software with collaboration features and compliance reporting.
6. PDF24
Type: Browser-based + Windows desktop Starting Price: Free
PDF24 is a free German PDF toolkit that includes basic redaction alongside other PDF tools like merge, compress, and convert.
Key Features:
- Area-based redaction (draw rectangles to redact)
- Completely free with no document limits
- Desktop version for offline use (Windows)
- No account required
Limitations:
- No AI detection — entirely manual area selection
- No OCR support
- No text-level selection (area only)
- No batch processing
- No audit trails or compliance features
- No security certifications for the redaction feature
Best For: Budget-conscious users who need basic, occasional redaction of non-sensitive documents.
7. Smallpdf
Type: Browser-based SaaS Starting Price: Free (2 tasks/day); Pro from $12/month
Smallpdf is an all-in-one PDF toolkit with redaction as one of many features.
Key Features:
- Manual text selection and area redaction
- Permanent redaction
- Part of a broader PDF toolkit
- SOC 2 certified
- Clean interface
Limitations:
- No AI detection
- OCR requires paid subscription
- Free tier limited to 2 tasks per day
- No batch processing on free tier
- Not HIPAA compliant
Best For: People who already use Smallpdf for other PDF tasks and need occasional redaction.
8. Mac Preview
Type: Desktop (built into macOS) Starting Price: Free (included with macOS)
Every Mac includes Preview, which has a basic but functional redaction tool built in.
Key Features:
- Manual text selection for redaction
- Permanent redaction when saved
- No document limits
- No file uploads — fully local processing
- Zero cost
Limitations:
- Mac only
- No AI detection
- No OCR
- No batch processing
- No audit trails
- Slow for complex documents
Best For: Mac users who need simple, occasional redaction and prefer keeping documents local.
Comparison Table
| Feature | AI-Redact | Adobe Acrobat | Relativity | Redactable | PDF24 | Smallpdf | Preview |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI Detection | Yes (40+ types) | No (patterns only) | Limited | Yes | No | No | No |
| Permanent Redaction | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| OCR Support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Paid only | No |
| Batch Processing | Pro tier | Limited | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Audit Trails | Yes | Limited | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| SOC 2 Certified | Yes | Yes | Yes | Pending | No | Yes | N/A |
| Free Tier | 5 docs/month | No | No | No | Unlimited | 2/day | Unlimited |
| Starting Price | Free/$29/mo | $22.99/mo | Custom | $39/mo | Free | Free/$12/mo | Free |
| Best For | All users | Adobe users | Large firms | Teams | Basic | Multi-tool | Mac users |
How to Choose the Right Redaction Software
For Individuals and Small Teams
If you redact documents occasionally — a few per week or less — start with a free tool. AI-Redact's free tier gives you 5 documents per month with full AI detection. Mac users can also use Preview for simple manual redaction.
For Compliance-Heavy Industries
Healthcare, legal, and financial organizations need software with HIPAA compliance, SOC 2 certification, audit trails, and reliable AI detection. AI-Redact and Redactable both meet these requirements at different price points. For large-scale e-discovery, Relativity is the industry standard.
For High-Volume Processing
Organizations processing hundreds or thousands of documents need batch processing and API access. AI-Redact's Enterprise tier and Relativity both support high-volume workflows with automation capabilities.
For Budget-Conscious Users
PDF24 and Mac Preview offer unlimited free redaction but require manual identification of every sensitive item. For a free tool with AI detection, AI-Redact's free tier is the only option.
Redacting Software: Key Considerations Beyond Features
Total Cost of Ownership
The cheapest redaction software is not always the most cost-effective. A free manual tool that takes 30 minutes per document costs more in labor time than a $29/month AI tool that processes the same document in 3 minutes. Calculate the time cost of manual redaction against the subscription cost of automated tools.
Risk of Manual Error
Manual redaction relies entirely on human attention. Studies show that human reviewers miss an average of 15-20% of sensitive data in documents during manual review. AI-powered tools catch data types that humans overlook, reducing the risk of accidental exposure.
Scalability
If your redaction needs grow, will your current tool scale with you? Free tools with no batch processing become bottlenecks quickly. Choose a tool with a clear upgrade path.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best redaction software overall?
For most users, AI-Redact offers the best combination of AI-powered detection, security certifications, ease of use, and pricing. Its free tier makes it accessible for occasional use, while Pro and Enterprise tiers scale for heavy workloads.
Is there free redaction software that works well?
Yes. AI-Redact's free tier includes AI detection for 5 documents per month. PDF24 and Mac Preview offer unlimited free redaction but without AI detection, meaning you must find and select every sensitive item manually.
What is the best PDF redaction tool for legal work?
For law firms processing high volumes of documents for litigation, Relativity is the industry standard for e-discovery redaction. For smaller legal teams, AI-Redact offers HIPAA compliance, audit trails, and AI detection at a fraction of the cost.
Do I need special software to redact a PDF?
Yes. Standard PDF editors, drawing tools, and text color changes do not perform true redaction — they only visually hide information that remains extractable. You need purpose-built redaction software that removes data from the document structure.
What is the difference between a redaction tool and a PDF editor?
A PDF editor lets you modify document content — add text, fill forms, annotate. A redaction tool permanently and irreversibly removes content from a document. Some PDF editors (like Adobe Acrobat Pro) include redaction features, but most do not.
Conclusion
The right redaction software depends on your volume, budget, compliance requirements, and technical needs. For most users, an AI-powered tool like AI-Redact provides the best balance of speed, accuracy, and security. Its AI detection catches sensitive data that manual methods miss, while compliance certifications satisfy regulatory requirements.
Further Reading
- Best Free PDF Redaction Tools — Free options compared in detail
- AI Redaction Explained — How AI-powered detection works
- Automated Redaction Guide — Automation vs manual methods
- How to Redact a PDF Online — Online redaction tools compared
- AI Redaction Features — AI-Redact's detection capabilities
- How to Redact a PDF — Getting started with redaction
Try AI-Redact free — 5 documents per month, full AI detection, no credit card required.