How to Redact a PDF Without Adobe Pro [5 Free Methods]
Adobe Acrobat Pro is the tool most people think of when they need to redact a PDF. But at $240 per year, it is overkill for many users — especially if redaction is the only feature you need. The interface is complex, it requires desktop software installation, and there is no AI to help you find sensitive information automatically.
The good news: there are several alternatives that can redact PDFs for free or at a fraction of Adobe's cost. Some are actually better for redaction because they include AI-powered detection that Adobe lacks.
Here are five methods to redact a PDF without Adobe Acrobat Pro.
Why Avoid Adobe Acrobat Pro for Redaction?
Before jumping into the alternatives, it is worth understanding why people look for alternatives in the first place.
- Cost: $240/year or $22.99/month is steep if you only need to redact documents occasionally
- Complexity: Adobe Acrobat is a full-featured PDF editor with dozens of tools — finding and using the redaction feature requires navigating a cluttered interface
- No AI detection: Adobe requires you to manually select every piece of text you want to redact — there is no automated detection of SSNs, names, or other sensitive data
- Desktop software required: You need to download and install the application — it does not work in a browser
- Subscription model: There is no one-time purchase option
If you just need to redact sensitive information from PDFs, there are simpler, more affordable options.
Method 1: AI-Powered Redaction with AI-Redact (Fastest)
Best for: Anyone who wants fast, accurate redaction without manual work Cost: Free tier (5 documents/month), Pro at $29/month Platform: Browser-based (works on any device)
AI-Redact uses artificial intelligence to automatically detect sensitive information in your PDF. Instead of manually hunting for every SSN, name, and address, the AI finds them for you.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Go to AI-Redact
- Drag and drop your PDF or click to upload
- Click "Detect Sensitive Data"
- The AI highlights all detected items — SSNs, credit card numbers, names, addresses, phone numbers, and more
- Review the detections: add any items the AI missed, remove any false positives
- Click "Apply Redaction"
- Download your permanently redacted PDF
Why This Method Is Best
- AI finds what you would miss manually — it detects 40+ types of sensitive data automatically
- Works on scanned PDFs — built-in OCR reads text from scanned documents
- Truly permanent redaction — data is removed from the document structure, not just covered visually
- Free tier available — 5 documents per month at no cost
- No software installation — works entirely in your browser
The main limitation is that the free tier is capped at 5 documents per month. For heavier use, the Pro plan at $29/month is still significantly cheaper than Adobe.
Method 2: Preview on Mac (Free, Built-in)
Best for: Mac users with occasional, simple redaction needs Cost: Free (included with macOS) Platform: Mac only
If you are on a Mac, you already have a basic redaction tool built into the operating system. Preview, the default PDF viewer, includes a redaction feature.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Open your PDF in Preview (right-click the file > Open With > Preview)
- Go to Tools > Redact in the menu bar
- Your cursor changes to a crosshair — click and drag over the text you want to redact
- The selected text appears with a dark highlight indicating it will be redacted
- Repeat for all sensitive information in the document
- Go to File > Save (or Export as PDF)
- Preview will warn you that redaction is permanent — click OK
Limitations
- Mac only — no Windows or Linux version
- No AI detection — you must manually find and select every piece of sensitive data
- No batch processing — one document at a time
- Limited customization — minimal options for redaction appearance
- Slow for complex documents — manually selecting dozens of items across many pages is tedious
Preview is fine for quick, occasional use — like redacting your SSN from a single document. For anything more than that, you will want a more capable tool.
Method 3: Smallpdf (Online, Freemium)
Best for: Quick, occasional redaction when you are already using Smallpdf for other PDF tasks Cost: Free (limited), Pro at $12/month Platform: Browser-based
Smallpdf is a popular online PDF toolkit that includes a redaction tool among its many features (compress, merge, convert, etc.).
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Go to Smallpdf's redaction tool
- Upload your PDF
- Use the highlight tool to select text you want to redact
- Choose your redaction color (black is standard)
- Click "Apply" to apply the redaction
- Download the redacted PDF
Limitations
- No AI detection — all manual selection
- Free tier restrictions — limited actions per day
- Security concerns — your document is uploaded to Smallpdf's servers
- OCR is Pro-only — scanned PDFs require a paid subscription
- No batch processing on the free tier
- No audit trails
Smallpdf is a decent option if you are already paying for it for other PDF needs. For redaction specifically, it is limited compared to purpose-built tools.
Method 4: iLovePDF (Online, Freemium)
Best for: Basic, occasional redaction Cost: Free (limited), Premium at $7/month Platform: Browser-based
iLovePDF is another popular online PDF suite similar to Smallpdf. It offers a basic redaction feature.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Go to iLovePDF's redaction tool
- Upload your PDF
- Select text or draw boxes over areas to redact
- Apply the redaction
- Download the result
Limitations
- No AI detection — entirely manual
- Very basic feature set — limited to drawing boxes over text
- Security considerations — document uploaded to third-party servers
- No OCR — cannot redact scanned documents
- No batch processing
- No compliance certifications (HIPAA, SOC 2)
iLovePDF works for very simple needs but lacks the features required for professional or compliance-sensitive redaction.
Method 5: PDF24 (Free, Desktop + Online)
Best for: Budget-conscious users who want a free desktop option Cost: Completely free Platform: Windows desktop app + browser-based
PDF24 is a free PDF toolkit from Germany that includes a redaction feature. It is available both as a Windows desktop application and a browser-based tool.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Online version:
- Go to PDF24's online tools
- Select the redaction/blacken tool
- Upload your PDF
- Draw boxes over areas to redact
- Apply and download
Desktop version (Windows):
- Download and install PDF24 Creator
- Open your PDF
- Use the redaction tool to select areas
- Apply and save
Limitations
- No AI detection — manual selection only
- Desktop version is Windows-only (though the online version works anywhere)
- Basic feature set — limited redaction options
- No OCR for scanned documents
- No batch processing
- No compliance certifications
PDF24's advantage is that it is completely free with no document limits. The trade-off is a bare-bones feature set.
What About Google Docs or Google Drive?
A common question is whether you can redact PDFs in Google Docs or Google Drive. The short answer is no — not properly.
You can open a PDF in Google Docs, which converts it to a Google Doc format. You could then delete text and re-export as PDF. However, this process:
- Destroys the original document formatting
- Does not guarantee the removed text is absent from the file's metadata
- Does not handle scanned PDFs
- Is not recognized as proper redaction for compliance purposes
Do not rely on Google Docs for redaction.
Comparison Table: All Methods
| Feature | AI-Redact | Mac Preview | Smallpdf | iLovePDF | PDF24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI Detection | Yes (40+ types) | No | No | No | No |
| Permanent Redaction | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| OCR (Scanned PDFs) | Yes | No | Pro only | No | No |
| Batch Processing | Yes (Pro) | No | No | No | No |
| Audit Trails | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Free Tier | 5 docs/month | Unlimited | Limited | Limited | Unlimited |
| Platform | Browser | Mac only | Browser | Browser | Win/Browser |
| Avg. Time (10 pages) | 2-3 min | 30+ min | 20-30 min | 20-30 min | 20-30 min |
Security Warnings for Free Online Tools
If you are redacting truly sensitive information — SSNs, medical records, financial data, classified information — be cautious about which tools you use.
When you upload a document to an online tool, your file is transmitted to that company's servers. Consider the following:
- Does the tool encrypt your data in transit and at rest? Look for mentions of TLS/SSL and AES encryption.
- Does the tool delete your file after processing? Check the privacy policy for data retention details.
- Is the tool certified for compliance? SOC 2, HIPAA, and GDPR certifications provide assurance that security controls are in place.
- Where are the servers located? Some organizations have requirements about data sovereignty.
For sensitive documents, use a tool that offers clear security commitments and compliance certifications. AI-Redact is SOC 2 Type II certified, HIPAA compliant, and processes documents with zero data retention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I redact a PDF for free?
Yes. Mac Preview is completely free and built into macOS. PDF24 is free with no document limits. AI-Redact, Smallpdf, and iLovePDF all offer free tiers with some limitations. For most people, the free tier of AI-Redact (5 documents/month with AI detection) provides the best free experience.
Is redaction with these tools permanent?
With all five tools listed here, the redaction is permanent — the underlying text is removed from the document. This is different from manually drawing black boxes in a PDF viewer, which only hides the text visually. Always use a dedicated redaction tool, not a drawing tool.
Can I redact scanned PDFs without Adobe?
Yes, but you need a tool with OCR (Optical Character Recognition). Among the free options, AI-Redact includes OCR on its free tier. Smallpdf offers OCR on its paid plan. The other tools listed here do not support scanned PDF redaction.
Which free method is best?
For most users, AI-Redact's free tier is the best option because it is the only one with AI-powered detection. Instead of manually finding every SSN and name, the AI detects them automatically. If you are on a Mac and only need occasional simple redaction, Preview works fine.
Conclusion
You do not need Adobe Acrobat Pro to redact a PDF. There are several alternatives that range from free to much more affordable, and some are actually better for redaction because they include AI-powered detection.
Here is how to decide:
- For speed and accuracy: Use AI-powered redaction with AI-Redact — the AI detection alone makes it worth choosing over manual tools
- For occasional Mac use: Preview is free and built-in
- For a free desktop tool on Windows: PDF24 has no limits
- For general PDF needs: Smallpdf or iLovePDF if you already use them for other PDF tasks
Whatever method you choose, make sure you are using true redaction — not just visual hiding — and be mindful of security when uploading sensitive documents to online tools.
Further Reading
- Best Free PDF Redaction Tools — Detailed comparison of free tools
- Best Redaction Software in 2026 — Including paid options
- How to Redact a PDF Online — Online redaction step by step
- How to Redact a PDF — General step-by-step guide
- How to Redact a PDF on Mac — Mac-specific methods