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Redact a PDF online — free
Permanently remove sensitive information. Real PDF Editor's redaction blacks out the content and flattens the page so it's truly gone — not just hidden — free, in your browser, with nothing uploaded.
100% free · no sign-up · files never leave your device
Real redaction — the content is actually gone
Some tools just lay a black box on top, leaving the text underneath copyable. Real PDF Editor flattens every redacted page into an image on export, so the words beneath the black bars are genuinely removed — important for IDs, account numbers, and other sensitive data.
Redact a PDF free, without Adobe Pro
You don't need Adobe Acrobat Pro to redact a PDF. Real PDF Editor does it in the browser for free, on a Mac or a Windows PC, with the file never uploaded — so sensitive documents stay on your device.
How it works
- 1
Open the PDF
Launch the editor and open the document.
- 2
Pick the Redact tool
Select the Redact tool (keyboard shortcut X).
- 3
Black out the content
Drag over each piece of text or area you want to remove; repeat as needed.
- 4
Download
Click Download — redacted pages are flattened so the covered content can't be recovered.
Why use Real PDF Editor
- Permanently removes content, not just hides it
- Redacted pages are flattened on export
- Black out as many areas as you need
- Free, private, and runs in your browser
Frequently asked
How do I redact a PDF?
Open the PDF in Real PDF Editor, select the Redact tool (X), drag over the text you want to remove, and download. The redacted pages are flattened so the content is permanently gone.
What does it mean to redact a PDF?
Redacting means permanently removing sensitive text or images from a document so they can't be read or recovered — not just covering them visually.
How do I redact a PDF for free?
It's free with no watermark, and the redaction happens in your browser, so the file is never uploaded.
How do I redact a PDF without Adobe Pro?
Real PDF Editor redacts in the browser at no cost — no Adobe Acrobat Pro required.
Is the redacted text really removed?
Yes. On download, each redacted page is flattened to an image, so the content under the black bars can't be selected, copied, or recovered.
How do I redact a PDF on a Mac?
Open the editor in any Mac browser, pick the Redact tool, drag over the content, and download — there's nothing Mac-specific to install.