How to use this tool
- Drop in a PDF.
- Click "+ Add redaction box," then drag over the content to black out — repeat for more boxes, on any page.
- Click "Redact PDF & Download."
Common mistakes to avoid
- Keep the original file if you need it later — redaction here is permanent and can't be undone once downloaded.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this real redaction, or just a black box drawn on top?
- Real redaction. A black box drawn over selectable text still leaves that text extractable underneath — a well-known way "redacted" documents leak. This tool instead rasterizes (converts to a flat image) any page with a redaction box, with the box burned directly into the pixels, so there's no text layer left to recover on that page.
- Does this affect pages I didn't redact?
- No — only pages with at least one redaction box are rasterized. Every other page keeps its original, unmodified content, including selectable text.
- Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?
- No — redaction happens entirely in your browser. The file never leaves your device.
How GetByteRush compares
Most free tools for this online work the same way: you upload your file to their server, wait, then download the result — which means your file (and often your email, for a "free" account) sits on someone else's infrastructure. Here's the actual difference:
| Feature | GetByteRush | Typical online tools |
|---|---|---|
| PDF ever leaves your device | No — redacted in this tab | Yes, uploaded to process |
| True redaction (no text left underneath) | Yes | Varies — some tools only draw a box on top |
| Account required | Never | Often, past a certain usage level |
("Typical online tools" reflects publicly documented behavior of common free file-processing sites as of 2026 — always check a specific competitor's own privacy policy and pricing page, since these details change.)