A free Adobe Acrobat alternative for PDF redaction
You don’t need Adobe Acrobat Pro to redact a PDF. AnonymousPDF redacts PDFs in your browser, for free, with no install and no subscription.
Drop a PDF here, or click to choose a file
Your file is processed in your browser and is never uploaded.
Adobe Acrobat Pro is the default tool for PDF redaction in many offices, but it costs around $20 per month, requires an install, and ties the operation to the desktop. For most one-off redactions — a job application, a contract, a medical record — that is overkill.
AnonymousPDF is a free, browser-based alternative for the same job. It automatically detects names, emails, phone numbers, IBANs, card and ID numbers, plus dates, and removes them from the file. The PDF is rebuilt without the original text, so redacted content cannot be recovered — the same security model the Acrobat redaction tool uses. Everything runs locally in your browser, so confidential files never leave your device.
1. Drop your PDF
Choose a file or drag it onto the page. It opens locally — nothing is sent to a server.
2. Automatic detection
Pattern matching and an on-device AI model locate the sensitive text for you.
3. Download or copy
Get a redacted PDF with the text truly removed, or copy the cleaned text.
Frequently asked questions
Is this as secure as the Adobe Acrobat redaction tool?
For the underlying mechanism, yes: the page is rebuilt without the original text, so the content is truly removed and not just covered. Adobe additionally lets you mark specific words by hand; we focus on automatic detection — review the result before sharing in either case.
How can I redact a PDF without Acrobat?
Open AnonymousPDF in any modern browser, drop in the PDF, and download the redacted file. No install, no account, no upload.
What does Acrobat Pro cost compared to this?
Acrobat Pro is around $20/month per user. AnonymousPDF is free, with no subscription and no page limit.
Will Adobe still open the resulting PDF?
Yes. The output is a standard PDF; it opens in Adobe Acrobat, Preview, Chrome, Edge — any PDF reader.
100% in your browser
Files are processed on your device and never uploaded to any server.
Free, no sign-up
No account, no email, no watermark. Just open it and go.
Real redaction
The underlying text is removed, not just hidden behind a black box.