7 Best PDF Redact Tools You Should Consider in 2023

With the rise of digital documentation, PDFs have become one of the most popular formats for sharing and storing sensitive information. However, before sharing or storing any confidential or personal information, it is crucial to make sure that the PDFs are redacted.

In this article, we will discuss the 7 best PDF redact tools you should consider in 2023 to safeguard your sensitive information. Before learning about the top PDF Redaction tools, let us first understand what a PDF React tool is. Let’s dive in.

What is a PDF Redact tool?

A PDF redaction tool is a software application that allows users to remove sensitive or confidential information from PDF documents. It is a security measure that is used to prevent unauthorized access or disclosure of sensitive data. 

PDF redact tools typically offer advanced features such as text, image, and page redaction. In addition to this, password protection and encryption protect the security of the redacted information. These tools are commonly used in the legal, financial, and government sectors to protect confidential information.

Hence, the next thing you need to know before diving deeper into the topic is what ‌factors make a pdf react tool a good one. Keep on reading!

5 Factors to consider while getting a PDF Redact tool

Regarding protecting the privacy of your customers, the right redaction tool can make a world of difference. It can help your business stay GDPR-compliant and deliver the highest level of security for sensitive data. 

But with so many redaction tools on the market, how do you decide which one is right for you? Hence, to end this confusion, I have come up with some factors to consider when getting a redaction tool:

1. Privacy Policy: Make sure the redaction tool you choose has a clear and comprehensive privacy policy that spells out how it handles and processes data. This should include details on data encryption, storage, and retention.

2. GDPR Compliance: Look for a redaction tool that is compliant with GDPR and has the necessary certifications or accreditations.

3. Delivery: Make sure the redaction tool you choose can securely deliver the data to the appropriate recipient. It includes being able to deliver over multiple channels, such as through a secure file transfer protocol or an email attachment.

4. Features: Consider what features the redaction tool offers and how they will meet the specific needs of your business. Some features to look out for include text redaction, image redaction, and data masking. You should also check if the chosen tool can redact different kinds of files and collaborate with Google Drive.

5. User-friendliness: The tool should be easy to use, with an intuitive interface and clear instructions. You should look for a tool that provides step-by-step guidance and allows you to preview the redacted document before saving it.

Top 7 PDF Redaction Tools

We often find ourselves in a situation where we need to keep certain documents confidential and protect their contents from unauthorized access. PDF redact tools are a must-have for that.

Whether you need to redact sensitive financial information, social security numbers, or HIPAA-protected information, these tools can help.

Here's a look at some of the top PDF redaction tools:

1. Redacted

A cloud-based PDF redaction platform, redacted.ai offers an automated redaction process that is fast and secure. The software allows you to search and find the sensitive data you need to redact and can even recognize text in multiple languages.

Pros

• Redacted.ai is a faster and less costly alternative to manual redactions.
• It provides a secure way to remove sensitive data in a fraction of the time it would take to do the job manually.
• The user interface is also extremely user-friendly, allowing users to easily identify which content they’d like to redact.

Cons

• It may not be suitable for all types of documents, and some documents may require manual redaction.
• Expensive pricing for enterprise-level features
• May have a steeper learning curve for new users
• Limited integrations with other software

2. Idox

idox.ai is used by professionals to redact data using computer vision and machine learning algorithms. It can detect text and numbers, detect text based on keywords, and redact text and images.

Pros

• The ability to quickly and easily redact information from PDFs.
• With just a few clicks, users can select which specific data to redact, and an algorithm will automatically detect and remove it from the document.
• It’s also compatible with several different file formats, making it easier for users to easily convert their documents.

Cons

• The biggest con is the cost of the tool, which can be high-priced for some users.
• Some users may find the user interface to be difficult to navigate.
• Because it relies on algorithms, the accuracy of the redacted data may not always be perfect.

3. Rectify Data

rectifydata.com is a secure PDF redaction software that provides users with the ability to scan documents and automatically detect and redact sensitive data. It also features advanced features such as custom redaction templates and data anonymization.

Pros

• Ease of use
• It takes only minutes to set up and configure, and the entire redaction process is automated, making it quick and efficient.
• The tool also has advanced security features, such as encryption and password protection, to make sure that your data is kept safe.

Cons

• The tool is relatively pricey, which can be a barrier for those with smaller budgets.
• The tool does not offer any customization options, so it is not possible to adjust the level of redaction.
• May have performance issues with larger documents

4. Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Acrobat Pro DC is another popular option for PDF redaction. It's a desktop application that offers a wide range of features, including the ability to redact text and images.

Pros

• One of the major advantages of Adobe Acrobat is the ability to quickly convert and edit PDFs.
• It also includes features that make it easy to create and manipulate PDFs, such as adding text, images, hyperlinks, and more.
• Adobe Acrobat's redaction tool allows you to securely erase parts of a document, guaranteeing that any confidential information is kept safe.

Cons

• The user interface can be difficult to navigate and unnecessarily complex, which can make it difficult to quickly complete tasks.
• Adobe Acrobat's redaction tool may not offer the level of security you need for certain documents, as their tools are not advanced. 
• Expensive subscription model
• Requires significant resources to run effectively
• May have a steep learning curve for new users

5. Redactable

Redactable is a powerful PDF redact tool that offers a wide range of features. It can detect and redact text in multiple languages, search for sensitive data, and redact entire sections. It also offers advanced features such as custom redaction policies, document sharing, and more.

It is designed to fit every use from legal to healthcare. With Redactable, you have the convenience of being able to remove redactions from material. The number of user licenses you need is up to you.

With only one click, redact all of your documents successfully and permanently. If you're tired of dealing with redacted PDFs, give Redactable a try; you won't regret it.

Pros

• Simple to use
• Auto-redaction and collaborative feature
• Safety & Permeance
• Redaction Certificates
• Built in AI
• Affordable pricing plans 
• Quick and Efficient

Cons

• None

6. Foxit Phantom PDF

When it comes to redaction, Foxit Phantom PDF redactor deserves. It is most renowned for having a high level of security. Hence, if you decide to install this software for redaction purposes, you can be confident that you'll get the best results.

You can safeguard redacted documents and run JavaScript for PDF files with Foxit Phantom PDF's security option in addition to redacting PDF files. The security option makes it a superb PDF converter for Mac and Windows.

Pros:

• Offers advanced redaction features
• Provides password protection and encryption
• Offers collaboration features
• Supports cloud-based services

Cons:

• Limited OCR capabilities
• Not available for Mac

6. Nitro Pro

Finally,  on the list is Nitro Pro 9 Redactor for Windows. That works just as well for redaction. It allows for the creation of PDF files for redaction as well as their editing and format conversion. 

In addition to redaction, Nitro Pro 9 gives users the choice to join and take advantage of cloud-based PDF document collaboration.

Pros:

• It offers advanced redaction features
• It provides password protection and encryption
• It offers collaboration features
• Affordable price

Cons:

• Limited OCR capabilities
• Not available for Mac

Why Redactable is the best PDF redaction tool to use?

Redactable is the best PDF redact tool on the market. It offers features that no other redactor tool can match. Hence, making it a great choice for those who need to quickly and properly redact sensitive documents. 

Here are the reasons Redactable is the best PDF redaction tool to use:

1. Speed - In just 2.5 minutes. Redactable can permanently redact 10 pages of a document, making it 8x faster than manual methods!

2. Scanned PDFs – Redactable can redact scanned PDFs, as well. Hence, makes it ideal for situations where you need to quickly redact a document but don't have access to the original version.

3. Compliance - Redactable guarantees that all documents it redacts meet regulations and authentication requirements. Thus,  it provides you with the reassurance that your documents are secure and compliant.

4. Permeance – Unlike other tools; Redactable permanently redacts sensitive information so that the information cannot be recovered.

5. Cloud-based – Redactable is cloud-based, which makes it easier to access and use. All documents are securely stored in the cloud, giving you peace of mind when working with sensitive information.

All of these make Redactable the best PDF redaction tool on the market. Try it today and experience the power of Redactable for yourself!

Features of Redactable

1. Easy setup: Redactable is easy to set up and use, even for large organizations.
2. Integrations: Redactable integrates with popular content management systems (CMS) like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and Box. 
3. Built-in AI features: Redactable uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify and redact sensitive information in documents automatically. This makes it much faster and easier to get documents scrubbed and ready for sharing. You can also search for terms in your pdf that you want to redact.
4. Document scrubbing: Redactable can scrub documents of any size and format, making it perfect for scrubbing sensitive documents before sharing them. In simpler words, Redactable can remove any hidden element such as meta data to make the document hack-proof.
5. Collaboration: With Redactable, you can collaborate with others on document redaction projects, making it easy to get everyone on the same page.
6. Certificates: Redactable comes with digital certificates that the authenticity of redacted documents. So you can be confident that your documents are being redacted by a trusted and certified tool.

How to Redact a pdf with Redactable

1. Upload pdf

2. Search and Select, Patterns, or One-Click Auto-Redaction

3. Click finalize redaction

4. Download your redacted pdf

Conclusion

There are lots of PDF redaction tools out there. But I believe Redactable is the best tool to use for several reasons.

First, Redactable integrates easily with any system. For instance, you can easily import your existing document from Dropbox for better document management. This makes it easy to set up at any scale.

Second, Redactable has built-in AI features. This means that it can automatically scrub documents for sensitive information.

Third, Redactable makes collaboration easy. With its certificate feature, you can easily share redacted documents with others.

Fourth, Redactable is excellent for document scrubbing. It can help you remove sensitive information from documents before sharing them.

Finally, Redactable is affordable. It has a free version that you can use for personal use. And its paid versions are very reasonable. So if you're looking for the best PDF redaction tool, we believe Redactable is the best option.