Redact patient data without uploading
Redact or pseudonymize sensitive data right on your device. Your documents never leave it, ideal for medical practices, law firms and expert witnesses.
Drop a PDF with sensitive data here
Everything is processed on your device. Nothing is uploaded.
Your file stays on your device · nothing is uploaded
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How it works
- 1 Drag your PDF into the box or choose the file, also straight from Google Drive or Dropbox.
- 2 Enter search terms, turn on pattern detection (date, phone, insurance no. …) and check each match one by one in the page preview.
- 3 Start processing. It happens right on your device.
- 4 Download the result. Done, no sign-up and no watermark from us.
Frequently asked questions
Are my files uploaded?
No. With this tool, your file never leaves your device. Even with Google Drive or Dropbox, it comes straight from your cloud to you, without passing through us.
Is the redacted text really gone?
Yes. The pages are rebuilt as images, so the original text no longer exists in the output file, not even hidden. Try it yourself: you can't select or copy the redacted area. The document metadata is cleared as well.
Are there limits on file size or page count?
The main limit is your device, because that is where the work happens. Files up to 100 MB work reliably. With very large files, an older smartphone needs a little patience.
Is the tool free?
Yes. All tools on Gatefrog are free to use, with no sign-up, no installation and no watermark from us.
Related tools
Redact PDF, text is removed Redact names, numbers and other terms. Every match is removed from the file, not just covered up. Still, check the result yourself: anything the search doesn't find, like a different spelling or text inside an image, stays visible. Open 
Make scans searchable (OCR) Make scanned PDFs and photos of documents searchable or get the text out. Open 
Protect PDF with a password Encrypt your PDF with AES-256 and decide whether printing or copying is allowed. Open Why covering text isn't redacting
A black box drawn over text doesn't remove it. The text is still in the file, and anyone can select, copy or extract it. Government agencies and law firms have been publicly caught out by exactly this. So this tool takes a different approach: it rebuilds the pages, and the redacted text is no longer in the output file. Not hidden, gone. Document metadata (author, title), which often includes names, is removed automatically, too.
Redact or pseudonymize?
Redacting puts a black bar over every match, so the information is gone. Pseudonymizing swaps each match for a placeholder name (for example "John Doe", or "Person A" throughout), so the document stays readable for things like expert reports, teaching or research. Note: under the GDPR, pseudonymization is not anonymization. Context can still make it possible to identify someone.
Does my data really never leave my device?
Yes. Analysis, search, preview and processing all happen on your device, and no file is ever transferred. That makes the tool suitable even for professionals bound by confidentiality. Keep in mind: the tool helps with your review but doesn't replace it. You are responsible for making sure the redaction is complete.