I had to redact sensitive info from PDF tax documents last month. Every "free" tool online wanted me to upload my files to their server first.
No way I'm uploading tax docs with SSN and bank details to some random server.
So I built RedactPDF: https://redactpdf.org
What it does:
- Redacts text and images from PDFs 100% in your browser
- Zero uploads. Files never leave your computer
- Self-hostable with Docker - 1 command deploy
Tech stack:
Next.js + pdf.js + Tailwind CSS. Everything runs client-side using Web Workers so it doesn't freeze on large PDFs.
Why I built this:
Privacy. Most online PDF tools are black boxes. You don't know where your files go.
RedactPDF runs entirely in your browser. Open your DevTools → Network tab and try it. Zero requests when you redact.
Who is this for?
If you handle client PDFs - lawyers, CAs, freelancers, HR - this might save you.
It's free to use at redactpdf.org
Open Source?
I'm planning to open source it once the codebase is stable and cleaned up. Right now focusing on shipping features users actually need.
If you want to self-host or contribute, drop a comment or DM me. I'll add you to the early access list.
What features would make this useful for your workflow? Drop a comment 👇
P.S. Tried posting on Reddit/HN first but new accounts get blocked 😅 Hope Dev.to community likes privacy-first tools.
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