Detect and permanently redact personal information from PDFs
WhiskFile PII Redaction is a free online tool to detect and permanently redact personal information from PDFs. Files are processed entirely in your browser — nothing is uploaded to any server.
Quick Answer
Detect and permanently redact personal information from PDFs. WhiskFile's PII Redaction is free, works in your browser, and requires no account. Your files never leave your device — all processing happens locally.
Upload your PDF
Drag and drop or browse for the PDF file you want to scan. The file is loaded into your browser — nothing is uploaded to a server at this stage.
Choose PII categories
Toggle which types of personal information to detect: emails, phone numbers, SSNs, credit cards, addresses, dates of birth, passport numbers, bank details, and National Insurance numbers. Add custom words or phrases.
Scan the document
Click Scan Document. The tool extracts text from every page and runs configurable regex patterns to detect PII. Results are grouped by category with page numbers.
Review and select findings
Review detected items grouped by category. Select or deselect individual findings. Use the search bar to find and add additional terms to the redaction list.
Apply permanent redaction
Choose a redaction color and replacement text, then click Redact. The PDF is uploaded to the server for permanent rasterization-based redaction — the original text is irrecoverable.
Download the redacted PDF
Download your permanently redacted PDF. Verify that all sensitive information has been removed before sharing.
Max file size: 50 MB (free) · 500 MB (paid). Processing time: ~15s on average. Upload one file at a time.
PII Redaction runs entirely in your browser — no software to install. Works on any device with a modern browser.
Windows & Mac
Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari
iPhone & Android
Safari, Chrome mobile
iPad & Tablets
Full touch support
Unlike server-based tools that upload your documents, WhiskFile processes everything locally in your browser. Your files never leave your device — not even temporarily.
No upload required
Files are processed in your browser — nothing is sent to any server
100% private
No server storage, no data collection, no third-party access
Works offline
Once loaded, works without an internet connection
“Password-protecting sensitive documents before sharing gives me peace of mind. Simple and reliable.”
Robert Liu
Compliance Officer
“Redacting confidential info from legal documents is critical. WhiskFile makes it foolproof.”
Nina Patel
Attorney
Help us improve by sharing your experience with PII Redaction.
Client-side processing
This tool now runs entirely in your browser — files never leave your device.
Result preview & sharing
Preview your processed file before downloading, and share results via a secure link.
The tool extracts text from every page of your PDF using pdfjs-dist, then runs configurable regex patterns for each PII category (SSNs, emails, phone numbers, etc.). Detection runs entirely in your browser — the PDF is not uploaded for scanning. Only when you click Redact is the file sent to the server for permanent redaction.
Yes. The server renders each page as an image and draws opaque rectangles over the identified PII locations. The underlying text data is permanently removed and cannot be recovered by highlighting, copying, or editing the PDF.
10 categories: email addresses, phone numbers (US and UK formats), Social Security numbers, National Insurance numbers, credit/debit card numbers, physical addresses, dates of birth, passport numbers, bank account / sort code / routing numbers, and custom words or phrases you specify.
Yes. Enter comma-separated words or phrases in the Custom Words field before scanning. These are detected alongside standard PII categories — useful for company names, project codes, or any sensitive terms specific to your document.
Yes. PII detection runs 100% in your browser using JavaScript. Your PDF is not uploaded to any server during the scanning phase. The file is only uploaded when you choose to apply permanent redaction.
Regex patterns catch common formats reliably (SSNs, emails, credit card numbers, phone numbers). For nuanced detection like names or context-dependent PII, consider the AI-powered Auto-Redact PDF tool which uses AI for deeper analysis. The disclaimer banner reminds you to review all findings before applying redaction.
Yes. Choose from black (default), white, red, or blue. You can also set custom replacement text — the default is '[REDACTED]' but you can change it to any label or leave it blank for solid-color boxes.
Yes. The PII categories map directly to GDPR personal data definitions. Use this tool to de-identify documents before archiving, responding to data subject access requests, or sharing externally. The rasterization-based redaction ensures data is permanently and irrecoverably removed.
Yes. PII Redaction on WhiskFile is completely free with no account required. Free users get 7 tasks per day with files up to 50 MB. There are no watermarks on any plan. Pro plans ($4.99/month) unlock unlimited tasks, 500 MB files, batch processing, and API access.
Yes. PII Redaction runs entirely in your browser using WebAssembly. Your files are never uploaded to any server — they stay on your device throughout the entire process. No data is transmitted, stored, or accessible to WhiskFile or any third party.
Yes. PII Redaction works on any device with a modern browser — iPhone, Android, iPad, tablets, Chromebooks, and desktop computers. No app download required. The interface adapts to your screen size automatically.
PII Redaction accepts PDF files as input and produces PDF output. The maximum file size is 50 MB on the free plan (500 MB for Pro users). There are no page count limits.
See how WhiskFile compares to other PDF tools on features, pricing, and privacy.
See how professionals in different industries use this tool.
Chromebook & Linux
Any modern browser
