Blur Document vs Smallpdf for redacting PDFs
Smallpdf redacts PDFs online and has 30+ PDF tools. Blur Document redacts in your browser, finds personal data for you and never uploads files. Compare both.
Facts about Smallpdf checked against its own website on
Short answer: Smallpdf is a good fit if you want a full set of PDF tools. Its Redact PDF tool is free with usage limits, needs no signup, and says redaction removes the content rather than hiding it.
Blur Document is free with no limits or account, never uploads your file, and finds emails, phone numbers, IDs and bank details for you. The trade-off: it exports pages as images, so the text isn't selectable or searchable.
| Blur Document | Smallpdf | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free with usage limits; Pro removes them |
| Account needed | No | No, per their redact page |
| Where it runs | In your browser; installable, works offline | In the browser, on desktop and mobile |
| File uploaded | Never | You upload to their online tool; check their site for where it's processed |
| File deletion | Nothing is stored | Deleted automatically after one hour, per Smallpdf |
| How content is removed | Page rebuilt from pixels | Content removed from the file |
| Exported text searchable | No, pages become images | Usually, for text-based PDFs; check their site |
| Find all matches | Yes: word, phrase or regular expression | Check their site |
| Finds personal data automatically | IDs, cards, bank details, emails, phones, faces, QR codes | Not mentioned; you highlight what to remove |
| Photos and scans | Built-in OCR (English text) | Check their site |
| Other PDF tools | Rotate, crop, reorder, watermark, compress to a size | 30+ PDF tools on Pro |
How each one redacts
On Smallpdf you upload a PDF, highlight the text or areas to remove, and save. Smallpdf says applied redaction is permanent and removes the content from the file rather than covering it.
Blur Document rebuilds every page from pixels. Text under a box is gone, metadata is stripped, and the output is read again for anything still legible. The trade-off: the exported PDF's text is no longer selectable or searchable.
Check any redacted file before you send it. The free PDF Redaction Checker finds text left under boxes, plus metadata and comments.
What happens to your file
Smallpdf's help pages say files are removed after one hour of processing for most tools, transfers use TLS encryption, and it is ISO 27001 certified. Its redact page mentions both in-browser processing and secure servers, so check their site if it matters for your document.
Blur Document has no server to send files to. Pages are processed in your browser, and the app can be installed and used offline. See privacy and is it safe to use online PDF tools?
When Smallpdf is the better choice
- You need the redacted PDF to keep selectable, searchable text.
- You also compress, convert, merge or sign PDFs and want it all in one place.
- You want cloud file storage across devices.
- Your PDF is longer than 50 pages.
Which one should you use?
Choose Smallpdf if
- You want searchable output and a wide set of PDF tools.
- You like having files stored in one online account.
- Uploading to an online service is fine for this document.
Choose Blur Document if
- You want no upload, no account and no usage limits.
- You'd like names, ID numbers and bank details found automatically.
- You're working from a photo, scan or screenshot.
Try it on your own file. It opens in your browser and is never uploaded.
Open Redact PDFQuestions
Is Smallpdf's redact tool free?
Smallpdf says Redact PDF is free with some usage limits, and Pro removes them. Check their site for current plans. Blur Document has no limits beyond file size (50 pages, 25 MB).
Does Smallpdf keep my file?
Smallpdf says files are deleted automatically after one hour of processing for most tools. Pro users can choose to keep files in its storage. Blur Document doesn't receive your file at all.
Can blurred or blacked-out text be recovered?
Sometimes, if the tool only covered it. See [can blurred text be unblurred?](/guides/can-blurred-text-be-unblurred) and test your file with the [PDF Redaction Checker](/redaction-checker).