PeekPlainFeatures / Redact PDF
Redact a PDF on Mac
Remove names, numbers and addresses from a PDF properly. A black box drawn on top still leaves the text underneath; redaction removes it.
Pro
How to, in three steps
- Open the PDF and choose Redact from ⌘K.
- Mark what to remove. Drag boxes over the text or areas to hide. Nothing changes until you apply.
- Apply and save. PeekPlain flattens the marked pages, paints the areas black, and checks that the hidden text is no longer in the file before it saves.
Pro. Redaction is a Pro feature. Highlighting and drawing boxes remain free, but boxes alone do not remove the text beneath.
Works offline. Your files never leave your Mac.
Redaction happens on your Mac, so the unredacted version is never uploaded anywhere. PeekPlain sends no files and no usage data anywhere; see the privacy page.
PeekPlain is in free beta and some features are still arriving. The changelog lists what has shipped.
Questions
Why not just draw a black rectangle?
Because the original text usually stays in the file, and anyone can select and copy it. A real redaction removes it.
What happens to the redacted pages?
They are turned into images with the areas blacked out, then recognized again so the rest stays searchable. Vector quality on those pages is lost.
Can I undo it after saving?
Not in the saved file; that is the point. Keep your original, which PeekPlain backs up when it saves over a file.
Does it clean metadata too?
Removing metadata is a separate Pro command. Run it before you share a file.