{"slug": "i-built-a-pdf-redactor-that-never-uploads-your-files", "title": "I built a PDF redactor that never uploads your files", "summary": "The article describes the creation of RedactPDF, a free, browser-based PDF redaction tool built with Next.js, pdf.js, and Tailwind CSS that processes all data client-side using Web Workers, ensuring no files are uploaded to any server. The developer built it after finding that existing \"free\" online PDF tools required uploading sensitive tax documents containing Social Security numbers and bank details to unknown servers. The tool is currently free to use at redactpdf.org, with plans to open-source the codebase once stable.", "body_md": "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.\nNo way I'm uploading tax docs with SSN and bank details to some random server.\nSo I built RedactPDF: https://redactpdf.org\nNext.js + pdf.js + Tailwind CSS. Everything runs client-side using Web Workers so it doesn't freeze on large PDFs.\nPrivacy. Most online PDF tools are black boxes. You don't know where your files go.\nRedactPDF runs entirely in your browser. Open your DevTools → Network tab and try it. Zero requests when you redact.\nIf you handle client PDFs - lawyers, CAs, freelancers, HR - this might save you.\nIt's free to use at redactpdf.org\nI'm planning to open source it once the codebase is stable and cleaned up. Right now focusing on shipping features users actually need.\nIf you want to self-host or contribute, drop a comment or DM me. I'll add you to the early access list.\nWhat features would make this useful for your workflow? Drop a comment 👇\nP.S. Tried posting on Reddit/HN first but new accounts get blocked 😅 Hope Dev.to community likes privacy-first tools.", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/i-built-a-pdf-redactor-that-never-uploads-your-files", "canonical_source": "https://dev.to/danishwaqad/i-built-an-open-source-pdf-redactor-that-never-uploads-your-files-2565", "published_at": "2026-05-22 17:47:11+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-05-22 18:06:23.402074+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["developer-tools", "cybersecurity", "open-source", "products", "startups"], "entities": ["RedactPDF", "Next.js", "pdf.js", "Tailwind CSS", "Web Workers", "Dev.to", "Reddit", "HN"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/i-built-a-pdf-redactor-that-never-uploads-your-files", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/i-built-a-pdf-redactor-that-never-uploads-your-files.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/i-built-a-pdf-redactor-that-never-uploads-your-files.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/i-built-a-pdf-redactor-that-never-uploads-your-files.jsonld"}}