SafeRedact vs Foxit PDF Editor
Foxit is a full-featured PDF editor. SafeRedact is purpose-built for AI-powered redaction. Here's how they compare.
SafeRedact
Dedicated redaction tool
- →Focus: AI-powered document redaction
- →Pricing: Free tier, then $12–$29/month
- →Platform: Browser-based (any OS)
- →Output: Pixel-based PDF (no text layer)
Foxit PDF Editor
Full PDF editing suite
- →Focus: Complete PDF creation, editing, signing
- →Pricing: Subscription or perpetual license
- →Platform: Windows, Mac desktop app
- →Redaction: PDF Editor+ includes Smart Redact
Feature Comparison
Foxit is a comprehensive PDF solution. SafeRedact focuses exclusively on redaction.
| Feature | SafeRedact | Foxit PDF Editor |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Document redaction | PDF editing suite |
| AI-Powered Detection | ✓ Yes (Claude-powered) | ✓ Smart Redact (PDF Editor+ only) |
| Manual Redaction | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| OCR for Scanned PDFs | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| PDF Editing | ✗ No | ✓ Full editing suite |
| E-Signatures | ✗ No | ✓ Yes (eSign integration) |
| PDF Creation/Conversion | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Free Tier | ✓ 3 docs/month (recurring) | — Trial only |
| Platform | Browser (any OS) | Windows, Mac (desktop) |
| Installation Required | ✓ No | Yes (desktop app) |
Where Your Document Goes
The biggest difference? What happens to your sensitive files.
Which Tool Is Right for You?
✓ Consider SafeRedact if you:
- •Only need redaction (not full PDF editing)
- •Want AI to automatically find sensitive data
- •Prefer browser-based tools (no installation)
- •Need occasional redaction at lower cost
- •Work on Linux or ChromeOS
✓ Consider Foxit if you:
- •Need full PDF editing capabilities
- •Want one tool for all PDF tasks
- •Use e-signatures frequently
- •Prefer desktop software
- •Already use Foxit for other work
About SafeRedact's Architecture
SafeRedact extracts text from your documents and sends it to our AI for PII classification. The output is a pixel-based PDF with no text layer. SafeRedact is not SOC 2 or HIPAA certified. See our Privacy Whitepaper for technical details.
Privacy and Data Handling
How each tool handles your sensitive documents during the redaction process.
Foxit PDF Editor
- •Desktop app processes locally
- •Requires software installation
- •May sync with cloud features
- •IT department may need to approve
SafeRedact
- •100% browser-based processing
- •Files never leave your device
- •Only extracted text sent for AI
- •Zero-trust architecture
Detection Capabilities Compared
The technology behind each tool determines what gets found and what gets missed.
What Foxit PDF Editor Detects
Pattern-based detection requires you to define search terms:
- ✓ SSNs in standard format
- ✓ Phone numbers (standard formats)
- ✗ Names (manual entry required)
- ✗ Addresses (manual entry required)
What SafeRedact Detects
AI understands context and meaning:
- ✓ Names in any format
- ✓ Addresses (full or partial)
- ✓ All ID number formats
- ✓ Context-dependent PII
Time and Cost Analysis
Beyond the sticker price, consider the true cost of each solution.
| Factor | Foxit PDF Editor | SafeRedact |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $149/year | $4.99 day pass / $99/year |
| Time per document | 10-30 min (manual review) | ~30 seconds (AI-powered) |
| Setup required | Software installation | None (browser-based) |
| Free option | Limited trial | Unlimited (watermark) |
Bottom Line: SafeRedact AI detection can save hours of manual review time. The $4.99 day pass is often more cost-effective than annual subscriptions for occasional use.
Try SafeRedact free
See if AI-powered redaction fits your workflow. No credit card required.