SafeRedact vs Smallpdf
Smallpdf uploads your entire PDF to their servers. SafeRedact keeps files in your browser. Here's how they compare for document redaction.
SafeRedact
Browser-based, AI-powered
- →Privacy: Files never leave your browser
- →Detection: AI-powered (Claude)
- →Pricing: $12 Day Pass, $199/year
- →Best for: Sensitive documents, compliance
Smallpdf
Cloud-based, manual redaction
- →Privacy: Full file uploaded to EU servers
- →Detection: Manual only (no AI)
- →Pricing: $84/year Pro
- →Best for: General PDF tasks, compression
Feature Comparison
The key differences: SafeRedact uses AI and keeps files local. Smallpdf is a general PDF tool with manual redaction.
| Feature | SafeRedact | Smallpdf |
|---|---|---|
| File Upload | Files stay in browser | Full file uploaded to servers |
| Data Retention | No file storage | 1-2 hours on their servers |
| AI Detection | ✓ Yes (Claude AI) | ✗ No - manual only |
| Detects Names | ✓ Yes | ✗ Manual search |
| Detects Addresses | ✓ Yes | ✗ Manual search |
| Day Pass Option | ✓ $12 for 24 hours | ✗ Not available |
| Annual Price | $199/year | $84/year |
| Free Tier | Unlimited (watermark) | Limited features + ads |
Where Your Document Goes
The biggest difference? What happens to your sensitive files.
Privacy Architecture: A Critical Difference
When you upload a document containing Social Security numbers, medical records, or financial data for redaction, where that document goes matters enormously. Here's exactly what happens with each tool.
How Smallpdf Handles Your Documents
When you use Smallpdf's redaction feature, your entire PDF file is uploaded to their servers located in Switzerland (EU). According to their privacy policy:
- •Your complete document is transmitted over the internet
- •Files are processed on their servers
- •Documents are stored for 1-2 hours before deletion
- •Pro users' files may be retained longer for "service improvement"
For general PDF editing, this may be acceptable. For sensitive documents containing PII, medical records, or confidential business information, this creates compliance and security risks.
How SafeRedact Handles Your Documents
SafeRedact uses a fundamentally different architecture designed specifically for sensitive documents:
- •Your PDF file never leaves your browser
- •Only extracted text is sent for AI analysis (not the file itself)
- •Text is encrypted in transit and not stored
- •Redaction happens locally in your browser
- •The redacted file is generated on your device
This means even if someone intercepted the AI analysis request, they would only see text fragments—never your original document with its formatting, signatures, or embedded images.
Detection Capabilities: Manual vs AI
The way each tool finds sensitive information determines how thorough and how fast your redaction will be.
Smallpdf: Manual Search Only
Smallpdf provides basic drawing tools to manually place black rectangles over sensitive content. You must:
- • Read through the entire document yourself
- • Identify every instance of sensitive data
- • Manually draw boxes over each item
- • Hope you didn't miss anything
For a 10-page bank statement, this can take 15-30 minutes and still miss items.
SafeRedact: AI-Powered Detection
SafeRedact uses Claude AI to automatically identify 50+ types of sensitive information:
- • Social Security numbers (all formats)
- • Names (including variations and nicknames)
- • Addresses (full and partial)
- • Phone numbers and email addresses
- • Account numbers and routing numbers
- • Dates of birth and driver's license numbers
The same 10-page bank statement takes about 30 seconds.
Pricing Comparison
SafeRedact costs more, but you're paying for specialized security and AI detection. Here's the breakdown.
| Plan | SafeRedact | Smallpdf |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | Unlimited (with watermark) | Limited features, ads, file size limits |
| Day Pass | $4.99 for 24 hours unlimited | Not available |
| Monthly | $14.99/month | $12/month (billed annually) |
| Annual | $99/year ($8.25/month) | $84/year ($7/month) |
Value Analysis: If you only need redaction once or twice a year, SafeRedact's $4.99 day pass is more cost-effective than an annual subscription to either service. For regular use with sensitive documents, SafeRedact's annual plan provides specialized security that Smallpdf's general-purpose tools can't match.
The Verdict
These tools serve different purposes. Choose based on your actual needs.
Smallpdf is an excellent general-purpose PDF toolkit. If you need to merge, compress, convert, sign, or occasionally redact non-sensitive documents, it's a solid choice at a reasonable price. Its redaction feature works, but it's manual and requires uploading your files.
SafeRedact is a specialized tool built specifically for secure document redaction. If your documents contain personal information, financial data, or medical records—and especially if you're in a regulated industry—it's the safer choice. The AI detection catches things manual review misses, and the browser-based architecture means your sensitive files never leave your control.
Our recommendation: Use Smallpdf for general PDF work. Use SafeRedact when privacy and thoroughness matter. Many professionals use both—Smallpdf for everyday PDF tasks, SafeRedact when handling sensitive documents that shouldn't be uploaded to third-party servers.
Which Tool Is Right for You?
✓Consider SafeRedact if you:
- •Handle sensitive documents (tax returns, medical records, legal files)
- •Want AI to automatically find PII
- •Don't want files uploaded to third-party servers
- •Need occasional redaction ($12 Day Pass)
✓Consider Smallpdf if you:
- •Need a general PDF toolkit (compress, merge, convert)
- •Are comfortable with manual redaction
- •Don't mind files being uploaded to EU servers
- •Want the lowest annual cost ($84/year)
Try SafeRedact free
See if it fits your workflow. AI-powered detection, files stay in your browser.