Redaction means removing sensitive content from a document so the redacted version reveals nothing about what was beneath. There is a long history of bad redaction — black rectangles drawn on top, easily lifted.
Proper redaction removes the underlying content. Here is how browser and Acrobat compare.
Acrobat redaction
Reference implementation. Marks targets, removes the underlying text and image data, applies the redaction permanently. Used by law firms and government routinely. Strongest workflow with batch and audit.
Flint browser redaction
Redact-pdf genuinely removes content from the file, not just covers it. Suitable for everyday redaction of names, addresses, account numbers and similar. Faster to start than Acrobat — no installer.
Where Acrobat still leads
Batch redaction across hundreds of documents. Audit trail for legal discovery. Pattern-matching redaction (find every SSN in a batch). For high-volume legal work, Acrobat is still the right tool.
Best for…
Acrobat for legal discovery and bulk regulated redaction. Flint for single-document redaction in everyday business and personal use.
FAQ
Does black rectangle hide content?
Visually, yes. Underneath, the text is still there if drawn on top. Use proper redaction to remove it.
Will redacted Flint PDFs open in Acrobat?
Yes — standard PDF output.
Is browser redaction safe for legal use?
For everyday legal admin yes. For court-grade discovery, Acrobat's audit trail is preferred.
Single document, everyday redaction: Flint. Bulk legal discovery: Acrobat.