How to Use Foxit to Redact? Easy Guide

Redacting sensitive information from PDFs has become the need of the era for professionals who regularly handle confidential records. You’ve probably come across tools like Foxit to hide private data in a PDF. The Foxit redact feature allows users to permanently remove confidential content before sharing files publicly.

However, many people find Foxit’s process slightly complex or encounter limitations when they just want a quick redaction without extra settings. That’s why this guide will walk you through how to redact PDFs using Foxit step by step and then introduce a more affordable alternative that offers the same secure redaction features in an easier interface.

Part 1. Redact PDF with Foxit

Foxit PDF Editor is a well-known software for handling professional PDF tasks and document editing. One of its useful tools is the redaction feature, which helps users hide sensitive information permanently. Foxit makes it possible for you to remove private details from a contract or protect financial data before sharing it online.

Here’s how to redact in Foxit PDF Editor if you have already installed it:

Step 1. Open Your PDF in Foxit

Launch Foxit PDF Editor on your computer and click on “File”. Afterward, hit “Open” and select the PDF document you want to redact via browsing.

Step 2. Access the Redaction Tool

Go to the “Protect” tab on the top menu and click “Mark for Redaction”. Select one option from “Text & Images”, “Pages”, or “Search & Redact”.

Step 3. Apply Redaction

Click and drag your cursor over the content you want to remove. After selecting the areas, click “Apply Redactions” in the toolbar.

Step 4. Save the Redacted PDF

Finally, save your document by clicking File > Save As to avoid overwriting your original version. You’ll now have a secure, redacted copy of your PDF.

However, the pricing and occasional lag with large files can be challenging for everyday users. That’s why the next section shows you an easier way to redact PDFs using UPDF.

Part 2. Redact PDF with a Foxit Alternative - UPDF

I recommend UPDF for many users because Foxit can become complex and costly. It gives you core redaction tools, a sanitize option and a user-friendly interface at a lower price point.

UPDF also bundles editing, OCR, and other features useful for day-to-day PDF work. Below is a short comparison and a clear walkthrough for using UPDF to redact.

How to Redact in Foxit Alternative (UPDF)

Step 1. Open Your PDF in UPDF

Download and install UPDF, launch it, then click “Open File”.  Next, select your PDF to work offline.

Step 2. Enter the Redact Tool

Click “Tools” and choose “Redact”. Click on the “Redact” at the top menu to redact the specific area.

Step 3. Redact Whole Pages

Select “Redact Pages”, pick the page range, and mark pages to remove visible content. Click “Apply” to finalize.

Step 5. Search and Redact

Choose “Search & Redact”, enter the keyword, select the ones to redact, and then click “Apply”. This saves time when redacting repeated sensitive data.

Step 6. Sanitize the Document

After marking redactions, use Sanitize Document to remove hidden metadata or comments that can leak information. Save the new, redacted PDF under a new filename.

Other Useful UPDF Features I Use

• Edit text & images - change words, fonts, and replace pictures inside the PDF.
• Annotate & comment - highlights, sticky notes, and shape tools for review.
• OCR - make scanned documents searchable and editable.
• Convert & export - export PDFs to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and images.
• Batch processing - run OCR, convert, compress, or watermark many files at once.
• AI Assistant - summarize, translate, or chat with PDF content (optional AI add-on).

For more context, you can watch the video below or read AppleInsider reviews. Purchase UPDF 2.0 right away for an improved UI and workflow that makes redaction faster.

Conclusion

Overall, both Foxit redact and UPDF let you permanently remove sensitive content from PDFs. Foxit is powerful and scalable but its pricing can be overkill for individuals. In contrast, UPDF gives a simpler and cost-effective redaction workflow with strong editing capabilities.

Moreover, you can utilize this software for many other pro-level features, like OCR and sanitization. That’s why I recommend trying UPDF if you want to redact.