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Ombly vs iLovePDF

iLovePDF's redact tool runs online, offers basic automatic detection for card numbers, phone numbers and emails, and deletes uploads within two hours. Ombly works on your own computer and also catches IBANs, account numbers and national IDs.

Scorecard

iLovePDF0/7
Ombly7/7

Rows in your favour, from the table below. A row counts only when the vendor's own page confirms it.

Where Ombly is ahead

  • Is the original uploaded?
  • Runs on your company's own infrastructure
  • Audit trail for compliance
  • Automatic detection
  • National ID and bank formats (IBAN, SSN, NI…)
  • Metadata and hidden content
  • Output

Where iLovePDF is ahead

  • You want basic automatic detection in a browser, without installing anything.
  • Your documents don't contain details you'd hesitate to upload.

What Ombly does

  1. 01

    Runs on your computer

    Your document is opened, checked and redacted on your own machine. Nothing is uploaded.

  2. 02

    Finds what to hide

    Card and account numbers, IBANs, national ID numbers, names, addresses, contact details and file paths are suggested for you to accept.

  3. 03

    Leaves nothing behind

    Every page is rebuilt from pixels, so there's no hidden text, metadata or old revision in the copy you share.

For firms: run Ombly on your own servers or cloud, with encrypted storage and an audit trail, and add your own patterns for matter, case or reference numbers. The personal app is coming soon.

For your firm

Redacting a 200-page client bundle

Statements and contracts going to an auditor or the other side, wherever your firm works.

With iLovePDF

Each file is uploaded to iLovePDF, where smart redact can catch emails, phone and card numbers; ID and account numbers and names are added by hand. Client documents leave your network for up to two hours.

With Ombly for teams

With Ombly, the bundle stays on your firm's own servers or cloud. Account numbers, IBANs, national IDs, names and file paths are suggested on every page, a reviewer checks them, and the audit log records each step without keeping the private text. You add your own patterns for matter, case or client reference numbers.

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For you

Sharing a bank statement with a landlord

The same everyday job, done both ways.

With iLovePDF

With iLovePDF, you'd upload the statement, let smart redact pick up things like your phone number and email, then add the account number and IBAN yourself. iLovePDF says uploads are deleted within two hours.

With Ombly

With Ombly, the statement never leaves your computer. The account number, IBAN and phone are suggested for you to accept, and you send a copy rebuilt from pixels, with nothing left to copy.

How the workflows differ

How a file moves: iLovePDF vs OmblyWith iLovePDF, the original document is uploaded to its servers, redacted there, then downloaded. With Ombly, the document is checked and rebuilt on your own computer.iLovePDFYour fileUploaded totheir serverDownload theredacted copyOmblyYour fileReview onyour computerRebuilt frompixels
iLovePDF: The original leaves your deviceOmbly: The original never leaves your device

Side by side

  • In your favour: In your favour
  • Partly: Partly
  • Not in your favour: Not in your favour
  • Not stated by the vendor: Not stated by the vendor
Where it runs
iLovePDF: Web browser (iLovePDF also offers a separate desktop app)
Ombly: On your own computer (personal app coming soon) or on your company's own servers
Is the original uploaded?
Not in your favour: iLovePDF: Yes. iLovePDF says uploads are deleted within two hours, or straight away with "Delete it now"
In your favour: Ombly: No. The original stays on your device or inside your network
Runs on your company's own infrastructure
Not in your favour: iLovePDF: No. A hosted web service
In your favour: Ombly: Yes. Teams run it on their own servers or cloud; processing workers have no internet access
Audit trail for compliance
Not stated by the vendor: iLovePDF: Not stated on the redact page
In your favour: Ombly: Yes. Every upload, review, export and download is logged, without storing the private text itself
Automatic detection
Partly: iLovePDF: Yes. "Smart redact" plus detection for text, card numbers, phone numbers and emails
In your favour: Ombly: Yes. Suggestions you review: ID, account and card numbers, contact details, names, addresses and file paths
National ID and bank formats (IBAN, SSN, NI…)
Not in your favour: iLovePDF: IBANs and national ID formats aren't listed among its detection options
In your favour: Ombly: Yes. Card numbers, IBANs and Aadhaar numbers must pass their checksums; US SSN, UK National Insurance, PAN and IFSC formats are checked, and you can add your own
Metadata and hidden content
Not stated by the vendor: iLovePDF: Not stated on the redact page
In your favour: Ombly: Nothing from the original file is carried over. Exports carry fixed, neutral metadata
Output
Not stated by the vendor: iLovePDF: A redacted PDF. The page asks you to review the result before sending
In your favour: Ombly: A new PDF rebuilt from page images. Not searchable, nothing left to copy
Best for
iLovePDF: Occasional redaction with basic automatic detection, for files you're comfortable uploading
Ombly: Firms and individuals with documents that shouldn't leave their own machines or network
Pricing
iLovePDF: Not stated on the redact page
Ombly: Teams: book a call to talk through a pilot. Personal app: join the waitlist

When iLovePDF is the better choice

  • You want basic automatic detection in a browser, without installing anything.
  • Your documents don't contain details you'd hesitate to upload.
  • You use iLovePDF's other tools and like keeping everything in one place.

When Ombly is the better choice

  • Your documents carry IBANs, account numbers or national IDs you want caught automatically.
  • You don't want the original uploaded at all, even briefly.
  • You want an export where nothing from the original file survives.

Questions

How long does iLovePDF keep uploaded files?

iLovePDF says documents are deleted within two hours of upload, and that you can remove them sooner with the "Delete it now" button.

Does iLovePDF detect sensitive data automatically?

Yes. Its redact page lists "Smart redact" and detection for text, card numbers, phone numbers and emails. IBANs and national ID formats aren't listed.

Can I use both?

Yes. For documents you're happy to upload, iLovePDF is convenient. For anything you'd rather keep on your device, Ombly is built for that.

Last checked 18 October 2026

Facts about iLovePDF come from the pages below, as they read on that date. Products change; if something here is out of date, email dilpreetgrover2@gmail.com.

Share the document. Keep the secrets.

Ombly removes private details from your documents, on your own computer.

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