Ombly vs online redaction tools
Online redaction tools are convenient, but to use them you upload the unredacted original and trust the provider to delete it, usually within one to two hours. Ombly is built so the original never has to leave your computer.
Scorecard
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 Online tools are ahead
- You're on a shared or locked-down computer where you can't install anything.
- The document isn't sensitive, and speed matters most.
What Ombly does
- 01
Runs on your computer
Your document is opened, checked and redacted on your own machine. Nothing is uploaded.
- 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.
- 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.
Redacting a 200-page client bundle
Statements and contracts going to an auditor or the other side, wherever your firm works.
With an online tool
Every file is uploaded to a third-party service and usually marked by hand, and you keep your own record of what was removed.
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.
Book a demoSharing a bank statement with a landlord
The same everyday job, done both ways.
With an online tool
With a typical online tool, you'd upload the statement, mark the numbers yourself, download the result, and trust the provider to delete the original within an hour or two.
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
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
| Feature | Typical online tool | Ombly |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | The provider's servers, through your browser | On your own computer (personal app coming soon) or on your company's own servers |
| Is the original uploaded? | Not in your favour: Usually yes. Smallpdf, PDF24 and iLovePDF say they delete files within one to two hours; Sejda within two hours | In your favour: No. The original stays on your device or inside your network |
| Runs on your company's own infrastructure | Not in your favour: No. They run on the provider's servers | In your favour: 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: Not stated by the tools we checked | In your favour: Yes. Every upload, review, export and download is logged, without storing the private text itself |
| Automatic detection | Partly: Varies. Most mark by hand; iLovePDF offers basic detection | In your favour: 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: Not among the options these tools list | In your favour: 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 | Partly: Varies. PDF24 converts redacted pages to images; Sejda's Whiteout leaves text underneath | In your favour: Nothing from the original file is carried over. Exports carry fixed, neutral metadata |
| Output | Partly: Varies by tool | In your favour: A new PDF rebuilt from page images. Not searchable, nothing left to copy |
| Best for | Quick redactions of documents you don't mind uploading | Firms and individuals with documents that shouldn't leave their own machines or network |
| Pricing | Usually free with limits | Teams: book a call to talk through a pilot. Personal app: join the waitlist |
- Where it runs
- Typical online tool: The provider's servers, through your browser
- Ombly: On your own computer (personal app coming soon) or on your company's own servers
- Is the original uploaded?
- Not in your favour: Typical online tool: Usually yes. Smallpdf, PDF24 and iLovePDF say they delete files within one to two hours; Sejda within two hours
- 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: Typical online tool: No. They run on the provider's servers
- 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: Typical online tool: Not stated by the tools we checked
- In your favour: Ombly: Yes. Every upload, review, export and download is logged, without storing the private text itself
- Automatic detection
- Partly: Typical online tool: Varies. Most mark by hand; iLovePDF offers basic detection
- 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: Typical online tool: Not among the options these tools list
- 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
- Partly: Typical online tool: Varies. PDF24 converts redacted pages to images; Sejda's Whiteout leaves text underneath
- In your favour: Ombly: Nothing from the original file is carried over. Exports carry fixed, neutral metadata
- Output
- Partly: Typical online tool: Varies by tool
- In your favour: Ombly: A new PDF rebuilt from page images. Not searchable, nothing left to copy
- Best for
- Typical online tool: Quick redactions of documents you don't mind uploading
- Ombly: Firms and individuals with documents that shouldn't leave their own machines or network
- Pricing
- Typical online tool: Usually free with limits
- Ombly: Teams: book a call to talk through a pilot. Personal app: join the waitlist
When online tools are the better choice
- You're on a shared or locked-down computer where you can't install anything.
- The document isn't sensitive, and speed matters most.
- You need a one-off redaction and won't do it again.
When Ombly is the better choice
- The document holds ID numbers, account details or client information.
- Your work requires that documents stay on your device or network.
- You want an export where nothing from the original survives, every time.
Questions
Are online redaction tools safe?
Many delete files within one to two hours and use encrypted connections. The trade-off is that the unredacted original still has to be uploaded, and you rely on the provider's word about deletion.
How can I check a redacted PDF?
Open it, select all, copy and paste into a plain text note. If you can read anything you meant to hide, so can the recipient.
Is there an Ombly tool that works in the browser?
We're exploring an in-browser version that runs entirely on your device without uploading. Join the waitlist to hear when it's ready.
Last checked 18 October 2026
Facts about these tools 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.