InkOut PDF: Frequently Asked Questions

InkOut PDF permanently removes text from PDFs in your browser: you draw boxes, export, and InkOut rebuilds each redacted page as an image and checks the new file for the text you covered. Files up to 5 pages are free and your PDF isn't uploaded. Below are answers to the questions people ask most, grouped by topic, with links to the full policies.

FreeNever uploadedOutput checked

How redaction works

Why isn't a black box enough?

A black box drawn in most PDF editors is a shape on top of the text. The text is still in the file, so anyone can select and copy it. Real redaction removes it.

What does InkOut do to the pages I redact?

It draws your boxes onto an image of the page, then puts that image into a brand-new PDF in place of the page. Nothing from the original page's text survives on that page. Pages you didn't redact are copied as they were.

How do I know it worked?

After export, InkOut re-opens the new file and runs six checks, including a search of the whole file for the text you covered. If any check fails, you see "Review needed" and can't download the file. The verification guide explains each check and how to check the file yourself.

Can I undo a redaction?

Not in the exported file. That's the point: the covered content is gone. Your original file isn't changed, so you can always open it again and redact it differently.

Why can't I select any text on a redacted page?

The whole page becomes an image, so text you didn't cover on that page isn't selectable any more either. Links, form fields and comments on that page are removed too.

Your files and privacy

Is my PDF uploaded?

No. InkOut reads, redacts and checks your PDF in your browser. No file, page image or extracted text is sent to InkOut's servers. This applies to the redaction checker too.

What does InkOut collect?

InkOut counts page visits with Cloudflare Web Analytics, which according to Cloudflare doesn't use cookies. If you buy Pro or sign in, your email address is used for sign-in links, purchase emails and support. The privacy policy lists everything.

Does the exported file still contain my name or other metadata?

No. The exported file's title, author, subject, keywords, creator and producer are empty, and its dates are set to January 1, 1970. Bookmarks, comments and form fields aren't carried over.

Does InkOut work offline?

No. Stay connected to the internet while you use it.

Using InkOut

Which files can I redact?

PDF files. The free version takes one file at a time with up to 5 pages. The file types and limits page covers scans, passwords and file size.

Can I redact a scanned document?

Yes, by drawing boxes over the areas you want removed. Word search doesn't work on scans because InkOut has no OCR.

My PDF won't open. What should I do?

If you see "Couldn't open this PDF. Is it password-protected?", the file needs a password to open. Remove it first with PDFWrangle's Unlock PDF, a free tool from the same team, using the password you already know. Then redact the unlocked copy.

Can I check a PDF someone else redacted?

Yes. The free redaction checker looks for text left under dark boxes, with no page limit. A clean result isn't proof of complete redaction: it can't see text baked into images, attachments, form fields or other hidden layers.

Is InkOut legal advice?

No. You decide what must be redacted and whether the result meets any court, legal or regulatory rule that applies to you.

Pro, billing and refunds

What does Pro add?

Unlimited pages per file, redacting every match of a word or number in one click, and several files at once. Searching for words is free; redacting all matches at once is Pro.

How much is Pro?

$4.99 for a 24-hour pass (one-time, doesn't renew), $7.99 a month, or $59.99 a year. Prices are in US dollars and include any applicable tax. See the pricing page.

On how many devices can I use Pro?

A 24-hour pass can be active on up to 2 devices at once. Pro Monthly and Pro Yearly can be active on up to 3.

When does the 24-hour pass start?

When you first activate it on a device, as recorded by InkOut, not when you buy it.

How do I cancel a subscription?

In the Creem customer portal (linked in your receipt email), or by emailing support@inkoutpdf.com. Pro stays active until the end of the period you've paid for, and you won't be charged again.

Can I get a refund?

If Pro didn't work and InkOut couldn't fix it in reasonable time, you get a full refund when you ask within 14 days of your first purchase. Duplicate, mistaken or unauthorized charges are refunded whenever you report them. Renewals and unused time aren't refunded except in the cases the refund policy lists, or where the law requires it. The free version uses the same redaction and the same automatic check as Pro, so you can test InkOut on your own files first.

Who processes the payment?

Creem, InkOut's Merchant of Record. The charge appears on your statement under Creem's name, not InkOut.

Sources (checked 2026-10-21)