Ombly vs PDF24
PDF24 is free, ad-supported and genuinely removes what you black out, because redacted pages become images when saved. You draw every mark by hand, and the online tool runs on PDF24's servers, while Ombly suggests what to hide and works on your own 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 PDF24 is ahead
- You want a free tool and don't mind marking each area yourself.
- You only need to hide a few obvious spots in a short document.
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 PDF24
Each page is blacked out by hand, either on PDF24's servers in Germany or in its Windows toolbox on each person's computer. There's no automatic detection to speed up 200 pages.
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 PDF24
With PDF24, you'd upload the statement and black out each number by hand with a pen or shape. The pages you mark become images when you save, and PDF24 says files are deleted after an hour.
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 | PDF24 | Ombly |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Web browser, on servers in Germany. PDF24's help forum says its Windows desktop toolbox includes "blacken" | On your own computer (personal app coming soon) or on your company's own servers |
| Is the original uploaded? | Not in your favour: Yes, for the online tool. Files are deleted from PDF24's server after one hour | In your favour: No. The original stays on your device or inside your network |
| Runs on your company's own infrastructure | Partly: No for the web tool. PDF24's Windows toolbox runs on each computer | 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 | In your favour: Yes. Every upload, review, export and download is logged, without storing the private text itself |
| Automatic detection | Not in your favour: No. You black out content with a pen or shapes | 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: No automatic detection | 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: Pages you redact become images when saved, so hidden content on them is removed. Other pages aren't described | In your favour: Nothing from the original file is carried over. Exports carry fixed, neutral metadata |
| Output | Partly: A PDF where redacted pages are images | In your favour: A new PDF rebuilt from page images. Not searchable, nothing left to copy |
| Best for | Free, manual blackening of a few areas | Firms and individuals with documents that shouldn't leave their own machines or network |
| Pricing | Free, supported by advertising | Teams: book a call to talk through a pilot. Personal app: join the waitlist |
- Where it runs
- PDF24: Web browser, on servers in Germany. PDF24's help forum says its Windows desktop toolbox includes "blacken"
- Ombly: On your own computer (personal app coming soon) or on your company's own servers
- Is the original uploaded?
- Not in your favour: PDF24: Yes, for the online tool. Files are deleted from PDF24's server after one hour
- In your favour: Ombly: No. The original stays on your device or inside your network
- Runs on your company's own infrastructure
- Partly: PDF24: No for the web tool. PDF24's Windows toolbox runs on each computer
- 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: PDF24: Not stated
- In your favour: Ombly: Yes. Every upload, review, export and download is logged, without storing the private text itself
- Automatic detection
- Not in your favour: PDF24: No. You black out content with a pen or shapes
- 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: PDF24: No automatic detection
- 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: PDF24: Pages you redact become images when saved, so hidden content on them is removed. Other pages aren't described
- In your favour: Ombly: Nothing from the original file is carried over. Exports carry fixed, neutral metadata
- Output
- Partly: PDF24: A PDF where redacted pages are images
- In your favour: Ombly: A new PDF rebuilt from page images. Not searchable, nothing left to copy
- Best for
- PDF24: Free, manual blackening of a few areas
- Ombly: Firms and individuals with documents that shouldn't leave their own machines or network
- Pricing
- PDF24: Free, supported by advertising
- Ombly: Teams: book a call to talk through a pilot. Personal app: join the waitlist
When PDF24 is the better choice
- You want a free tool and don't mind marking each area yourself.
- You only need to hide a few obvious spots in a short document.
- You're on Windows and prefer PDF24's desktop toolbox.
When Ombly is the better choice
- Your documents are long, and you want ID and account numbers found for you.
- You'd rather the original didn't go to any server.
- You want every page rebuilt, not only the pages you marked.
Questions
Is PDF24's redaction permanent?
PDF24 says redacted pages are converted into images when the document is saved, so hidden content on those pages can't be restored.
How long does PDF24 keep files?
PDF24 says files are deleted from its server after one hour, and that its servers are in Germany.
Does Ombly also turn pages into images?
Yes, every page. Ombly rebuilds the whole document from page images, so nothing from the original file is carried over.
Last checked 18 October 2026
Facts about PDF24 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.