VERIFIED COMPARISON — OCTOBER 2026

Editoc vs iLovePDF vs Sejda vs Adobe Acrobat: who actually does what?

Most PDF editor comparisons look the same: a list of tools, checkmarks everywhere, and the site publishing the comparison always wins. This one is different. On October 1, 2026 we verified, on each service's public pages, four specific capabilities that actually matter day to day: permanent redaction, signing on mobile, editing without uploading your file to a server, and the real limits of the free plans. And where a competitor beats Editoc, we say so.

Competitor facts verified on October 1, 2026 on the public pages cited at the bottom of this page.

Comparison table

Feature-by-feature analysis

Permanent redaction: advantage iLovePDF and Adobe — not Editoc

Let's be blunt: if you need to permanently remove sensitive information from a PDF (a bank account number, a social security number, a clause), Editoc has no dedicated redaction tool today, and drawing a black rectangle over text is not redaction.

Two services do this job properly. iLovePDF offers a "Redact" tool advertised as "permanently remove sensitive information from a PDF" (text and graphics). Adobe Acrobat is the reference here — removal of visible text, metadata and hidden data — but only in Acrobat Pro, which is paid: the free Reader does not include it.

Conversely, be careful with Sejda's "whiteout" for this use case: Sejda's own documentation states it "hides but will not completely remove underlying text or images" and is "not suitable for redacting sensitive data". That transparency is to their credit — and a limit you absolutely need to know before sending a document "redacted" that way.

Signing on mobile: everyone can, but not the same way

All four services let you sign from a phone, but the path differs. Adobe ships "Fill & Sign" for free in the Acrobat Reader app — excellent if installing an app doesn't bother you. iLovePDF also goes through its iOS/Android apps; its certified digital signature (qualified timestamp, eIDAS compliance) is however Premium-only. Sejda works in the mobile browser with no dedicated app. Editoc signs directly in the mobile browser, with no install and no account: the shortest path for an occasional simple signature. For a certificate-backed qualified signature, iLovePDF Premium or Adobe remain better equipped.

Editing without upload: Editoc's real differentiator

This is where the architectures diverge. iLovePDF and Adobe process your files on their servers: iLovePDF states all files are "automatically and permanently deleted within two hours", Adobe runs through its cloud. Sejda's web version does the same (deletion after 2 hours) and offers a Desktop app — paid yearly — to work offline.

Editoc made the opposite choice: for core operations (text, signatures, annotations, pages), the document is processed locally in the browser, with no systematic upload step. For a contract, a payslip or a medical file, that difference is not cosmetic: the file doesn't leave your device. In fairness: some operations depend on browser limits and on how the PDF was built, and whatever isn't local is not presented as local.

Free-plan limits: read the fine print

The four "free" tiers are not equal. Sejda is the most explicit: 3 tasks per hour, max 200 pages or 50 MB, a single file per task. iLovePDF caps per tool (for instance 25 files per merge, 1 split, 2 compressions, 15–200 MB depending on the tool) and keeps OCR and certified signing for Premium. Adobe offers trial online tools, but full text editing and redaction require an Acrobat subscription. Editoc keeps everyday operations free with no account; the Pro plan (€3.99/month) covers recurring use and heavy files — which also happens to be the lowest paid price in this comparison.

Honest verdict

• You need to redact sensitive data: iLovePDF (online) or Adobe Acrobat Pro (the most complete, paid). Not Editoc, not Sejda's whiteout.
• You occasionally sign from a phone: Editoc (zero install) or Adobe Reader (free app).
• Your document must not leave your device: Editoc in the browser, or Sejda Desktop if you prefer an installed app.
• You process large volumes with OCR and certified signatures: iLovePDF Premium or Adobe Acrobat Pro.
• You want a complete tool at the lowest price: Editoc Pro at €3.99/month.