Edit PDF (add text / white-out)
One thing up front: this tool stacks new things onto a PDF page — typed text and white-out blocks — it does not rewrite the text already baked into the PDF (that’s a limitation of the format itself; PDFs aren’t built to be re-edited). compress cat renders the page locally, you click to drop in text and drag to draw white-out boxes, then flatten and export, with nothing uploaded. It’s the right tool for filling a form, jotting a note, or covering a small block. Note: a white-out box only hides things visually — it doesn’t delete them. To truly erase sensitive text so it can’t be read even under the box, use our True Redact tool.
One thing up front: this tool stacks new things onto a PDF page — typed text and white-out blocks — it does not rewrite the text already baked into the PDF (that’s a limitation of the format itself; PDFs aren’t built to be re-edited).
How to edit pdf
- 1Select a PDF file.
- 2Pick “Add text” and click the page to type, or pick “White-out” and drag a box to cover something.
- 3Use Prev / Next to move between pages and add marks.
- 4Click “Apply & download” to export the edited PDF.
Why use compress cat's Edit PDF?
- Add text and white-out cover most everyday needs: filling a blank on a form, leaving a note, covering a small unwanted block.
- What you see is what you get — place and drag on a live preview, so you know exactly where a box lands instead of finding out after export.
- Sensitive files are handled on your own machine, no server in the middle — but for real removal, reach for True Redact, not white-out.
Frequently asked questions
No. This tool layers new text and white-out on top; it can’t touch the PDF’s original text, because PDFs simply aren’t built to be re-edited. To change the actual words, you need a dedicated PDF editor.
No. A white-out box is an opaque shape drawn over the page — it looks covered, but the underlying text very likely still lives in the file and can be copied or pulled back out. To actually remove the underlying data so it can’t be copied, use compress cat’s True Redact tool, which rasterizes the redacted pages and physically deletes the text beneath.
No. Rendering the page and flattening your changes both happen inside your browser; the file never leaves your device.
Turn it into an automated flow
Need to batch-process, or chain several steps? Use the workflow builder to combine compress, merge, rotate and watermark into a reusable pipeline.
Updated · compress cat team
Sources, review and limits
Last verified
2026-06-17
Author
PDFFlow editorial desk
Reviewer
PDF processing review
Primary sources
- PDF.js, pdf-lib style local PDF processing where used
- Browser file and download APIs
- User-provided PDF files processed locally unless a page explicitly states otherwise
PDF tools are productivity helpers, not legal, compliance or records-retention advice. Review exported documents before signing, filing or sharing.