Instead of Excise
Excise alternatives
Excise is a free, open-source PDF editor for Windows, macOS, and Linux, with an API and command-line workflows. Its redaction removes text, images, and vector graphics from PDF content rather than hiding them under a black box; it also scrubs metadata and hidden document material by default. Search, annotations, page organization, Bates numbering, AcroForm filling and creation, encryption, and redaction audits support everyday PDF work. Its libraries and viewer control may also matter to developers building PDF features into other software.
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WPS PDF Editor
by WPS PDF EditorFree plan AndroidExtensioniPhone+4Cross-device editing with a free plan and trial — WPS adds text editing, PDF conversion, and Android, iOS, web, and extension access, which Excise lacks.
Free plan · paid from $5.83/mo (annual) · 3-day trial Visit site - 2
ONLYOFFICE PDF Editor
by ONLYOFFICE PDF EditorFree plan AndroidAPIiPhone+5PDF editing across web, mobile, and self-hosted platforms — ONLYOFFICE adds text editing and conversion plus web, mobile, and self-hosted platforms, while Excise focuses on content-removing redaction.
Free plan · paid from $20/mo Visit site - 3
Smallpdf
by SmallpdfFree plan AndroidiPhoneWeb+1Web and mobile PDF editing with a trial — Smallpdf adds text editing and conversion with web and mobile access, while Excise offers Linux support and redaction audits.
Free plan · paid from $7/user/mo (annual) · 7-day trial Visit site - 4
PDFgear
by PDFgearFree plan AndroidExtensioniPhone+3Free PDF editing and conversion across devices — PDFgear adds text editing and conversion with web and mobile platforms, while Excise offers redaction audits and command-line workflows.
Free plan Visit site - 5
Zoho PDF Editor
Free plan LinuxMacWeb+1Online editing, page management, and signature collection — Zoho adds text and image overlays, QR codes, barcodes, fillable and signature fields, and collaboration; Excise emphasizes content-removing redaction.
Free plan Visit site - 6
PDF Candy
by PDF CandyFree plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+3PDF conversion and file management across platforms — PDF Candy offers a broad toolkit for converting, merging, splitting, compressing, signing, and protecting PDFs, unlike Excise's focused editor and redaction audits.
Free plan · paid from $6/mo Visit site - 7
DocHub
by DocHubFree plan AndroidiPhoneWebWeb and mobile PDF editing with a 30-day trial — DocHub adds text editing and conversion on web and mobile, while Excise runs on desktop Linux, macOS, and Windows and includes CLI redaction audits.
Free plan · 30-day trial Visit site - 8
BleachPDF
Free plan Open source LinuxMacSelf-hosted - 9
GroupDocs.Redaction
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+5 - 10
LocalRedact
Free plan APILinuxMac+2 - 11
GoCalma
Free plan Self-hostedWeb - 12
Philter
Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1 - 13
Redact PDF AI
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+3 - 14
Open Redact
Free plan Web - 15
PDFRedaction
Free plan Web - 16
PineThink Redact
Free plan MacWindows - 17
RedactLaw
Free plan APISelf-hostedWeb - 18
Redactable
Free plan APIWeb - 19
RedactFile
Free plan APIWeb - 20
pdf-redactor
Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted - 21
Redacta
Free plan Web - 22
AnteRedact
Free trial APISelf-hostedWeb+1 - 23
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SecureRedact (RedactPDF.dev)
Free plan Web - 25
Appligent Redax
Free trial Windows - 26
PII Tools
Free trial APILinuxMac+3 - 27
PrivacyScrubber
Free plan Web - 28
CaseGuard
Paid Self-hostedWindows - 29
VIDIZMO Redactor
Free trial APISelf-hostedWeb - 30
Document Redactor
Paid Self-hostedWeb - 31
PDF Dancer Redaction SDK
Paid APISelf-hosted
A switch may make sense if you need text editing or PDF conversion, which Excise does not provide, or want Android, iOS, or web access. Its XFA support is experimental, and signature inspection does not check revocation or evaluate timestamp and long-term validation material. Excise also sets limits around prepress, color-managed print work, JavaScript workflows, and portfolio workflows. Compare alternatives on editing and conversion, the devices you use, form and signature needs, and the redaction approach. Pricing ranges from free options to paid plans, so weigh those costs against the tools you would gain.