DocMask vs Online PDF Tools 在线 PDF 工具
"Files deleted in 2 hours" still means your file left the device "2 小时后自动删除"并不等于文件没离开你的设备
iLovePDF / Smallpdf / PDFGear are solid tools — ISO 27001, GDPR-compliant, with clear retention windows (1–2 hours). They do 90% of the work for 90% of users. But they all upload your file to a cloud server. Even iLovePDF themselves recommend: "For highly regulated or sensitive documents, use our Desktop App to process files locally."
DocMask is the engineering implementation of that recommendation: sidecar has zero outbound HTTP client code — your file architecturally cannot leave your device. $39 one-time.
iLovePDF / Smallpdf / PDFGear 都是靠谱工具 — 通过 ISO 27001、GDPR 合规，文件留存窗口清晰（1–2 小时）。它们满足 90% 用户 90% 的需求。但它们都需要把文件上传到云端。iLovePDF 自己都推荐："高度敏感的文档，请用我们的 Desktop App 在本地处理。"
DocMask 是这条建议的工程实现：sidecar 进程源码层 0 个 outbound HTTP 客户端代码 — 文件在架构层面无法离开你的设备。$39 一次买断。
At a glance
对照表
| Dimension维度 | iLovePDF | Smallpdf | PDFGear | DocMask |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File leaves device?文件离开本机？ | Yes是 | Yes是 | Yes是 | Never永不 |
| Retention (free)留存时间（免费） | 2 hours2 小时 | 1 hour1 小时 | After completion完成后删除 | N/A — never uploadedN/A — 从不上传 |
| Uses content for AI training?用于 AI 训练？ | No (explicit)否（显式声明） | No (explicit)否（显式声明） | Delegates to OpenAI委托给 OpenAI | N/A — never uploadedN/A — 从不上传 |
| Reversible redaction?可逆脱敏？ | No | No | No | Yes是 |
| AI collaboration workflowAI 协作工作流 | None无 | None无 | ChatGPT via OpenAIChatGPT（经 OpenAI） | Core feature — redact → AI → restore核心功能 — 脱敏→AI→还原 |
| Certifications认证 | GDPR · ISO 27001 | GDPR · CCPA · ISO 27001 | No public cert无公开认证 | N/A — no data collectedN/A — 不收集数据 |
| Price价格 | Free (limits) + $4-7/mo免费（有限） + $4-7/月 | Free (limits) + $9/mo免费（有限） + $9/月 | Freemium免费增值 | $39 one-time一次买断 |
What online tools do well — we don't deny it
在线工具真做得好的事 — 我们不否认
1. Perfect zero-friction experience
1. 完美的零摩擦体验
Drag-and-drop, zero install, zero sign-up (for basic features), zero learning curve. For non-sensitive PDFs, these tools are the right choice. DocMask doesn't try to replace them.
拖拽即用、零安装、零注册（基础功能）、零学习成本。对非敏感的 PDF，这些工具是正确选择。DocMask 不试图替代它们。
2. High-quality public commitments
2. 公开承诺质量高
iLovePDF / Smallpdf / PDFGear all have dedicated privacy policies with specific retention windows, explicit "no AI training" statements, and (for iLovePDF/Smallpdf) ISO 27001 certifications. These aren't empty promises — they're better than most online tools.
iLovePDF / Smallpdf / PDFGear 都有专属隐私政策，包含具体的留存窗口、明确的"不用于 AI 训练"声明，以及（iLovePDF/Smallpdf）ISO 27001 认证。这些不是空话 — 它们比大多数同类工具更好。
But "promised auto-delete" ≠ "file never left"
但"承诺自动删除" ≠ "文件没离开过"
iLovePDF's own recommendation: "For highly regulated or sensitive documents, the company recommends using their Desktop App to process files locally without uploading to the cloud." — iLovePDF Security page
iLovePDF 自己的建议："对于高度监管或敏感的文档，公司建议使用其桌面应用在本地处理文件，无需上传到云端。" — iLovePDF 安全页面
No matter how good the retention promise is, the file has already left your device. This means:
无论留存承诺多好，文件已经离开了你的设备。这意味着：
- You must trust the vendor's internal processes (and their sub-processors)
- 你必须信任 vendor 的内部流程（以及其子处理商）
- Backups may retain copies beyond the stated window
- 备份系统可能在声明窗口之外保留副本
- Cross-border data transfer may trigger compliance requirements (GDPR/PIPL/HIPAA)
- 跨境数据传输可能触发合规要求（GDPR/PIPL/HIPAA）
- PDFGear's AI path extends trust to OpenAI + Azure as sub-processors
- PDFGear 的 AI 路径将信任链延伸到 OpenAI + Azure 作为子处理商
DocMask doesn't need any of these compliance documents — because the file never left your device.
DocMask 不需要这些合规文件 — 因为文件根本没离开过你的设备。
What DocMask does that online tools don't
DocMask 有而在线工具没有的能力
1. Zero outbound HTTP (in redaction)
1. 零 outbound HTTP（脱敏场景）
Any online tool must upload your file to a server. DocMask's sidecar has zero outbound HTTP client code — an engineering constraint, not a promise. Full audit: docmask.app/audit.
任何在线工具都必须上传文件到服务器。DocMask 的 sidecar 零 outbound HTTP 客户端代码 — 这是工程约束，不是承诺。完整审计：docmask.app/audit。
2. Reversible aliases — the workflow online tools don't address
2. 可逆别名 — 在线工具完全不解决的场景
All online tools perform permanent one-way deletion. DocMask's encrypted mapping table enables the redact → feed AI → restore answer round-trip. This is the core AI collaboration workflow that no online tool solves.
所有在线工具都执行单向永久删除。DocMask 的加密映射表支持脱敏 → 喂 AI → 还原回答的完整往返。这是在线工具完全不解决的核心 AI 协作工作流。
3. Pricing — one-time vs subscription vs limited free
3. 价格 — 买断 vs 订阅 vs 有限免费
| iLovePDF | Smallpdf | PDFGear | DocMask | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier免费档 | Daily limits日上限 | Daily limits日上限 | Freemium免费增值 | 14-day full trial14 天全功能试用 |
| Paid付费 | $4–7/mo | $9/mo | ~$0–50~$0–50 | $39 once一次 |
| 5-year cost (paid)5 年累计（付费） | $240–420 | $540 | ~$0–50 | $39 |
Decision tree — which tool is right for you
决策树 — 哪个工具适合你
Non-sensitive PDF (public reports, marketing materials)? → iLovePDF / Smallpdf / PDFGear — all have dedicated privacy policies
非敏感 PDF（公开报告、营销资料）？→ iLovePDF / Smallpdf / PDFGear — 三家都有隐私政策
PII / trade secrets / internal financials? → DocMask — engineering-level guarantee, not vendor promise
含 PII / 商业机密 / 内部财务？→ DocMask — 工程层面保证，不是承诺
Need "redact → AI → map answer back"? → DocMask — online tools don't solve this
需要"脱敏 → AI → 还原回答"？→ DocMask — 在线工具不解决这个场景
Compliance team forbids cross-border transfer? → DocMask
合规团队禁止跨境数据传输？→ DocMask
Already paying for iLovePDF/Smallpdf Pro? → Keep it, add DocMask for PII scenarios ($39 marginal cost)
已付费 iLovePDF/Smallpdf Pro？→ 继续用，加装 DocMask 处理 PII 场景（$39 边际成本）
When NOT to use DocMask — honest section
何时不该用 DocMask — 诚实段落
- Occasional non-sensitive PDF. Online tools' zero-friction wins. Installing a desktop app for a single non-sensitive file is cost-mismatched.
- 偶尔处理非敏感 PDF。在线工具的零摩擦优势更大。为一个不敏感文件装桌面 app 成本不对等。
- PDF merge / split / compress / convert to Word. DocMask doesn't do these — use iLovePDF / Smallpdf.
- PDF 合并 / 分割 / 压缩 / 转 Word。DocMask 不做这些 — 请用 iLovePDF / Smallpdf。
- OCR. DocMask v0.7.x doesn't have built-in OCR (on roadmap).
- OCR。DocMask v0.7.x 不内置 OCR（在路线图中）。
- PDF signatures / forms / annotations. Use dedicated tools.
- PDF 签章 / 表单 / 注释。请用专门工具。
- macOS-only. DocMask is Windows-first. Join the Mac/Linux waitlist.
- 仅 macOS 环境。DocMask 目前 Windows 优先。加入 Mac/Linux 候补。
Sources cited
引用来源
- Smallpdf Trust Center (smallpdf.com) — ISO 27001 / GDPR / CCPA
- iLovePDF Privacy Policy (ilovepdf.com)
- iLovePDF Security & Data Protection (ilovepdf.com) — 2-hour retention + desktop recommendation
- iLovePDF — PDF compliance & GDPR (ilovepdf.com blog)
- iLovePDF — Are my files safe (ilovepdf.com blog)
- Smallpdf — How To Protect Sensitive Legal PDFs (smallpdf.com blog)
- iLovePDF Terms of Service (ilovepdf.com)
- PDFGear Privacy Policy (pdfgear.com) — retention + AI delegation to OpenAI/Azure
- PDFGear Terms & Conditions (pdfgear.com) — commercial use restrictions
- Third-party review: Is Smallpdf Safe (gethonestpdf.com)
- Third-party review: Smallpdf privacy (raptorpdf.com)
- DocMask — audit page + 35-claim proof sheet
- DocMask — White paper Chapter 1 (Local-first architecture)
Note: All vendor references are from official public documentation (as of 2026-05). Reviewers can independently verify. Broken link? [email protected].
说明：所有 vendor 引用均为官方公开文档（截至 2026-05）。reviewer 可独立验证。链接失效？[email protected]。