MAT2
MAT2 (Metadata Anonymisation Toolkit 2) removes embedded metadata from images, PDFs, audio files, office documents, and more. It runs as a CLI tool or as a file-manager extension for Nautilus and Dolphin on Linux.
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Adobe Acrobat
Metadata Removal & Data Redaction Tools in 2026
Private alternatives to Adobe Acrobat, vetted against our public criteria.
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ExifTool
ExifTool is a long-standing Perl library and command-line tool for reading, writing, and erasing metadata across an exceptionally wide range of file formats, including JPEG, RAW camera formats, PDF, video, audio, and Office documents.
ExifCleaner
Removes metadata for the most popular image and video formats. It also supports PDF files and comes with batch-processing to process multiple files at once. Drag and Drop…
Metapho
Strips out metadata or remove location data only. Share without metadata just before sharing.
No matches for those filters.
Every photo you take and most documents you create carry hidden metadata: GPS coordinates, device model, timestamps, and author names. These tools strip that information out before you share a file, so you are not leaking more than you mean to.
What to look for in a redaction tool
Good metadata tools handle a wide range of formats, remove rather than just hide the data, and let you check what was there first. Batch processing helps if you share lots of files, and a clean way to confirm the output is empty gives you confidence nothing slipped through.
Why hidden metadata matters
A single photo can reveal where you live, what phone you use, and exactly when a picture was taken. Social platforms strip some of this, but not reliably and not everywhere, and documents are worse. Removing it yourself before sharing is the only way to be sure.
How to use them
Run files through a metadata remover as the last step before posting or sending. For photos headed to people you do not fully trust, strip first. For documents, clear author and revision data, which can expose names and edits you forgot were there.
Frequently asked
- Does my phone or social network already remove this?
- Partially and inconsistently. Some apps strip location from photos, many do not, and documents are rarely touched. Removing metadata yourself is the only reliable way to know it is gone.
- What is EXIF data?
- EXIF is the block of metadata cameras and phones embed in photos: GPS location, device model, settings, and timestamps. It is useful for organising your own library but leaks personal details when you share the file.