8 Best Free PDF to Word Converters

Editing PDFs may seem difficult as this format has been created mainly for viewing. Because of this reason, converting PDF documents into Word format is quite a common need.

This article provides a list of 8 best PDF to Word converters. Both online and offline choices are included.

PDF to Word converters: comparison table

*The converting speed was tested by uploading the PDF file of 168 KB to each of the converters.

1. PDF Candy

PDF Candy is a universal web-based service for making changes to digital reports. Here you will find all the functionality you need to convert a PDF to a Word.

The online PDF to Word converter supports taking items from Google Drive and Dropbox. This feature allows you to skip using your device's internal memory and work exclusively online. Not consuming storage is especially important when utilizing mobile gadgets.

The toolkit has 90 individual PDF processing utilities. They include merging and splitting, deleting and sorting pages, adding a watermark and setting protection, and much more. You can even edit text in a PDF, add new content, etc.

In addition to the wide range of tools, the PDF converter has an intuitive interface. If you're a Windows user, there is also PDF Candy Desktop, a program that lets you turn PDF to Word offline.

Pros:

• Convert PDF to DOCX free of charge;
• High-speed processing;
• Batch conversion is available;
• The tool converts PDF to DOCX, modern extension of Microsoft Word;
• Ability to work on any device;
• User-friendly interface;
• Does not add watermarks to your files;
• Large library of how-to guides and other articles for novice customers;
• Additional tools to work with PDFs.

Ideal for:

• Journalists: Turn interviews and notes into editable Word straight from the cloud.
• NGO Staff: Prepare grant proposals and reports online without filling local storage.
• Freelance Designers: Add watermarks, split drafts, or tweak client files with its broad toolkit.

2. Adobe Acrobat online

Even though Adobe Acrobat is primarily known for its desktop software, it also offers an online service. On the website, you can transform PDF to DOCX.

The UI could take time to adjust for beginners. However, all tools are intuitive, so it’ll be a quick learning process.

Besides the converter, Adobe Online has many additional features. You can merge and split, delete and extract, crop and rotate pages in a PDF, and more. The web-based platform can be integrated with the desktop version of Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Pros:

• Large set of options for standard PDF editing;
• Works online, so one can convert PDF to Word anytime and anywhere;
• For inexperienced users, there is an active support community.

Cons:

• Only 2 free operations are possible without signing up.

Ideal for:

• Legal Assistants: Extract clauses or merge case papers.
• Government Clerks: Rely on Adobe’s compliance-friendly system for archiving.
• Technical Writers: Assemble structured manuals with precise tools.

3. Soda PDF

Soda PDF provides many instruments to work with digital files. Its wide functionality includes seamless PDF to Word conversion. Users can upload data directly from the PC or phone hard drive. Alternative import options are Google Drive or Dropbox storage.

The additional toolkit includes a PDF editor, converter, splitter, and resizer. You can even chat with PDF: the AI tool will analyze your document and ask you questions based on its content.

Pros:

• Clearly recognizes graphics, tables, and inserted objects in a PDF document;
• PDF to Word converter with minimalistic UI;
• Supports Dropbox and Google Drive.

Cons:

• One might experience occasional issues with file uploading.

Ideal for:

• Business Consultants: Rework charts, visuals, and tables from project deliverables.
• Recruiters: Adapt resumes into templates for client presentations.
• Healthcare Administrators: Manage forms and records via Google Drive or Dropbox.

4. Sejda

Sejda is a reliable program to convert a PDF to Word. The functionality extends beyond being able to transform PDF into various formats. You can also paginate and split a document, create bookmarks and extract images, insert a watermark, and set a password.

This program is also compatible with Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive, which allows downloading data by URL and saving disk space. Versions for both Windows and macOS are available. There is also an online platform.

Pros:

• High processing speed when converting PDF to Word;
• Fast work even on older PCs and mobile devices.

Cons:

• The free version has limitations of 3 tasks per day and can process only PDFs of up to 200 pages or 50 MB;
• Batch processing is only available with the paid version.

Ideal for:

• Academic Librarians: Add bookmarks or page numbers to scanned collections.
• Small Business Owners: Redact invoices and contracts with both online and offline flexibility.
• Researchers: Annotate lengthy reports and keep them organized for citations.

5. PDF2DOC

PDF2DOC is a simple but effective platform to convert PDF to Word and other formats. The website is translated into many languages, so people of various backgrounds can easily use it. The output file will have the extension .doc, making this tool the only one on the list to offer this option.

On top of the standard functions of a PDF to Word converter, the website is capable of compressing, cropping, merging PDFs, and more.

Pros:

• Straightforward and intuitive UI at the level of a novice user;
• Free way to convert PDF to Word;
• High speed.

Cons:

• A small set of additional tools;
• The maximum number of files for batch processing is 20;
• Distracting ads around the working area.

Ideal for:

• Teachers: Adjust assignments and worksheets with minimal effort.
• Community Volunteers: Access multilingual support when preparing forms for diverse audiences.
• Writing Students: Work with a simple, distraction-free interface.

6. Nitro PDF

Nitro PDF is a popular website for creating, editing, converting, and sharing PDF documents. It offers a range of features including the ability to convert PDFs to and from various formats such as XLSX, PPTX, and more. You can complete the PDF to DOCX conversion online or download the desktop app.

The PDF to Word conversion duration depends on the size, the presence of graphics in the PDF, and the Internet connection speed. You may want to compress a PDF to speed up your work as, based on our test, this converter takes the most time for processing.

Pros:

• Easy to use for all, even tech novices;
• Preserves original text, images, and formatting;
• Saves time by processing multiple files at once;
• Integrated OCR for working with scanned documents.

Cons:

• The free online version only allows materials of up to 25 MB;
• In the desktop app, PDF to Word conversion is only available for registered users.

Ideal for:

• Accountants: Transform statements into spreadsheets for detailed analysis.
• Archivists: Keep scanned drafts searchable with OCR functionality.
• Corporate Lawyers: Handle large cases while preserving original layout.

7. Clever PDF

Clever PDF is first-rate PDF conversion software for macOS for completing tasks with electronic documents. It offers a lot of tools: combining PDFs, adding a password, and more. The functionality also includes the PDF to Word converter.

The app provides an intuitive interface alongside the fastest conversion rate among the listed utilities. Moreover, there are tools to convert a PDF to be compatible with Apple-specific software: Keynote, Numbers, and Images.

Pros:

• Conversions are done in a matter of seconds;
• Enables to batch convert files, streamlining your workflow and saving precious time;
• Other tools are available: PDF locker, splitter, image extractor, etc.

Cons:

• The free option is limited to converting only 3 pages per file.

Ideal for:

• Apple Users (Designers, Publishers): Convert PDFs into Keynote or Numbers formats seamlessly.
• Marketing Managers: Batch-edit campaign briefs for fast revisions.
• Mac-Based Researchers: Process lengthy academic works quickly.

8. iLovePDF

iLovePDF is a versatile online platform for managing digital papers. Among its many tools, the PDF to Word converter stands out for its simplicity and reliable results.

Beyond this, the site offers a PDF compressor, merger, splitter, and watermarking options. You can upload files from your computer, mobile device, or pull documents straight from Google Drive or Dropbox.

Pros:

• Maintains text formatting, fonts, and layout with high accuracy;
• Simple interface that’s beginner-friendly;
• Integrates easily with Google Drive and Dropbox.

Cons:

• File size limits and ads apply for free users.

Ideal for:

• Entrepreneurs: Share polished proposals with consistent formatting.
• Event Coordinators: Combine itineraries, lists, and agreements into one.
• Students Abroad: Pull materials from Google Drive or Dropbox without device strain.

PDF vs Word: comparison table

Best PDF to Word converters: FAQ

Will the converted Word look exactly like the original PDF?

If your PDF started life as regular text, then yeah, it’s gonna be pretty close. But if it’s full of fancy tables, images, or it’s just a big scan, you’ll probably have to tidy things up. Seriously, some of those layouts are wild.

Can I edit the converted Word document?

Of course! That’s the whole reason people do this. Once it’s in Word, you can change whatever you want—fix typos, add a meme, whatever floats your boat.

Are there any limitations to the conversion process?

Some converters may struggle with highly formatted or encrypted PDFs. Additionally, scanned PDFs without text layers may require OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology to display the content accurately.

Is there a risk of data loss during conversion?

It’s rare, but hey, nothing’s perfect. Sometimes a font or picture goes missing in action. If it’s a big-deal document, make a copy first. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Conclusion

So, here’s the scoop—there are all sorts of websites and apps to help you convert tricky PDFs to Word. Some are super easy to use, others might take a minute to figure out, but honestly, they all get your files ready for editing in DOC without much hassle.

Just pick the one that feels right for you and gets your stuff done. Seriously, don’t stress it. Hit that button and you’re good to go! Happy editing!