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PDF to Text

Extract all text from a PDF.

No upload

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About PDF to Text

PDF to Text pulls the text layer out of a PDF and shows it in an editable box you can copy or download as a .txt file. It reads the actual characters stored in the file, so results are exact for digitally created PDFs such as invoices, statements and circulars. Extraction happens in your browser, which means the document is never uploaded.

How to use PDF to Text

  1. Choose a PDF that was created digitally rather than scanned.
  2. Leave Preserve column spacing ticked to keep tables aligned, or untick it for flowing text.
  3. Click Extract text and read the result in the box below.
  4. Edit anything you need, then copy it or download it as a .txt file.

What people use it for

  • Copying transaction rows out of a bank statement to paste into a spreadsheet.
  • Pulling clauses out of a rent agreement or tender document to quote in a reply.
  • Getting the text of a long government circular so it can be searched or translated.
  • Extracting question text from a downloaded paper to reformat it for practice.

Good to know

This works only on text-based PDFs. A scanned page is a picture with no text layer, so nothing will come out; convert those pages with PDF to JPG and use the OCR tool instead. Page breaks are marked in the output, and dense multi-column layouts usually need a little tidying after extraction.

Frequently asked questions

I got no text at all. What went wrong?
Your PDF is almost certainly a scan, which stores each page as an image with no text layer. Convert it with PDF to JPG and run the images through the Image to Text OCR tool.
What does Preserve column spacing do?
It inserts spaces that mirror where words sit on the page, so tables and columns stay visually aligned. Untick it when you want plain flowing sentences without the extra gaps.
Is the extracted text accurate?
For digital PDFs it is character for character accurate, because the text is read from the file rather than recognised from an image. Only the layout may need adjusting.
Does the PDF get uploaded to be read?
No. The text layer is read inside your browser and stays there, which is why the tool is safe for salary slips, legal drafts and anything else confidential.