How to extract text from a PDF
- Add one or more PDF files.
- Choose page markers and, if needed, turn on OCR with the right language.
- Click Extract text and download the .txt file.
Copying text out of a PDF page by page is slow and often breaks the formatting. This tool pulls all the text out of the document in one go, in reading order, into a .txt file. It is handy for reusing a report in another document, searching a long legal text for a reference, or feeding data into a spreadsheet.
“Mark where each page starts” adds a “--- Page N ---” line so you can tell where each passage came from. If your PDF is a scan (a photographed invoice, an old letter, a stamped certificate), tick “Read scanned pages too (OCR)” and the text is recognized from the image. Pick the document's language — English, French, Arabic or a mix — for better recognition.
OCR takes longer, especially on long documents, and its accuracy depends on how sharp the scan is, so check important figures. Pages that already contain text are not run through OCR again. Files are deleted after 30 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free?
Yes, text extraction is free with no sign-up, OCR included.
Can I extract text from a scanned PDF?
Yes, tick the OCR option. Text is recognized from the image of each page; accuracy depends on scan quality.
Is Arabic supported?
Yes, OCR reads Arabic on its own or combined with French or English.
Is formatting kept?
No, a .txt file only holds plain text. To keep the layout, use PDF to Word instead.
Why is OCR slower?
Each scanned page has to be analyzed as a picture, which takes much more work than simply reading the text.