PDF to Text
Extract text from PDFs using AI OCR — scanned documents, image-based PDFs, and digital files. Export to TXT, DOCX, HTML, or Markdown.
Overview
PDF to Text extracts text from any PDF using AI-powered OCR. Unlike PDF Translate — which translates text while preserving layout — PDF to Text focuses on getting editable text out of PDFs, especially scanned or image-heavy documents where text cannot be selected.
Supported PDF types
- Digital PDFs — native text layers, extraction is fast and accurate
- Scanned / image-based PDFs — pages are images; AI OCR recognizes text from the visuals
- Mixed content — documents with both digital text and embedded images
Maximum file size: 50 MB.
How to extract text from a PDF
- Go to the PDF to Text page.
- Upload a PDF — drag and drop, or click to browse.
- Optionally pick a target language if you plan to translate after extraction.
- Click PDF to Text — the AI OCR pipeline starts.
- Wait for processing — the OCR workbench opens automatically with live progress.
- Review and edit the extracted text in the workbench editor.
- Export to your preferred format.
Output formats
| Format | Best for |
|---|---|
| TXT | Plain text, copy-paste, simple editing |
| DOCX | Microsoft Word, formatted documents |
| HTML | Web publishing, rich text |
| Markdown | Documentation, note-taking apps, code-friendly |
Language support
AI OCR detects the document language automatically. Supported languages include English, Chinese, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Greek, Italian, and more. After extraction, the built-in translation engine can translate the text into any of these languages directly in the workbench.
Pricing and credits
New users receive free trial credits to test PDF to Text. Each page consumes credits based on the current pricing configuration. Premium options include higher resolution processing and priority speed for larger documents.
See the Pricing page for current credit packs and subscription plans.
Tips for best results
- Use clear, high-resolution scans — 150 DPI or higher works best
- Ensure text is legible and well-lit in the source document
- For mixed-language documents, the AI auto-detects the dominant language
- If an export format is missing a specific feature, try exporting to HTML for maximum fidelity
Related features
- Image to Text — extract text from photos, screenshots, and single images
- OCR Workbench — fine-tune OCR results, translate, and export
- PDF Translate — translate entire PDFs with layout preservation