Free PDF to Text Converter: Text PDFs and Scans (OCR)
Copy all the text out of a PDF as plain text, with OCR for scanned pages in English, Korean, Spanish, Japanese and more.
Pro
Everything you already do here stays free.
Working with lots of files?
Avalon Pro adds bigger batches (up to {pro} files), one-click ZIP download, saved presets and your own file names.
Bigger batches are part of Avalon Pro
The free version takes up to {free} files at once. Avalon Pro takes up to {pro} in one batch, still processed on your device.
Bigger batches are part of Avalon Pro
The free version takes up to {free:batch_mb} in one batch. Avalon Pro takes up to {pro:batch_mb} at once, still processed on your device.
More pages in one run are part of Avalon Pro
The free version reads up to {free:pages_per_run} pages in one run. Avalon Pro reads up to {pro:pages_per_run} pages in one run and up to {pro} files at once.
One-click ZIP download is part of Avalon Pro
Download all still saves every file for free, one by one. Avalon Pro puts all your results in a single ZIP file.
Saved presets are part of Avalon Pro
Save your settings under a name and load them again in one click, on this device.
Custom file names are part of Avalon Pro
Choose how your output files are named, for example {name}-{n} or {date}-{name}.
A logo in your QR code is part of Avalon Pro
Put your logo in the middle of the code. The error correction goes to the highest level so phones can still read it.
Bulk QR codes are part of Avalon Pro
Paste or upload a CSV list and get one QR code per row, named from a column, all in one ZIP file.
Batch watermarks are part of Avalon Pro
Add your name, website or logo to every image in the batch, with the position, size and opacity you choose.
Metadata removal is part of Avalon Pro
Strip location, camera and date details from every photo before you share it, and see exactly what was removed.
Saved scenarios are part of Avalon Pro
Save your numbers under a name, compare two scenarios side by side, and export them all as a CSV file.
MP3 tags are part of Avalon Pro
Write the title, artist, album, year and a cover image into every MP3 you extract, so music players show them properly.
Page numbers are part of Avalon Pro
Number every page when you save: choose the position, the format (1, Page 1, 1 / 12 or Page 1 of 12) and the first number. Everything else in this tool stays free.
A/B thumbnail variants are part of Avalon Pro
Design up to 3 versions of your thumbnail, see them side by side in a mock feed, and download them all in one ZIP file. Everything else in this tool stays free.
Saved designs are part of Avalon Pro
Save your layouts, fonts and colors under a name and reuse them for every video, on this device.
Working on several PDFs at once is part of Avalon Pro
The free version works on one PDF at a time. Avalon Pro takes up to {pro} PDFs in one go and saves them as one ZIP file.
Bulk barcodes from a list are part of Avalon Pro
Paste or upload a CSV list and get one barcode per row in a single ZIP file, or a printable label sheet PDF with a different barcode on every label. Single barcodes and full sheets of one barcode stay free.
Saved details and invoice numbering are part of Avalon Pro
Save your business details and clients, number invoices automatically, and export a CSV list of every invoice you issue, all stored on this device. Making and downloading invoices stays free.
Longer documents are part of Avalon Pro
The free version converts documents of up to {free:pages_per_file} pages. Avalon Pro converts up to {pro:pages_per_file} pages per file.
Converting several files at once is part of Avalon Pro
The free version converts one file at a time. Avalon Pro takes up to {pro} files in one go and saves them as one ZIP file.
Longer recordings and batches are part of Avalon Pro
The free version transcribes one file at a time, up to {free:audio_minutes} long. Avalon Pro takes recordings up to {pro:audio_minutes}, up to {pro} files in one go, and saves every transcript in one ZIP file.
Longer videos and batches are part of Avalon Pro
The free version burns subtitles into one video of up to {free:burn_minutes}, and SRT and VTT downloads stay free. Avalon Pro burns subtitles into videos up to {pro:burn_minutes} long, up to {pro} videos in one go, with saved subtitle styles.
Checking many domains at once is part of Avalon Pro
The free checker runs the same full check on one domain at a time. Avalon Pro checks up to {pro} domains in one go and exports every result as a CSV file.
Checking many metadata files at once is part of Avalon Pro
The free validator runs the same full check on one file at a time. Avalon Pro checks up to {pro} metadata files in one go and exports every certificate, expiry date and issue as a CSV file.
Memes from a caption list are part of Avalon Pro
Paste a list of captions and get one meme per line on this picture, up to {pro:rows} at a time, all in one ZIP file. Making and downloading single memes stays free.
Counting many documents at once is part of Avalon Pro
The free counter runs the same full count on one document at a time. Avalon Pro counts up to {pro} documents in one go, shows them in one table and exports every count as a CSV file.
Bigger PDFs are part of Avalon Pro
The free version opens PDFs up to {free:file_mb}. Avalon Pro opens PDFs up to {pro:file_mb}, still on your device.
Bigger files are part of Avalon Pro
The free version takes one file up to {free:batch_mb}. Avalon Pro takes up to {pro} files in one go, up to {pro:batch_mb} in total, and saves the results as one ZIP file.
Bigger files are part of Avalon Pro
The free version takes up to {free:batch_mb} at once. Avalon Pro takes up to {pro:batch_mb} at once, with exactly the same results.
Bigger files in High quality are part of Avalon Pro
Free High quality conversions take files up to {free:server_mb}. Avalon Pro takes files up to {pro:server_mb}, with the same quality. Standard conversion in your browser stays free for files up to {free:batch_mb}.
Saved signatures are part of Avalon Pro
Save up to {pro:saved} signatures, initials or stamps on this device and add them to any PDF in one tap. Drawing, typing and signing stay free.
One-tap sharing sizes are part of Avalon Pro
Pick Discord, Gmail or a website and the video is compressed to fit, with the right resolution set for you. Choosing your own size in MB stays free.
Bigger and longer videos are part of Avalon Pro
The free version compresses one video at a time, up to {free:file_mb} and {free:video_minutes} long. Avalon Pro takes videos up to {pro:file_mb} and {pro:video_minutes} long, up to {pro} at once, still on your device.
Longer texts are part of Avalon Pro
The free version voices up to {free:text_chars} at a time. Avalon Pro voices up to {pro:text_chars} in one go, with the same voices, and can save one audio file per paragraph.
One file per paragraph is part of Avalon Pro
Get a separate audio file for every paragraph, numbered in order and saved as one ZIP, ready to drop onto a video timeline. Making a single audio file stays free.
Drop shadows are part of Avalon Pro
Put a soft shadow under the cutout so the product sits on the background instead of floating. The cutout itself, the brushes and full-resolution downloads stay free.
Your own background picture is part of Avalon Pro
Place the cutout on any photo of yours, such as a room, a studio backdrop or a brand image. White, color and blurred backgrounds stay free.
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Pick at least one language for scanned pages.
Pick up to 3 languages at once. More languages make reading slower and less accurate.
This browser cannot run the text reader for scanned pages. Update your browser, or try Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari.
The text reader could not load. Check your connection and reload the page.
This PDF has scanned pages. Loading the text reader and language data (first time only)…
{count} file(s) skipped: only PDF files can be read here. To copy text from photos and screenshots, use the free Image to Text tool.
This batch is full ({max} PDF at most). Extract the text first, press Clear, then add the next.
{name} was not added: one batch can hold {mb} MB in total. Extract these first, press Clear, then add the rest.
Stopped after {max} PDF pages in one run. The text so far is below; split the PDF and run the rest separately.
This PDF is locked. Unlock it in your PDF reader, save an unlocked copy, then add that copy.
This file is not a valid PDF or it is damaged.
This page could not be read.
Ready
Reading text… {pct}%
Page {p} of {n}: reading text…
Page {p} of {n}: scanned page, reading with OCR… {pct}%
Page {p} of {n}: preparing the scanned page…
Done: {chars} characters
Done: {chars} characters ({ocr} scanned page(s) read with OCR)
No text found. If the PDF is a scan, pick its language and try again, or choose OCR on every page.
Page {p}
Copy
Copied
Select the text and copy it
Download .txt
Remove
{count} file(s) ready
Working: {name}
Done: text from {count} file(s)
All text copied
Your files never leave your device. The text is read in your browser, so nothing is uploaded to a server.
What this tool does
To convert a PDF to text for free, drop it above and press Extract text: you get the text of every page, ready to copy or save as a .txt file, with no sign-up. It copies the text the PDF already contains exactly as it is, and reads scanned pages with OCR, so it works on a contract exported from Word as well as on a document you scanned with your phone.
How to use it
- Drop your PDF into the box above, or click it to choose it. With Avalon Pro you can add many PDFs at once.
- Leave Read the text from on The PDF's own text, OCR for scanned pages unless the text comes out garbled.
- If the PDF is a scan, tick the language of the text. English is ticked already.
- Press Extract text. Each file shows its progress, and the text appears in a box under it.
- Fix anything you need right in the box, then press Copy or Download .txt.
Which setting to pick
| What you have | Read the text from | Language |
|---|---|---|
| A PDF made from Word, a website or an app | The PDF's own text | Not needed |
| A scanned document or photos saved as a PDF | The PDF's own text (scanned pages use OCR) | The language on the page |
| A mix of typed pages and scans | The PDF's own text (scanned pages use OCR) | The language of the scans |
| Text that copies as strange symbols | OCR on every page | The language on the page |
Tips
- Scanned pages take a few seconds each. Pages with their own text are read almost instantly.
- For scans with small print, keep the scan quality at 300 DPI. Use 200 DPI when the text is large and you want it faster.
- Want the text with its layout, tables and fonts instead of plain text? Use our free PDF to Word converter.
- Copying text from a screenshot or a photo rather than a PDF? Use our free image to text tool.
Free, Pro and Pro+
| Free | Pro | Pro+ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| PDFs at once | 1 | 50 | 50 |
| Size per batch | 25 MB | 500 MB | 500 MB |
| Pages per run | 20 | 500 | 500 |
| Download all as one ZIP of .txt files | — | Yes | Yes |
| Saved presets | — | Yes | Yes |
| Custom file names | — | Yes | Yes |
| Result quality | The same on every plan | ||
| Server tools paid with credits | With a credit pack | With a credit pack | 300 credits every month |
Pro+ credits pay for server tools: higher-accuracy speech to text, higher-accuracy auto subtitles and fast server voices. A credit pack (150 credits, valid for 12 months) works on any plan. Compare plans.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert a PDF to text for free?
Drop the PDF above and press Extract text. The text of every page appears in a box where you can copy it, fix anything you need, or save it as a .txt file, with no sign-up.
Does it work on scanned PDFs?
Yes. Pages that are pictures, such as scans and phone photos saved as PDF, are read with OCR (optical character recognition). Tick the language of the scan first; English is ticked already.
What is the difference between the PDF's own text and OCR?
Most PDFs made from Word, a browser or an app already contain their text, and copying it is exact and fast. Scanned pages contain only a picture, so their text has to be read with OCR. The tool uses the PDF's own text where it exists and OCR only for the pages that need it.
When should I choose OCR on every page?
When the copied text comes out as strange symbols or letters in the wrong order. Some PDFs store their text in a broken way, and reading the page as a picture gives a better result.
Are my PDFs uploaded anywhere?
No. The PDF is read inside your browser, on your own device. Nothing is sent to our servers or anyone else, so it also works for contracts, statements and other private documents.
Does it keep the line breaks and pages?
Yes. Each line of text becomes a line in the result, and in a multi-page PDF each page starts with its page number.
Which languages can it read on scanned pages?
English, Korean, Spanish, French, German, Japanese and Chinese (simplified). Text that is already in the PDF works in any language.
Are there limits?
The free version reads one PDF of up to 25 MB at a time, up to 20 pages, with the same text and OCR quality. Avalon Pro reads up to 50 PDFs and 500 MB at once and up to 500 pages in one run, and adds a ZIP download, saved presets and your own file names.