Extract text from a PDF
Extract the text from a PDF as plain text or Markdown.
or drag and drop PDFs here
PDF documents
Your files stay on your device
- 1Add files
- 2Adjust
- 3Download
How it works
- 1Choose your PDF.
- 2Pick plain text or Markdown, and whether to mark where each page starts.
- 3Optionally limit the pages.
- 4Select Extract text and download the file.
What the options do
- Output format
- Plain text keeps lines and paragraph gaps. Markdown also turns larger type into headings and bullet characters into list items.
- Mark where each page starts
- Adds a line such as "--- Page 3 ---" so you can find your place in the original.
- Apply to
- All pages, odd or even pages, or a list like 2-5.
Privacy
This tool runs in your browser. Your files are never uploaded to a server.
Questions people ask
Is the PDF uploaded?
No. The text is read in your browser and the file never leaves your device.
Why does it say the PDF has no selectable text?
Scanned documents and photos saved as PDF contain pictures of text, not text. Turning those into text needs OCR, which this tool does not do.
Will tables and columns keep their layout?
Not exactly. Text is read in the order it is stored in the PDF. Columns can be mixed and tables lose their grid. The words themselves are all there.
How good is the Markdown?
Headings are guessed from font size and lists from bullet signs, so it is a good first draft, not a perfect copy. Check it before you publish it.
Does it keep bold, italics and images?
No. Only text is extracted.
Does it work with other languages?
Yes, as long as the PDF stores real text. Right-to-left languages and some fonts may come out in a different order.