Best free PDF to Word converter of 2024 (2024)

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  • Best overall
  • Best for batch conversion
  • Best for document protection
  • Best for beginners
  • Best for simple documents
  • FAQs
  • How we test

The best free PDF to Word converters make it simple and easy to convert PDF files to Microsoft Word format.

Best free PDF to Word converter of 2024: Quick menu

Best free PDF to Word converter of 2024 (1)

1. Best overall
2. Best for batch conversion
3. Best for document protection
4. Best for beginners
5. Best for simple documents
6. FAQs
7. How we test

The best free PDF to Word converters are focused on two things: range and speed.

Most PDF conversion tools aren’t limited to one filetype - they let you convert PDFs to Microsoft Word, as well as converting Excel, Powerpoint, and other Office applications (and back again). The very best do this very quickly. Because it’s all about efficiency. With free PDF to Word converters, everyone in your organization can access the documents they need.

PDF editors are one of the most common ways to convert files - it’s just one of many tools in the kit-bag, so if you’re a power-user, it might make sense to explore the likes of Adobe Acrobat.

For more options, it's worth exploring the best free PDF editors and online PDF to Word converters. These often have file size and conversion limits, so better for casual users. In most cases, the process is also really simple - pick a document, select the output, download the file for saving and sharing.

We’ve tested out the best free PDF to Word converters to see how well they perform transforming PDFs into files fit for your word processor.

We've also listed the best PDF to Powerpoint converter.

Best free PDF to Word converter of 2024 (2)

Adobe Acrobat: best PDF editor overall
If you want to make the most of PDFs, Adobe Acrobat DC is unquestionably the best tool for the job. Create PDFs from scratch, edit natively, collaborate through Document Cloud, convert files to just about any format. And this is on almost any desktop or mobile device. But it is subscription-only.

The best free PDF to Word converters of 2024 in full:

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Best overall

Best free PDF to Word converter of 2024 (3)

1. PDF Candy

Best PDF to Office converter

Specifications

Operating system: Window, Web

Reasons to buy

+

Free with flexible subscriptions

+

Comprehensive toolkit for converting and editing PDFs

+

Incredibly easy to use

PDF Candy has to be one of the simplest PDF to Word converters on the market. A clean, uncomplicated interface makes navigation fluid, and the service boasts of the ability to convert PDFs in just a single click.

To make things really easy, when you land on the PDF Candy homepage, you can start converting straight away. Scroll down, though, and you’ll see individual options to convert PDF to Word (and vice versa) or PDF to DOCX (and, again, vice versa).

Select the format you want. Add your file - uploaded from the desktop, or via your DropBox or Google Drive cloud storage. The file will automatically begin converting. You can then download it, or upload to your cloud storage. It’s impressively quick and easy.

But PDF Candy is more than just a PDF to Word converter. You’ll find 19 ‘convert to PDF’ tools, with support for images, Office software, and even eReader formats. Converting from PDF offers up 10 options, including PDF to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, JPG, and OCR.

In total, the platform packs in 47 tools - from PDF compressors and mergers, to protecting and watermarking files. That comprehensive toolset alone earned it a place on our best free PDF editors guide.

When we tried out the service, we were impressed to find “simplifies and streamlines online PDF editing and converting, while packing in plenty of extra tools you didn't know you needed until now.”

But we noted the free version comes with a severe limitation: you can only perform one task per hour.

If you’re a casual user, that might not be an issue. Professional PDF power-users, however, will need to explore the platform’s premium monthly and annual subscriptions. A lifetime license is also available.

Read our full PDF Candy review.

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Best free PDF to Word converter for batch conversion

Best free PDF to Word converter of 2024 (4)

2. WPS PDF to Word Converter

Best free PDF to Word converter for batch conversion

Specifications

Operating system: Windows, Android

Reasons to buy

+

Splits and merges documents

+

Batch conversion

+

Maintains original layout

Reasons to avoid

-

Five-page limit

WPS PDF to Word Converter is great for quickly converting from PDF to Word, even if you have batches of documents and want to retain your original formatting. It works on Windows, has an Android app, and has an online converter as well. In our test on Windows 10, images, tables, colors, and even non-standard fonts were preserved in documents created using this product, as was the layout and spacing.

One pain point that people often face is splitting and then merging different sections of a PDF document into one file. With the WPS PDF converter, you can choose the pages you want to convert, order them however you wish, and export a new document in a number of different formats, all with your original formatting and layout intact.

Read our full WPS Office Free review.

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Best for document protection

Best free PDF to Word converter of 2024 (5)

Best free PDF converter with document protection

Specifications

Operating system: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android

Reasons to buy

+

Great for image-rich PDFs

+

Supports multiple file types

+

Document protection

Reasons to avoid

-

Five-page limit

With this free PDF to Word converter, you can create, convert, edit, and even sign PDF documents. It works on Windows and Mac and has a full-feature word processor, much like MS Word, that gives you a great deal of control over the documents, text, and images you want to manipulate. You can insert comments anywhere in your file, have someone else review and sign the document once it is ready, and easily share it with collaborators.

This product had a few interesting advanced features that we didn’t see on the other best free PDF to Word converters. For example, you can protect specific sections of your document so that only recipients who have the required permissions can see that information, and you can even download an app for iOS and Android to work on your PDF conversions on the go.

Read our full PDFelement review.

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Best for beginners

Best free PDF to Word converter of 2024 (6)

4. Nitro PDF to Word Converter

Best free PDF to Word converter for beginners

Specifications

Operating system: Windows

Reasons to buy

+

Easy to learn and use

+

Creates, edits and converts

+

Review and annotate documents

Reasons to avoid

-

Only five conversions per month

With Nitro PDF converter, you can upload batches of files, but your converted files are emailed to you so you will need to provide an email address to receive your documents. Also, it is only available as a 14-day trial, and you are restricted to five conversions per month. This is a pretty tight limit that seriously restricts the usefulness of the product, in addition to the fact that it only works on Windows OS.

This free PDF converter converts text accurately but images are sometimes distorted in the output file. Other potential problems include random spaces or unexpected line breaks appearing in your final document. However, these issues are pretty minor and can be corrected manually unless you have large batches of files to convert at a time.

Read our full Nitro PDF review.

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Best for simple documents

Best free PDF to Word converter of 2024 (7)

5. UniPDF

Best free PDF to Word converter for simple documents

Specifications

Operating system: Windows

Reasons to buy

+

Images preserved quite well

+

Small, lightweight app

Reasons to avoid

-

Some text formatting lost

-

Three-page limit

This free PDF to Word converter was designed for Windows and saves you from issues related to long upload or download times that are commonly seen with various online tools. Since the application works right from your personal terminal, you do not have to trust your documents or information with a third party, which is important if you work with sensitive data. Unlike the other best free PDF to Word converters, the UniPDF app is lightweight and installs in the blink of an eye. But the free plan doesn't have useful features, like batch conversions and unlimited conversions.

UniPDF’s conversion accuracy leaves much to be desired, too. In some cases, the converted text can be dramatically different in size compared to the original, and columns sometimes run into each other. Accordingly, UniPDF is best for users who have only the simplest of documents to convert to Word.

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Switch back with the best Word to PDF converters

FAQs

How to choose the best free PDF to Word converter for you

When considering which free PDF to Word converter is best, you’ll want to take into account what your conversion needs are.

While modern browsers are some of the best free PDF readers you can get - seriously - they don’t do much beyond highlighting and saving. Conversion seems to be beyond them.

If you’re converting multiple files, you’ll want to pick a converter that supports bulk conversions. Converting an image-heavy PDF? Choose an app that doesn’t compromise on image quality. And if you’re looking to convert sensitive documents, you'll want to pick a converter that can be installed on your computer and accessed locally.

It's also worth looking at who will be converting PDFs to Word. If your organization runs on Microsoft 365 apps, then a quick-and-easy converter capable of running all popular programs is a must - but an online one may be best, for broader accessibility. If only certain departments are regularly using PDFs beyond document conversions, a fully featured PDF editor may be the better option.

Finally, while there are plenty of free PDF to Word converters, they often come with certain limitations on what you can do, and how often you do it. So, if the increased workflow proves productive, it may be worth budgeting for an upgrade or paid-for converter.

Will a PDF editor convert PDFs to Word?

Almost all PDF editors include conversion tools. It's just one of many different tools they feature, like OCR software and eSign software. Generally, they'll all convert to the popular filetypes, with some variations and extras, such as converting PDF to JPG, depending on the platform. However, you can find free PDF to Word converters that are largely focused on document conversion across a broad pool of formats - mostly these PDF converters are browser-based, rather than downloadable software.

What is a PDF to Word converter?

PDF to Word converters transform PDF (Portable Document Format) files to docx files you can easily open and edit in Microsoft Word. This makes your organization's documents more accessible to those who need to view them. But it also means you can edit PDFs without a PDF editor.

PDFs can be frustratingly stubborn when you need to make a change. That's partly why they were created: to create a standardized document that displays the same whatever platform or device it's opened on. So, when you want to edit the PDF, you need software that can do that. Using the best free PDF to Word converter is a nice little workaround for making amendments in Microsoft Word.

How we test

When we test the best free PDF to Word converters, we first examined what platforms they run on and whether they’re only available online or can be installed locally.

If there was an option to install locally, we assessed the application’s download and install time. We tested how many PDF files the converter could handle per day and the quality of conversion with regards to texts and images. We took special note on whether the spacing and layout were accurate in the final results.

We also assessed whether the converters offered advanced features, like document protection, annotation, and signing.All bonuses - although conversion, and ease of conversion, remained top of mind. As part of this, we wanted to see an easy user interface, and an effortless experience that wouldn't make us hate PDF conversion if we were doing it every day in the office.

Most importantly, we checked that free genuinely meant free. No hidden charges, no mystery subscriptions. Any free-tier restrictions or upgrades needed to be clearly signposted.

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Best free PDF to Word converter of 2024 (8)

Daryl Baxter

Software & Downloads Writer

Daryl had been freelancing for 3 years before joining TechRadar, now reporting on everything software-related. In his spare time, he's written a book, 'The Making of Tomb Raider'. His second book, '50 Years of Boss Fights', came out in June 2024, and has a newsletter, 'Springboard'. He's usually found playing games old and new on his Steam Deck and MacBook Pro. If you have a story about an updated app, one that's about to launch, or just anything Software-related, drop him a line.

With contributions from

  • Steve ClarkB2B Editor - Creative & Hardware

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Best free PDF to Word converter of 2024 (2024)

FAQs

Best free PDF to Word converter of 2024? ›

You can Xodo to convert a PDF into Word without Adobe Acrobat. Xodo's PDF to Word converter is an online alternative that allows you to accurately convert PDF to Word for free. You can also use other advanced features such as OCR for converting scanned PDF documents and save valuable time with batch conversion to Word.

Is there a completely free PDF to Word Converter? ›

You can Xodo to convert a PDF into Word without Adobe Acrobat. Xodo's PDF to Word converter is an online alternative that allows you to accurately convert PDF to Word for free. You can also use other advanced features such as OCR for converting scanned PDF documents and save valuable time with batch conversion to Word.

Which PDF to Word Converter is most accurate? ›

DocFly's PDF to Word DOC converter is one of the most accurate out there. Our converter renders a Word document as close as possible to your original PDF file formatting.

Is there a completely free PDF converter? ›

Yes, just download the free and easy to use PDF24 Creator and install this program. This software is an offline PDF solution, which also includes a PDF Converter that allows you to convert files to and from PDF.

What is the best PDF to Word converter for equations? ›

Mathpix is the most powerful file conversion software available, and in addition to converting PDF to Word, Mathpix can also convert images and PDFs to LaTeX, Overleaf, Markdown, Excel, ChemDraw and more, with our AI powered document conversion technology.

Is it safe to use free PDF to Word Converter? ›

Yes, your converted Microsoft Word file will be secure.

What is the best website for converting PDF to Word? ›

It's quick and easy to convert a PDF into a Word document with the Adobe Acrobat online tool. Drag and drop your PDF, then download the converted Word file.

What is the best free app to convert PDF to Word? ›

XODO is one of the best Free PDF to Word Converter Apps one can access online. This web app allows you to easily select files from cloud storage and devices to convert PDF into Word. Xodo also allows editing DOCX files online.

What is the most reliable PDF converter? ›

  • Adobe Acrobat DC. Our top choice for Word to PDF conversion. ...
  • Soda PDF. A browser-based converter for Word and PDF files. ...
  • Foxit PDF Editor. A platform for converting and editing. ...
  • PDF Candy. Our top free choice. ...
  • PDFelement. A great place to start if you're new to document converters. ...
  • Nitro PDF Pro. ...
  • pdfFiller. ...
  • SmallPDF.
Feb 14, 2024

How do I convert a PDF to Word perfectly? ›

How to convert PDF files into Word documents: Open a PDF file in Acrobat. Click on the “Export PDF” tool in the right pane. Choose Microsoft Word as your export format, and then choose “Word Document.”

Is there a 100% free PDF editor? ›

EaseUS is a free PDF editor that offers options to read, create, edit and convert PDFs both in program and online. The streamlined interface allows you to edit or convert with ease for any formats like doc, excel, ppt, jpg, png or epub, even merge, split, compress, watermark e-sign or OCR PDF files.

Does Google have a free PDF converter? ›

PDF Convert - Convert Documents - Google Workspace Marketplace. Convert your Documents to PDF and vice-versa format for free. This software is free to use and will convert your documents into PDF and vice-versa within seconds.

What is the free software to convert PDF to text? ›

PDF24 makes it as easy and fast as possible to convert PDF to Text. You do not need to install or configure anything, just select your PDF files and start the conversion.

Is there a free PDF converter to Word? ›

You can use our PDF2WORD tool to save PDF documents into editable Word files seamlessly. Our online tool can process both scans and files created digitally. Online tool to convert and extract text into searchable content within PDF files for free. No software download is needed.

What is a popular PDF to Word converter? ›

Nitro's free PDF to Word converter is an easy-to-use, in-browser tool that allows you to quickly and securely export a PDF to a Microsoft Word file format (.doc). It's a fast, free and simple way to get your documents converted to Word. Give it a try!

What is the free AI tool for PDF to Word? ›

Converse is an AI-powered, web-based app that lets anyone interact with their documents using natural language prompts. With a few simple steps, you can easily turn your PDF into a Word document without editing and formatting it yourself.

What app can convert PDF to Word for free? ›

Adobe Acrobat online services make it easy to export PDFs to Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. You can convert to image formats too.

What is the best free Word to PDF converter? ›

  • Adobe Acrobat DC. Our top choice for Word to PDF conversion. ...
  • Soda PDF. A browser-based converter for Word and PDF files. ...
  • Foxit PDF Editor. A platform for converting and editing. ...
  • PDF Candy. Our top free choice. ...
  • PDFelement. A great place to start if you're new to document converters. ...
  • Nitro PDF Pro. ...
  • pdfFiller. ...
  • SmallPDF.
Feb 14, 2024

Does Microsoft have a PDF to Word converter? ›

Microsoft Word has the ability to convert a . pdf file to an editable Word document (. docx). Open MS Word.

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