Extract Text from PDF Online,
Free & Secure
Pull clean, structured content from your PDF and get it ready to reuse, edit, or analyze. Export extracted text as plain text, Markdown, or JSON without an account.
Select a PDF file
tap anywhere here to choose from your device
Up to 50 MB free — 100 MB with a free account, 500 MB with Pro · Accepted: .pdf
By uploading a file, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy.
How to extract text from a PDF in 3 easy steps
No downloads or installation required. Extract text directly in your browser from any device.
Upload your PDF
Drag and drop your PDF or click “Choose Files” to upload it. The tool opens your document for extraction without requiring an account.
Select your output format
Choose plain text, Markdown, or JSON as your output format, then select all pages or a specific page range.
Extract your text and download
Click “Extract Text” to process your PDF, then download the result in seconds, ready to paste, publish, or use in your workflow.
Everything you need for PDF text extraction
Choose from three output formats and control which pages to extract, with fast, secure, and free processing.
Extract text from the PDF layer
Extract selectable text directly from the PDF layer. Get fast, accurate, format-aware text without manually copying content from your document.
Preserve document structure
Include column and block structure hints when extracting text from multi-section PDFs. Keep content organized when working with documents that use multiple sections or columns.
Get plain text files
Extract your PDF content as a clean .txt file. Download it for copying, editing, or importing into text editors, databases, and other applications.
Export as Markdown
Get headings, lists, and paragraphs in Markdown format. Download the result and use it across documents, notes, or CMS platforms.
Generate structured JSON
Export extracted text as structured JSON for programmatic use. Use the output in applications, scripts, or document processing workflows.
Extract specific pages
Select individual pages or a specific page range to extract only the text you need. Skip unwanted pages without extracting the entire document.
Choose a plan for your PDF tasks
Start without an account, get higher limits with a free account, or choose Pro for unlimited daily use.
See What PDF Awesome Users Say
Read real reviews and experiences shared by PDF Awesome users on Trustpilot.
This tool is really awesome as its name. Thank you I'm excited.
Drawde
AM · June 6, 2025
The best tool
Argishti Aleksanyan
AM · June 6, 2025
Great service!!
Great service!!! Everything was simple and well-organized. Very easy to use and super convenient. Highly recommended!!!
Zareh Isayan
US · June 4, 2025
Frequently asked questions about PDF text extraction
Get answers to common questions about extracting text from PDFs online.
Can I extract text from a scanned PDF?
Not yet. Extraction reads the PDF’s real text layer, so scanned documents that contain only images of text are not supported today. OCR for scanned PDFs is on our roadmap. For now, text-layer PDFs, including most digitally created documents, extract perfectly.
Which output format should I choose for extracted PDF text?
Plain text works well for copying into Word, email, or notes. Markdown keeps headings and lists structured for Notion, GitHub, or documentation tools. Similarly, JSON is suited to developers working with APIs, databases, or AI models.
Is the extracted text an exact copy of the PDF?
Text-layer PDFs extract perfectly, but complex multi-column layouts may not always retain their original column order. Single-column documents generally extract cleanly.
Can I extract content from only certain pages?
Yes. Select specific pages or a page range to extract the content you need from your PDF. You do not have to process the entire PDF when you only need selected sections.
How large can a PDF be for text extraction?
Users without an account can extract text from PDFs up to 50 MB. Free users can process PDFs up to 100 MB with no page limit. In addition, Pro increases the limit to 500 MB per task, enough for book-length documents and large archives.
What happens to my PDF after I extract the text?
Your privacy is protected throughout the process. Files are processed on isolated servers and permanently deleted within 60 minutes. We never read, store, or train on your document content.
Can I extract content from a locked PDF?
PDFs with extraction restrictions may need to be unlocked before you can extract their content. After unlocking the file, you can proceed with text extraction.
How many PDF files can I process at once?
You can process up to 2 PDF files per task without an account and up to 5 with a free account. But with Pro, you get an increased limit of up to 50. This lets you extract text from multiple PDFs in a single task instead of processing each file separately.
Does text extraction alter the original PDF?
No. The extraction process creates a separate output file and does not edit or modify your original PDF. Your source document remains unchanged.
Do I need to install software to extract text from my PDF?
No. PDF Awesome works directly in your browser. So you can upload your PDF, select an output format, and extract the text without installing desktop software.
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Extract PDF text — free, no account needed
Turn any PDF into usable text right away at no cost. Need larger files? Pro raises the limit to 500 MB per task.