PDF (Portable Document Format) is a file format designed by Adobe to eliminate the barriers of hardware, application software and operating systems that are being used. It can contain text or image formatting and is a versatile format since it can be converted to and from many text formats. However, the PDF format itself cannot be edited and would have to be converted before using.
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Why choose online PDF converters?
There are many people who avoid using PDF converting tools online due to many security reasons. Also, the online tools are notoriously known to be very slow and might have a very inconvenient procedure of uploading the file. Hence, purchasing a software to do the conversion is more prevalent.
However, there is still some a good number of software to convert PDF files online that can be tried. These software are browser-based and would not occupy any space in the system.
Top software to convert PDF online
The best PDF converter tools would be capable of offering a plethora of advantages like the both-way conversion of PDF files, maintaining the online security, extracting specific pages from within a large file, etc. All of this can be had without installing a single software in the system. Moreover, opting for the premium plans makes things better.
Here are some of the top online tools to convert PDF files online, along with some of their notable features.
Feature Comparison
| Software Name | Security | .doc Conversion | Page Extraction |
Conversion to PDF |
Upgradeable |
| PDF Pro | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free Online OCR | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Nitro PDF | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| PDF Converter | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Soda PDF Online | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Icecream PDF Converter | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| PDF Online | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Convert PDF To Word | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
1. PDF Pro
PDF Pro is an easy-to-use PDF converter tool that helps in building, editing and converting up to three PDF files per month for free. The website offers secure converting of the PDF files uploaded with the HTTPS and password protection.
The users can review and edit PDFs by adding, erasing and highlighting texts. The conversion includes extracting PDF documents from Word, PowerPoint and Excel files. If the users want to upgrade to a premium package, there are many other things added to the feature list as well. It includes writing on a PDF file, splitting and rotating it, extract pages or adding password protection. It supports conversion to and from a plethora of file formats like PNG, JPG, TIFF, Word, etc.
2. Free online OCR
The Online OCR (AKA online Optical Character Recognition) software supports converting scanned PDF to word. The users can also extract text and images (BMP, JPG, TIFF, GIF formats) from scanned PDF files and convert them into editable Word or Excel formats. The tool allows free conversion of up to 15 files per hour without any registration. However, once the registration is done, users can get access to the conversion of multi-page PDF files.
It supports over 40 recognised languages, including German, Spanish and French and an enable a very smooth user experience.
3. Nitro PDF
The Nitro PDF is available as an online tools and as well as a desktop app too (for Windows) for converting PDF to Word and Excel. Its productivity suit includes creating and editing PDF, merging and reviewing them and also applying password protection. It is highly recommended for text documents and not a lot for the ones stuffed with loads of images.
However, the Nitro PDF does not have a free version, though there is a temporary trial that can be taken. There are three premium packages that come with nominal annual tariffs.
It supports sharing and putting digital signatures to the documents.
4. PDF Converter
PDF Converter is an online tool that helps in converting Word, PowerPoint and Excel files to PDF. It has a very simple layout where the users would just need to upload a file or choose from Drive or URL. It comes with added tools like PDF Compressor, PDF Rotator, etc. In fact, one can delete any PDF following its creation too.
The online PDF conversion tool comes in extremely handy when it comes to converting files to PDF and vice versa, besides splitting and merging of files. It supports a plethora of file formats to be converted, including the JPG, OpenOffice and eBooks. And for the conversion back from PDF, one can have the file in JPG and PNG file formats too.
5. Soda PDF Online
Soda PDF Online is an extremely detailed and well-featured PDF converter and has a very intuitive layout, even for the online version. It offers the users with a very high level of customisation like zooming in and zooming out, 3D view, etc. The users can even split and extract from the PDF if it is a multi-page document.
The Soda PDF Online can even be upgraded for a premium plan that brings in a host of extra features like reviewing and securing the files. The files can be accessed via any medium, be it smartphones, tablets or PCs. As long as there is a browser, this tool is good to go. The users can even connect this tool with OneDrive, DropBox or Google Drive and get access to the files from anywhere.
Summing Up
The PDF file format is extremely important these days due to its high level of professionalism. The file ends up becoming non-editable (on the original file) and can be secured too.
Despite being pioneered by Adobe, there are many online tools and services that have mastered the conversion and creation of PDF files for the users. Almost all of the tools mentioned here can be upgraded to premium plans in case the users opt for a more detailed usage.
Hence, before making a concrete decision, it is very important to analyse the pros and cons of the tool. Once done, things would appear to be very smooth and the conversion process to be very friendly.
