DocPicker

11 products · prices verified up to October 30, 2026

PDF converters: free and paid options

Most people who search for a PDF converter want one thing done once: a PDF into an editable Word file, or a stack of photos into a single PDF. For that, a free online converter is usually enough. Things change when conversion becomes routine — dozens of invoices a week, scanned contracts, or files you are not allowed to upload.

The converters below range from free browser tools to desktop suites that convert in batches and run OCR on scans. We list the free-tier limits each vendor publishes, because that limit is usually what pushes people to pay.

11 products

Wondershare PDFelement

Budget-friendly cross-platform PDF editor with perpetual and multi-year options

  • From $6.67/mo
  • Free trial: 14 days (limited)
  • Windows · Mac · iOS · Android · Web
  • Convert to/from Office
  • OCR (scan to text)
  • Batch processing
  • Edit text & images
  • E-signatures
4.6/5Editorial score

iLovePDF

Low-cost PDF toolkit with web, desktop and mobile apps plus AI credits

  • From $4.00/mo
  • Free plan
  • Web · Windows · Mac · iOS · Android
  • Convert to/from Office
  • OCR (scan to text)
  • Batch processing
  • E-signatures
  • Works offline (desktop app)
4.5/5Editorial score

Smallpdf

Browser-first PDF toolkit with AI chat, e-signing and a 7-day Pro trial

  • From $8.00/mo
  • Free plan
  • Free trial: 7 days
  • Web · Windows · iOS · Android
  • Convert to/from Office
  • OCR (scan to text)
  • Batch processing
  • Edit text & images
  • E-signatures
4.3/5Editorial score

ABBYY FineReader PDF

OCR-first PDF editor with 198 recognition languages and cross-format document comparison

  • From $5.75/mo
  • Free trial: 7 days
  • Windows · Mac · iOS
  • Convert to/from Office
  • OCR (scan to text)
  • Batch processing
  • Edit text & images
  • E-signatures
4.2/5Editorial score

Sejda PDF

Web and desktop PDF editor with week passes and a $63/year combined plan

  • From $5.25/mo
  • Free plan
  • Web · Windows · Mac · Linux
  • Convert to/from Office
  • OCR (scan to text)
  • Batch processing
  • Edit text & images
  • E-signatures
4.2/5Editorial score

Foxit PDF Editor

Ribbon-style PDF editor with subscriptions, a perpetual license and built-in DMS

  • From $10.83/mo
  • Free trial: 14 days
  • Windows · Mac · Web · iOS · Android
  • Convert to/from Office
  • OCR (scan to text)
  • Edit text & images
  • E-signatures
  • Works offline (desktop app)
4.1/5Editorial score

Nitro PDF Pro

Office-style PDF editor for Windows and Mac with a three-year Windows license option

  • From $15.00/mo
  • Free trial: 14 days
  • Windows · Mac · iOS · Web
  • Convert to/from Office
  • OCR (scan to text)
  • Batch processing
  • Edit text & images
  • E-signatures
4.1/5Editorial score

Tungsten Power PDF

Perpetual-license Windows PDF editor with an Office-style ribbon and Mac edition

  • From $129.00 one-time
  • Free trial: Yes (length not stated)
  • Windows · Mac · Web
  • Convert to/from Office
  • OCR (scan to text)
  • Batch processing
  • Edit text & images
  • E-signatures
4.1/5Editorial score

PDF24 Tools / PDF24 Creator

Ad-supported free PDF toolbox online, plus a free offline Windows app

  • Free
  • Free plan
  • Web · Windows
  • Convert to/from Office
  • OCR (scan to text)
  • E-signatures
  • Works offline (desktop app)
3.9/5Editorial score

Readiris PDF

Pay-once PDF and OCR suite for Windows and Mac with scanner and barcode automation

  • From $79.00 one-time
  • Free trial: Yes (length not stated)
  • Windows · Mac
  • Convert to/from Office
  • OCR (scan to text)
  • Batch processing
  • Edit text & images
  • E-signatures
3.8/5Editorial score

Soda PDF

Subscription PDF suite: Windows desktop app plus a browser app with AI and translation

  • From $6.67/mo
  • Windows · Web
  • Convert to/from Office
  • OCR (scan to text)
  • Batch processing
  • Edit text & images
  • E-signatures
3.8/5Editorial score

Scores are DocPicker's editorial ratings, calculated the same way for every product — see how we review. "Starting price" is the lowest published subscription price per month; one-time licences are shown separately. Nothing on this page is paid placement.

How to choose pdf converters

  • Read the free-tier limit, not just the word "free"

    Online converters typically cap the number of tasks per day or the file size. Our product pages quote the limit from the vendor's pricing page where it is published.

  • Scanned PDFs need OCR

    A scan is a picture of text. Without OCR, converting it to Word gives you an image in a Word file.

  • Check where files are processed

    Browser converters upload your file to the vendor's servers. If that is a problem, pick a desktop converter or one that states local processing.

  • Batch conversion saves hours

    If you convert more than a few files a week, batch support (convert a folder at once) matters more than the price difference between plans.

Popular pdf converters comparisons

PDF Converters: frequently asked questions

What is the best free PDF converter?

It depends on volume. For a few files a month, any free tier listed here will do. If you hit daily limits, compare the paid plans with the price sort — several cost less per month than a single takeaway lunch.

Will converting a PDF to Word keep the formatting?

Simple layouts (text, headings, basic tables) convert well with most tools. Multi-column layouts, forms and scanned pages are where converters differ; OCR quality and table detection matter most.

Is it safe to convert PDFs online?

Reputable vendors publish how long uploaded files are kept and whether connections are encrypted. Check the vendor's privacy or security page, linked from our product pages, before uploading confidential documents.

Can I convert PDFs on my phone?

Yes. Filter by iOS or Android to see converters with official mobile apps, or use any web-based converter in a mobile browser.

Something out of date? Suggest an edit — we re-check vendor pages before changing anything.