PDFs are one of the most common formats to share business documents like contracts, invoices, presentations, and reports. To convert unstructured text within PDF documents into usable format for analysis, and processing, you need to extract text from PDF.
Here’s the step-by-step guide to extract text from PDF documents. These 3 free methods to extract text from PDF will help you to extract text, paste it, edit it, share it and use it wherever required.
Method 1: Copy and Paste Text from PDFs [Manual Method]
This method is used to extract text from PDF using copy and paste functionality [Ctrl+C & Ctrl+V or Command+C & Command+V on Mac]. Nearly everyone uses this method on a day-to-day basis.
Step 1: Open the PDF
Use prominent PDF readers such as Adobe Acrobat to open your PDF
Step 2: Drag mouse cursor & select text
Move the mouse cursor to the text you desire to extract. Drag it and select the text.
Step 3: Copy the selected text
- Right click on selected text and select COPY (if you use mouse).
- Select text and use keyboard shortcut Ctrl+C on Windows or Command+C on Mac (if you use keyboard).
- Tap with 2 fingers on selected text and choose COPY option (if you use touchpad instead of mouse)
Step 4: Open the application
Go to the word document, google document or any application wherever you wish to paste the text.
Step 5: Paste the text
- Right click on selected text and select PASTE (if you use mouse).
- Select text and use keyboard shortcut Ctrl+V on Windows or Command+V on Mac (if you use keyboard).
- Tap with 2 fingers on selected text and choose PASTE option (if you use touchpad instead of mouse)
Note:
You can’t use the copy and paste text method, if your PDF contains images or scanned copies. It can’t be used if you have to extract a large amount of text.
Method 2: Use PDF-to-Text Converter Tools
Use PDF-to-text converter tools, to extract text from PDF when:
- PDF contains images and scanned copies
- PDF has more than 2-3 paragraphs of text
- Text extraction requires more accuracy without any errors
- Time required for text extraction should be less
PDF-to-text converter tools use OCR along with some advanced features to extract text from PDF documents in the most reliable, accurate and efficient way.
How to Extract Text from PDF using PDF-to-Text Converters
Many free web-based online tools, software, and apps are available, which can help you in extracting text from PDF documents. These tools are click away, if you just search for “extract text from PDF”. Here’s the step-by-step guide to use PDF-to-Text converters:
Step 1: Open any free online PDF-to-text converter tool
Step 2: Upload your PDF document
Step 3: Click on “Convert to Text”
Step 4: Click “Download” to get the text file
Pros and Cons of PDF-to-Text Converters
|
Pros of PDF-to-Text Converter
|
Cons of PDF-to-Text Converter
|
|---|---|
|
Fast
(Convert PDFs to Text in seconds) |
Limited
(File size and page restrictions) |
|
Free
(Text extraction features are 100% free) |
Privacy Risk
(Potential data security risks) |
|
Accessible
(Use from any device, anywhere) |
Bad Quality
(Formatting and accuracy issues) |
|
Simple
(No technical knowledge needed) |
Cluttered
(Headers & paragraphs merge together) |
Here are a few free and paid pdf-to-text extraction tools to check out:
- KlearStack
- Adobe Acrobat Pro
- SmallPDF
- PDF Candy
- Nitro PDF
- PDF2Go
- PDFelement
Method 3: Use AI to Extract Text from PDF
AI-based OCR software should be used when you have to extract text from complex PDFs or need to process hundreds of PDF documents at scale. Complex PDFs include tables, forms, images, irregular formatting, different languages, etc.
These AI text extraction tools use a combination of OCR, AI, ML, CV, RPA, text and pattern recognition, and other technologies to extract accurate data from PDFs.
When to Choose AI-based OCR Extraction Tool
You’ll benefit the most from AI tools when you have:
If you wish to adopt an automated text extraction solution then consider KlearStack. KlearStack is an AI-based OCR data extraction and document auditing tool trusted by leading banking institutions
KlearStack stands out among all the AI-based OCR solution because it has several top features:
- Day-Zero accuracy
- 99% Accuracy for complex PDFs
- Template-less text extraction
- Understands context and meaning of the text
- ISO 27001 and SOC 2 compliance
- Robust automation
- Seamless integration
- 80% cost reduction
- 500% boost in operational efficiency
- Pay-as-you-go pricing
- Exceptional customer support
Extract text from PDFs in seconds with 99% Accuracy
No more copy-paste errors & formatting mess. Extract accurate text from any PDF using KlearStack’s secure, AI-powered extraction.
Choosing the Right Method for Text Extraction from PDF
Choosing the right method to extract data from PDF images is crucial depending on your use case. Here’s the exact guide to pick your text extraction method from PDF:
|
Factors
|
Document Type
|
Text Extraction Method
|
|---|---|---|
|
PDF Complexity
|
• Simple Text Document
• Scanned Document • Complex Layouts |
• Copy-Paste
• PDF-to-Text Converters • AI-based OCR tool |
|
Document Volume
|
• 1-2 PDF documents
• 2-10 PDF documents • 10+ PDF documents |
• Copy-Paste
• PDF-to-Text Converters • AI-based OCR tool |
|
Accuracy Requirements
|
• Basic and personal needs
• Business use • Critical and Secure data |
• Copy-Paste
• AI-based OCR tool • AI-based OCR tool |
|
Time Constraints
|
• No rush
• Same day • Immediate Results |
• Copy-Paste
• PDF-to-Text Converters • AI-based OCR tool |
Conclusion
In conclusion, extracting text from PDFs is not complicated if you choose the right methods among the copy-paste, PDF-to-text converter, and AI-based OCR. Test the method that matches your requirements and then scale up only when it is needed.
While you have different options to extract text from a PDF, AI offers the highest precision. Whereas, KlearStack’s AI-powered tool is the best choice for businesses who want to extract text from your PDF files with accuracy, reliability, security and efficiency.
FAQ's
How to extract text from PDFs?
To extract text from PDF files, use online PDF-to-text converters for simple documents or AI-powered OCR tools for complex PDF layouts. Use KlearStack, an automated document processing solution that offers quick, accurate results with less manual efforts.
Are PDF to Text Converters Safe for Secure Data?
Free online PDF-to-Text converters come up with many security risks. Enterprise-grade PDF to text solutions like KlearStack are HIPAA, GDPR, and SOC 2 compliance. They ensure your sensitive data remains protected during text extraction.
How to extract text from large PDF files (100+ pages)?
For large PDFs over 100 pages, use AI-based OCR tools like KlearStack that support bulk text extraction with 99% accuracy. It offers faster processing, maintains formatting accuracy with HIPAA, GDPR, and SOC 2 compliance.
