Best Ways to Convert PDF Documents to Text Format

Quick Answer:

  • Method 1. (Optimal): Go to CloudxDocs Online PDF to TXT Converter > Upload your PDF file > Wait for the conversion process to complete > Download the converted TXT file and save it on your local file location.
  • Method 2. (Advanced): Add Spire.PDF for .NET as your code references > Load the PDF document on your computer > Create a PdfTextExtractor for the current page > Wait for the extraction and save the .txt file on your local file location.

Intro:

Ever found yourself needing the raw text trapped inside a PDF file? Perhaps you’re a researcher needing to analyze data, a student compiling notes from journal articles, a developer requiring code snippets, a legal professional extracting clause, or a content creator repurposing material. Manually retyping is tedious, and copying complex layouts often creates messy formatting. Converting PDF to plain text (.txt) solves this, enabling easy editing, searching, data analysis, and integration into other tools.

This comprehensive guide explores the most common methods to extract text from PDFs, highlighting the fastest, most reliable online solution. Discover how to unlock your PDF content efficiently – keep reading to find the best method for yourself!

Key Reasons to Convert PDF to Plain Text

Converting static PDFs into editable text files unlocks significant utility across various tasks. Understanding the core motivations helps choose the right method. Here are the primary reasons users seek PDF to TXT conversion:

  • Editing & Repurposing Content: Modify text easily in simple editors like Notepad, TextEdit, or Word without dealing with complex PDF formatting.
  • Data Analysis & Processing: Extract unstructured text for analysis in tools like Excel or Python, enabling sentiment analysis, keyword extraction, or machine learning.
  • Content Compilation & Summarization: Gather text from multiple PDF sources into a single document for easier review or summarization.
  • Archiving & Storage: Plain text files are extremely small in size compared to PDFs, especially image-heavy ones, saving storage space.

We have learned why users need to extract plain text from a PDF file, now, let’s dive into the practical part – the different but both efficient methods available for PDF to TXT conversion.

Method 1. (The Optimal Solution) Convert PDF to TXT Free Online

Pros:

  • No installation: Accessible from any device (PC, Mac, tablet, phone) with a web browser
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility: Works seamlessly across Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome
  • Cost-Free: High-quality converter like CloudxDocs offers free conversion without any cost

Cons:

  • No batch conversion
  • Require stable network connection

The first method to try is to convert with a web-based tool – an online PDF to TXT Converter. It offers the most efficient and user-friendly way to convert single PDF file to TXT format. Among all online solutions, CloudXDocs consistently delivers superior experience. Let’s see how easy it is to use.

CloudxDocs Online PDF to TXT Converter supports various file formats to meet users’ diverse needs. Moreover, the conversion process finishes in seconds with a few clicks because of its AI-based technology.

More reasons to choose CloudxDocs to convert PDF to TXT:

  • Protect users’ privacy: CloudxDocs will automatically delete the uploaded file for privacy protection;
  • Support various conversion formats: It supports common formats including PDF, Word, XLS, or rare formats like RTF, ODT, XPS, etc.
  • Clean & User-friendly interface: There are no unwanted ads on the main interface and users can easily get the conversion steps on it.

Now, let’s dive into the specific steps of how you can convert PDF to TXT with CloudxDocs:

Step 1. Open the official site of CloudxDocs online PDF to TXT Converter on your browser.

main interface of cloudxdocs pdf to txt converter

Step 2. Upload your PDF file to the conversion page and wait for the automatic file analysis.

upload pdf file to cloudxdocs onlne pdf to txt converter

Step 3. After analysis, CloudxDocs will begin the conversion process automatically. Now, just wait for the conversion process to be completed.

conversion process screenshot of converting pdf to txt with cloudxdocs

Step 4. After conversion, you can download the converted TXT file and save it on your local file location.

result screenshot of converting pdf to txt with cloudxdocs

Method 2. (Advanced Option) Extract Text from PDF with Code

Pros:

  • Batch Convert
  • High-efficient for specific text extraction
  • Customize the conversion with your specific needs

Cons:

  • It is a bit difficult for users who get little knowledge about code

Another way you can try to convert PDF to TXT is to use sample code provided by Spire.PDF for .NET, a powerful and standalone code API for developers to convert with code. It is designed for developers to better process PDF files including creating, converting, adding watermarks, merging and splitting PDF pages, etc.

The full steps of converting PDF to TXT with Spire.PDF for .NET are listed below:

Step 1. Install the API code on your computer.

You can install it with the code from Nuget: 

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Install-Package Spire.PDF

Or download from the official download page and add references manually.

Step 2. Copy and customize the following code according to your needs.

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using Spire.Pdf;
using Spire.Pdf.Texts;
using System.IO;
using System.Text;

namespace ExtractAllTextFromPDF
{
    internal class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            // Create a PDF document instance
            PdfDocument pdf = new PdfDocument();
            // Load the PDF file
            pdf.LoadFromFile("Sample.pdf");

            // Initialize a StringBuilder to hold the extracted text
            StringBuilder extractedText = new StringBuilder();
            // Loop through each page in the PDF
            foreach (PdfPageBase page in pdf.Pages)
            {
                // Create a PdfTextExtractor for the current page
                PdfTextExtractor extractor = new PdfTextExtractor(page);
                // Set extraction options
                PdfTextExtractOptions option = new PdfTextExtractOptions
                {
                    IsExtractAllText = true
                };
                // Extract text from the current page
                string text = extractor.ExtractText(option);
                // Append the extracted text to the StringBuilder
                extractedText.AppendLine(text);
            }

            // Save the extracted text to a text file
            File.WriteAllText("ExtractedText.txt", extractedText.ToString());
            // Close the PDF document
            pdf.Close();        
        }
    }
}

Step 3. Run the code to receive the result.

Also Read:

FAQ

Q1. Is CloudXDocs free to convert PDF to TXT?

A: Yes. CloudXDocs offers a robust free tire allowing you to convert standard text-based PDFs to TXT.

Q2. Can CloudXDocs convert PDFs or images to text?

A: Yes. CloudXDocs supports converting PDF files to image (like JPG or PNG) and other formats including Word, Markdown, HTML, XPS, etc.

Q3. Is it safe to upload my PDFs to CloudXDocs?

A: Security is a top priority. Uploaded files will be automatically deleted from the servers after conversion is complete within 24 hours. CloudxDocs won’t store your documents long-term or share them.

Conclusion: Convert Your PDFs to TXT Now!

Don’t let valuable content remain locked inside static PDF files. Converting PDF to TXT unlocks editing, analysis, searchability, and integration possibilities. While manual methods are cumbersome and offline software can be expensive or limiting, CloudxDocs provides the optimal solution: a fast, free, secure, and feature-rich online PDF to TXT converter.

Experience simplicity and power yourself! Visit CloudxDocs now, upload your first PDF, and get your clean, usable text file in seconds.