The short version: you can turn a PDF into an editable Word file for free in any browser, on Windows, Mac, Chromebook or phone, with Smallpdf, iLovePDF, PDF24, Sejda, PDFgear or PDF Candy. Google Drive can also convert PDFs, but its help page says the file should be 2 MB or smaller. Text-based PDFs convert easily. Scanned PDFs need OCR, and that's where free options start to differ.
Most of us only need to convert a PDF to Word a few times a year, usually when someone sends a contract, a form or an old report and asks for changes. It's not worth paying for software for that. What's worth knowing is which free tool to reach for, and why the same tool can give you a perfect document one day and a mess the next. This guide is about converting online, on whatever device you're using.
Seven free ways to turn a PDF into Word
In no particular order:
- Smallpdf: best for a quick conversion without signing up.
- iLovePDF: best for PDFs with selectable text, using its No OCR mode.
- PDF24: best for converting with nothing to install, paid for by advertising.
- Sejda: best for a few files at a time, within its hourly free limit.
- PDFgear: best for scanned PDFs, which it converts with OCR.
- PDF Candy: best for keeping the original structure of a document.
- Google Drive: best for small files if you already work in Google.
Converters side by side
| Source | Best for | Free plan (as of Nov 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Google Drive | Small PDFs and photo files | Not stated |
| iLovePDF | PDFs with selectable text | Yes |
| PDF Candy | Keeping the original formatting | Yes |
| PDF24 | No installation needed | Yes |
| PDFgear | Scanned PDFs with OCR | Yes |
| Sejda | Occasional files | Yes |
| Smallpdf | No signup | Yes |
Pages and plans change, so check the vendor's own page before you rely on a limit.
The catch: scanned PDFs need OCR
There are two kinds of PDF, and they behave very differently. If you can click into the PDF and highlight a sentence, it has real text inside it, and almost any converter will turn it into an editable Word file. iLovePDF calls this its No OCR option, which converts PDFs with selectable text into editable Word files.
If the PDF came from a scanner or a phone photo, it's really a picture of text. iLovePDF's own page warns that to extract all the text from files like that, OCR is needed. OCR is the step that reads the letters in the image and turns them back into words. That's where the free tools split. PDFgear says it converts scanned PDFs to editable files with OCR. Smallpdf's converter is free without signing up, but it says its Pro plan is what adds unlimited conversions and over 40 extra PDF tools, including OCR. So if your file is a scan, check that the tool you've picked does OCR before you upload it.
Converting a PDF to Word step by step
- Open the PDF and try to highlight a line of text, so you know if it's text-based or scanned.
- For a text-based PDF, use any of the converters above. For a scan, pick one that offers OCR, such as PDFgear.
- Upload the file in your browser. PDF24 says you don't need to install or configure anything.
- Download the Word file and check headings, tables and page breaks against the original.
- Fix any formatting in Word before you share it, especially in tables and numbered lists.
- Save the edited file under a new name, so the original PDF stays untouched.
Will your formatting survive the conversion?
This is where I'd manage your expectations. PDFgear says original layouts and formatting are fully preserved, and PDF Candy tells you not to worry about losing structure. Those are the vendors' own claims, and for a simple document they're often close. For anything with complex tables, columns or unusual fonts, expect to tidy up in Word afterwards, whichever tool you use. A quick read-through of the Word file is always cheaper than sending a client something with a table split across two pages.
Google Drive is the most honest about this. Its help page says the file should be 2 MB or smaller for the best results, and that the format might not transfer, although bold, italics, font size, font type and line breaks are likely to be retained. It also works with photo files such as .jpeg, .png and .gif, which is handy if all you've got is a picture of a page. If you're converting scans regularly, it's worth reading up on how OCR document scanning helps a business.
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What happens to the file you upload
Every online converter works by uploading your PDF to the vendor's servers. For a menu or a flyer that doesn't matter. For a contract or anything with personal details, read the vendor's own wording on storage and deletion before you upload. PDF24, for example, describes itself as secure and free of charge, funded by advertising, but that's its own description, not a guarantee from me. Free tiers also have limits. Sejda's page shows a free limit of 30 files per hour. If you need to go the other way, here's how to convert Word to PDF, and for regular conversion work my guide to the best PDF converters compares paid and free tools.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I convert a PDF to Word for free?
Smallpdf, iLovePDF, PDF24, Sejda, PDFgear and PDF Candy all convert PDF to Word for free in a browser. Google Drive can also convert small PDFs, and its help page says the file should be 2 MB or smaller.
Can I convert a scanned PDF to Word?
Yes, but it needs OCR. iLovePDF says OCR is needed to extract all text from scanned files, and PDFgear says it converts scanned PDFs to editable files with OCR.
Will formatting survive the conversion?
Often, but not always. Google Drive says the format might not transfer, while bold, italics, font size, font type and line breaks are likely to be retained.
Is it safe to upload a PDF to a free converter?
Every online converter uploads your file to the vendor's servers. Read each vendor's own wording on storage and deletion before uploading anything sensitive.
Can I convert a PDF to Word without software?
Yes. PDF24 says you don't need to install or configure anything, and Smallpdf says you can convert PDF to Word for free without signing up.
