Sometimes you do not want the document, you just want the words. This strips out the layout, images and styling and gives you a plain .txt file - easy to search, paste, feed into another tool, or read on anything.
How to pdf to text
Upload your PDFChoose the PDF you want the words from. We will tell you if it is a scan with no text to extract.
Choose page markersKeep the page markers to know where each page began, or drop them for one continuous flow.
ExtractWe read the text out of every page.
DownloadGrab the .txt file. Your PDF is gone the instant your download is ready.
What you can do
- Search a long document for a phrase without opening it
- Paste a section into an email or a note without the formatting
- Feed a document's contents into another tool or script
- Get a plain reading copy for a screen reader or e-reader
- Count words, or check what a document actually says
What happens to your file
Your files are never stored. Nothing is parked, queued, or kept — the moment your download is ready, it's gone, and no one ever sees it.
Plenty of online tools store your file on their servers and delete it later. PDF Cubby doesn't keep it at all — there's nothing left behind to clean up afterward.
Features
- Plain .txt - opens anywhere, nothing proprietary
- Optional page markers so you know where each page starts
- Tells you when there is no text to extract, instead of handing back an empty file
- Free, no sign-up, no watermark
- Never stored - files are gone the moment you are done
Tips
- Getting nothing back? The PDF is a scan - run OCR first, then extract.
- Want the layout kept as well? PDF to Word preserves headings and tables.
- Only need a section? Extract Pages first, then pull the text.
Frequently asked questions
- Why did I get an empty file?
- Because the PDF has no text in it - it is a scan, so the words are pictures. Run it through OCR first and the text becomes extractable.
- Does it keep the formatting?
- No, and that is the point. You get plain words with no fonts, colours or layout. If you need the formatting, use PDF to Word.
- Will tables come out neatly?
- Not really. Tables lose their structure in plain text, since a .txt file has no concept of a cell. PDF to Word handles tables far better.
- Are page numbers included?
- You can choose. Page markers are on by default, showing where each page begins; turn them off for one continuous block of text.
- Do I need an account?
- No. Text extraction is free with no sign-up.
- Are my files kept anywhere?
- No. Your PDF is read and discarded the instant your download is ready.