Top5 PDF Converter
All research goalsUse Case · PDF to Word

The Top 5 PDF to Word Converters of 2026

The best tools for converting PDFs into editable Word documents — ranked on layout accuracy, OCR, speed, and price.

See the Top 5

Converting PDF to Word is the most common job — and the one where cheap tools fail, mangling tables and columns. We ranked these specifically on how faithfully they preserve formatting.

Reviewed by Daniel Cole, Editor & Lead ReviewerUpdated July 2026How we rank
#1
Best Value

SwifDoo PDF

All-in-one PDF software for Windows

4.4

3,920 reviews

Accurate, affordable PDF-to-Word conversion in an all-in-one Windows app — our top pick for converting documents.

Convert, edit, OCR, compress & merge
Affordable yearly and lifetime plans
Lightweight and easy to use
Frequent updates and good support
Windows only
From $35.99/yrTry SwifDooRead full review
#2
Best All-in-One

Wondershare PDFelement

Full-featured PDF editor + converter

4.6

8,700 reviews

Accurate PDF-to-Word export, with full editing afterward — ideal when you need to keep working on the document.

Full PDF editing, not just conversion
Accurate export to Word, Excel & PowerPoint
Built-in OCR for scanned documents
Desktop, web, and mobile apps
Best features need a paid plan
Free trial / from $79.99/yrGet PDFelementRead full review
#3
Best for Forms

pdfFiller

Edit, fill & e-sign PDFs online

4.5

6,410 reviews

Converts to Word and lets you edit and sign the result in the same online workspace.

Powerful form filling & creation
Legally-binding e-signatures
Huge searchable form library
Cloud-based — works on any device
Subscription needed for full use
From $8/moTry pdfFillerRead full review
#4
Editor's Choice

PDF Expert

Premium PDF editor for Mac, iPhone & iPad

4.8

8,640 reviews

Exports PDFs to Word on Mac, iPhone and iPad within a premium editing experience.

Gorgeous, fast native Apple app
Powerful editing, annotation & forms
Syncs across Mac, iPhone & iPad
E-signatures and document scanning
Apple devices only (no Windows)
From $79.99/yrTry PDF ExpertRead full review
25+
Tools tested
5
Scoring criteria
100+
Test conversions
Monthly
Rankings updated
Independently researched · Reviewed by Daniel Cole, Editor & Lead Reviewer · Updated July 2026

Key Capabilities for PDF to Word

What matters most when researching PDF converter tools for pdf to word.

Layout Preservation

How faithfully tables, columns, fonts, and images survive the conversion — the single biggest factor.

Read the Layout Preservation guide

OCR for Scans

Whether the tool can convert scanned, image-only PDFs into editable Word text.

Read the OCR for Scans guide

Batch Conversion

Converting many PDFs to Word at once instead of one at a time.

Editing After Convert

How clean and editable the resulting .docx is once it opens in Word.

Best PDF converter tools for PDF to Word — Compared

How our top picks for pdf to word stack up side by side.

 
SwifDoo PDF#1
Wondershare PDFelement#2
pdfFiller#3
PDF Expert#4
Our Rating
4.4
4.6
4.5
4.8
PriceFrom $35.99/yrFree trial / from $79.99/yrFrom $8/moFrom $79.99/yr
Free TierFree trialFree trialTrial7-day trial
OCRYesYesYesYes (Pro)
Batch ConvertYesYesYesYes
FormatsWord, Excel, PPT, imagesWord, Excel, PPT, imagesWord, Excel, PPT, imagesWord, Excel, PPT, images
Local ProcessingYes (desktop)Yes (desktop)No (cloud)Yes (native app)
 Try SwifDooGet PDFelementTry pdfFillerTry PDF Expert

Frequently Asked Questions

Our top-ranked PDF converter overall is PDF Expert for Apple users, with Wondershare PDFelement and SwifDoo PDF leading on Windows. The rankings come from hands-on tests of conversion accuracy, speed, OCR, supported formats, security, and price. The best pick depends on your platform and whether you need full editing or just conversion — see the full top 5 above.
Top Pick for PDF to Word

SwifDoo PDF

4.4

An affordable, all-in-one Windows PDF suite — convert, edit, OCR, compress, merge, split, and annotate in one lightweight app.

Try SwifDoo