9 Best PDF to Excel Converters Offline & Online

pdf to excel converter

A PDF to Excel conversion tool, online or offline, helps you to convert PDF files, native or scanned, into Excel format. Converting PDF to Excel is mainly done to obtain an editable Excel file or to meet other goals like;

  • Maintaining data accuracy by eliminating manual copy-paste that is prone to errors.
  • Saving time when large amounts of PDF data need to be used in Excel format.
  • Obtaining an Excel spreadsheet where a PDF is not suitable e.g. when uploading.
  • Making data usable and easy to analyze e.g table data on PDFs will help statisticians more when in Excel formats, like when outputting visual information in graphs and charts.

To meet any of the above goals, you need the best PDF to Excel converter tool that will perform PDF to Excel conversion without losing format. And in that line, this review article opens you up to just the right software for the job.

9 Great PDF to Excel Converter Software – Free Download

Software NameSupported OSVersionDownload Link
  • 1. TalkHelper PDF Converter
  • WindowsFull VersionFree Download
  • 2. Able2Extract Professional
  • Windows, MacFree TrialFree Download
  • 3. Adobe Acrobat
  • Windows, Mac, MobileFree DemoFree Download
  • 4. Nitro Pro
  • Windows, MacFree TrialFree Download
  • 5. Cogniview PDF2XL
  • Windows, Mac, Web-basedFree TrialFree Download
  • 6. Wondershare PDFelement
  • Windows, MacFree TrialFree Download
  • 7. iLovePDF
  • Windows, Mac, Web-basedFree DemoFree Download
  • 8. Investintech Online Converter
  • Web-basedFreeFree Download
  • 9. PDF to XLS Converter App
  • AndroidFreeFree Download

    #1. TalkHelper PDF Converter (Recommended)

    talkhelper-pdf-to-excel

    TalkHelper PDF Converter is our pick for the best PDF to Excel converter tool that will transform your PDFs into Excel spreadsheets without losing format. It also offers several modes; Edit Priority (default for native PDFs), Format Priority (alternative mode for normal PDFs), and OCR mode to help extract text from scanned or image-based PDFs into new Excel files using the built-in OCR (Optical Character Recognition) tool.

    In all these tasks, you get to convert single or multiple PDFs all at once, besides converting certain PDF pages or page ranges to extract specific information.

    Pros:

    • Supports both partial and batch PDF to Excel conversion
    • Features a built-in OCR tool with 46 languages
    • Outputs high-quality, format-retaining Excel files
    • Convert both native and scanned/image-based PDFs
    • Realizes fast PDF to Excel conversion tasks

    Cons:

    • Windows only

    Supported Platforms: Windows

    Best for: A comprehensive process to convert native/scanned PDFs to high-quality, editable Excel files with the help of a built-in OCR.

    Download TalkHelper PDF Converter

    #2. Able2Extract Professional

    Able2Extract-Professional

    Able2Extract Professional is an AI-backed, quick, and accurate PDF to Excel converter program that is designed to automate your tasks. With it, you can customize the output to meet your specific needs, especially using the smart layout detector.

    For instance, you can export all PDF fonts, colors, cell borders, and overall layout into a new Excel file without any inconsistencies. Even better, you get access to batch conversion options, an automatic OCR mode, and PDF to Excel conversion templates for an expedited process when working on similar PDFs.

    Pros:

    • Highly accurate, AI-backed PDF to Excel conversion
    • Allows you to customize the output
    • Features an automatic OCR
    • Supports batch processing
    • Allows you to select specific data to convert

    Cons:

    • Some fonts don’t go well with the OCR
    • A few OCR languages

    Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac

    Best for: A custom PDF to Excel conversion process backed up by AI and a smart layout detector for full manual control over the output.

    Download Able2Extract Professional

    #3. Adobe Acrobat

    adobe acrobat

    Adobe Acrobat offers to convert PDF to Excel (XLS or XLSX) fast while keeping the layout, columns, and overall formatting intact. Just like Able2Extract Professional, the process is largely automated for you for convenience. You can also work from anywhere, online or offline, to output fully editable Excel sheets hassle-free.

    Even better, using the OCR, you get to extract and format text data from PDF scans and save it in Excel format. Also, instead of converting the entire PDF document, simply select the data you need, and let Adobe Acrobat handle the rest.

    Pros:

    • Supports both partial and batch conversion
    • Features an OCR for use on scanned PDFs
    • Allows you to work from anywhere
    • Retains the original layout and formatting
    • Super-fast with high-quality output
    • Supports encrypted PDFs

    Cons:

    • Expensive

    Supported Platforms: Desktop and Web-based

    Best for: A super-fast PDF to Excel conversion process with OCR options, format/layout retention, while still offering partial and batch conversion options.

    Download Adobe Acrobat

    #4. Nitro Pro

    nitro-pro

    Nitro Pro aims at getting rid of all the inconsistencies that come with copy-pasting. This is by helping you to convert any PDF into an editable Microsoft Excel file in a matter of moments. The output Excel files retain the original PDF properties like images, fonts, and formatting to rid you of the need for post-conversion editing to correct mistakes.

    Even better, you have the chance to convert multiple PDFs to Excel all at once, besides a nifty feature where PDF emails and attachments can be converted directly using the Outlook plugin.

    Pros:

    • A familiar Office-like interface
    • Offers batch PDF to Excel conversion options
    • Retains the original layout and formatting
    • Strikes a good balance between speed and quality
    • Features a built-in PDF editor

    Cons:

    • The free version is quite limiting

    Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac

    Best for: An alternative to Adobe Acrobat for fast and quality PDF to Excel conversion process with top-tier levels of layout and formatting consistency.

    Download nitro pro

    #5. Cogniview PDF2XL

    pdf2xl

    Cogniview PDF2XL is presented as the most powerful PDF to Excel converter software with a plethora of features. With over 130 OCR languages, almost any scan PDF can be converted into Excel; OCR an entire page, section, column, and more. Using smart layouts, you get to create rows from text/lines, transpose columns/rows, use suggested templates, among others.

    Moreover, PDF2XL can recognize tables and offer great flexibility when converting into Excel. Further, this online and offline tool supports batch processing, a command-line interface, and server deployment options for automated PDF to Excel processing.

    Pros:

    • Features dedicated table recognition options
    • Offers a built-in OCR for scanned PDFs
    • Allows you to work with reusable smart layouts
    • Can convert up to 1000 pages/minute
    • Allows you to customize the output
    • Supports partial and batch conversion

    Cons:

    • OCR is only available for the paid version
    • A bit expensive for personal use

    Supported Platforms: Desktop and Web-based

    Best for: Converting PDF to Excel lightning-fast, online or offline, with great flexibility, and great control over the output.

    Download Cogniview PDF2XL

    #6. Wondershare PDFelement

    wondershare_pdfelement

    Wondershare PDFelement allows you to convert PDFs (native, scanned/image-based) into other editable formats like Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and more. With this program, you can perform direct and high-quality PDF to Excel conversions straight from the Windows shell.

    Even better, extract just the data you need (a page, page range, section, or selected area) from scanned PDFs using the built-in OCR. Besides, the source PDFs can be edited before conversion, not forgetting the ability to convert password-protected PDFs into Excel conveniently. Depending on the source PDF, choose between text recognition or layout priority conversion mode.

    Pros:

    • Offers PDF editing options
    • Built-in automatic OCR
    • Flexible pricing
    • Batch convert PDF to Excel
    • Straightforward
    • Layout and formatting retention

    Cons:

    • No OCR on the free version
    • Watermarked output for the unlicensed version

    Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac

    Best for: Comprehensive PDF to Excel converter tool boasting batch processing, support for encrypted PDFs, editing options, and exemplary output.

    Download pdfelement

    #7. iLovePDF

    ilovepdf-pdf-to-excel

    iLovePDF is one of the best PDF to Excel converter programs that function online without the need to download and set up software on your computer. Some of the outstanding features here include options to convert multiple PDFs to Excel simultaneously, the ability to rotate the PDFs, built-in OCR, and fast processing overall.

    Amazingly, even at the high conversion speeds, you get to retain the original quality between the source PDF file and the converted Excel file. For those who like working offline, iLovePDF also offers a desktop PDF to Excel converter tool.

    Pros:

    • Integrates Google Drive and Dropbox cloud services
    • Offers OCR and batch processing options
    • Available for use on multiple platforms
    • Allows you to rotate PDFs before conversion to Excel
    • Offers Android and iOS apps to convert PDF to Excel

    Cons:

    • Ad-laden free version
    • Limited free version

    Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac, Web-based

    Best for: Fast export of PDFs into Excel spreadsheets online, while keeping the original layout and formatting intact.

    Download ilovepdf

    #8. Investintech Free Online PDF to Excel Converter

    Investintech Free Online PDF to Excel Converter

    This is your best online PDF to Excel converter when you need to accurately extract PDF tables and still retain the original structure in the output Excel sheet. Also, using a high-fidelity OCR, you can extract text data from any scanned PDF and save it in an editable Excel spreadsheet hassle-free.

    All files remain safe and secure too thanks to the use of encrypted connections anytime you undertake PDF to Excel tasks. Better yet, you get to use this online PDF to Excel free without any limitations or restrictions.

    Pros:

    • Supports both native and scanned PDFs
    • Safe and secure for online use
    • 100% free
    • Convert PDF to Excel without losing format
    • Available on iOS and Android too

    Cons:

    • No option to batch convert PDF to Excel

    Supported Platforms: Web-based

    Best for: A free, accurate, and efficient PDF to Excel conversion process on any platform with automatic OCR.

    Download Investintech

    #9. PDF to XLS Converter App

    pdf-to-xls-converter-app

    PDF to XLS Converter App is the best PDF to Excel converter tool on any Android device (tablet or smartphone). This means that you can convert PDF to XLS or XLSX even while on the go, therefore, translating into reliability.

    With this Android app, you can extract PDF tables to Excel, transform scanned PDFs into editable Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, without restrictions and as many files as you want. For scanned PDFs, worry not since the OCR kicks in automatically. Even as an Android app, this program surprisingly still keeps the formatting intact.

    Pros:

    • Convert as many PDFs as you wish
    • Automatic OCR
    • Convert PDF to Excel on-the-go
    • An avid PD table-extraction tool
    • 100% free

    Cons:

    • Ad-laden

    Supported Platforms: Android

    Best for: Extracting tables and converting native/scanned PDFs to Excel with the help of an automatic OCR, on any Android device.

    Download PDF to XLS Converter App

    Conclusion

    The best PDF to Excel converter software, whether online or offline, is very necessary for the ultimate convenience when converting both native and scanned PDFs into Excel. Of course, scanned PDFs will require a powerful OCR to deliver accurate Excel spreadsheets that match the layout and formatting of the original PDF. Now, pick the converter that fits your needs and put it to the task.

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