While it proves to be difficult to edit tables that are delivered to us in PDF format, there are reliable tools that have been crafted to help us bring that gap easily. Of course, you will get a cornucopia of tools out there that promise to extract PDF tables from PDF documents and save in either Excel or CSV format but unless you have knowledge of the available options, it can be a tedious and time-consuming process finding that one tool that will work the magic for you.
In this article, we bring a good end to your quest by letting you in on some of the 7 best software you can reliably use to extract tables from PDF to Excel in a satisfactory way. These top-performing solutions will sail you towards the ultimate convenience at the end of the day. If any of these PDF table extraction tools form part of your artillery, you can say goodbye to the copypasting and retyping of tables when you need to transfer table data from PDF into the Excel equivalent. Having said that, here is the boatload of programs you can count on to deliver exemplary results.
| Software Name | Supported Platform | Offline Version | Download Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 7/8/8.1/10 | Full Version | Free Download | |
| Windows 7/8/10 | Free Trial | Free Download | |
| Windows 7/8/10 | Free Trial | Free Download | |
| Windows 7/8/8.1/10 | Free Demo | Free Download | |
| Windows 7/8/10 | Free Demo | Free Download | |
| Windows 7/8/10 | Full Version | Free Download | |
| Windows 7/8/8.1/10 | Full Version | Free Download |
1. TalkHelper PDF Table Extractor
When it comes to the comprehensiveness of the process to extract table data from PDF files to transform them into Excel or CSV format, TalkHelper’s PDF solution is the best and ideal program to go for. For reliability, it supports both native and scanned PDF files thanks to the built-in OCR (Optical Character Recognition) feature. Amazingly, this top PDF data extraction software supports a whopping 46 languages which consequently means that the most popular languages are supported.
Besides that, you can choose to extract tables from a whole PDF file, specific individual pages, or even a page range that facilitates batch PDF conversion and in turn saves you time. Better yet, the user interface has been crafted in a way that it is both simple and instinctive to accommodate even the first time users. It will also offer you a free trial period without any limitations so that you can fully evaluate the features before you can upgrade. This is actually the best software to extract tables from PDF files that will ensure high-quality output and format retention to the greatest extent.
2. Tabula PDF Table Extractor
Just as the name suggests this is a top program that is dedicated to that ultimate convenience when you need to extract data from PDF files and especially table data and then transforming it into an editable format in an Excel document. Tabula PDF is open for use on Windows, Linus, and Mac since it is an online PDF data extraction software that also happens to have no limitations whatsoever. Instead of unnecessarily converting a whole PDF file while you just need specific table pages, this web app lets you do exactly that by letting you browse to the specific pages that you need to extract data from PDF to Excel or CSV.
Better yet, you have a preview feature that will come in handy to check whether the output will be just like you would wish it to be and in so doing saving a great deal of time and effort. One thing to note here is that this PDF data extractor software does not support scanned PDF files so keep that in mind.
3. PDF2Tables
PDF2Tables is a good PDF table extraction tool if you are looking to escape all those long hours of copypasting or retyping tables from PDF files to Excel spreadsheets. Apart from the Excel format, you can also export PDF tables to CSV format that will be handy when you need to manipulate the data like for instance Microsoft Excel. This tool will also get rid of the need to set up complex software on your computer as it works fully online.
For your security, both uploads and downloads are down via encrypted connections to ensure that your data does not fall into the wrong hands. By working from the cloud, this PDF data extractor delivers a process that is both fast and overly efficient to ensure that you do not take ages to have your tables ready in Excel format. The process is pretty much effortless and the program is able to adjust accordingly no matter the workload delivered to it. Therefore, you can rest assured of a reliable PDF data extraction to Excel process.
4. Docparser
If you are looking to automate PDF data extraction to Excel equivalent, Docparser is definitely a good choice. It is an online PDF data extraction software that also happens to support the much-coveted batch conversion feature that goes a long way to help you process many documents in a short time. No matter the kind of PDF you have, native or scanned, this PDF is able to extract table data without any mishaps. The incorporated parsing engine is flexible enough to ensure that every piece of data is processed in real-time into CSV or Excel format.
Getting started with this PDF table extraction tool is simple no matter your level of experience on top of the ability to retain the layout and formatting as much as possible. All you need is a modern web browser and a good internet connection to hand both the uploads and downloads. To make sure you have the best output, this app will also let you refine the layout and once you are satisfied with the preview, you can finally convert to Excel. For the table data, you can even choose to leave out some columns and rows.
5. CogniView PDF2XL
With support for over 130 languages, PDF2XL data extraction software will handle your scanned PDF files with the ultimate ease. Tables, invoices, forms, and any other kind of data can be extracted from PDF to Excel and in doing so save you lots of time and effort that would have been used to retype or copy-paste the same data. You also get the chance to work with the OCR where you can select full pages, sections, and even in terms of columns. It boasts of advanced table recognition features that come in handy to highlight, create, append, split, and even exclude certain pieces of data without much hassle.
Better yet, you have the chance to implement batch conversion on top of processing unstructured data without the need for sophisticated programs. If you prefer to work with a desktop alternative, this tool has got you covered too. At the end of the day, you have the leading document conversion software when you are looking to extract PDF tables to CSV or Excel and get to reuse data conveniently.
6. A-PDF Data Extractor
Batch conversion is what this PDF data extractor software understands best. With A-PDF, you get to extract tables and save them in CSV, Excel, or XML formats that are editable. The built-in table extraction engine is able to verify and define all the table fields in the input PDF file and after gathering that information, the extraction process is able to happen accurately. It also eliminates the need for post-conversion editing since it tries as much as possible to retain the original layout and formatting.
You also get the chance to take part in the process by defining fields, values, and their order so that the final Excel table is just like you would have wished it to be. No matter the number of PDF files you have as input, you have the chance to output them to a single CSV, Excel, or XML file. On top of that, those who do not prefer the graphical user interface can rock the command-driven version of this tool to extract tables from PDF files. Not forgetting how affordable it is and does not have any dependencies.
7. PDFZilla PDF Table Extractor
By giving you the freedom to choose the sections, pages, and page ranges that you want to extract tables from in PDF files, PDFZilla has managed to make a name for itself resulting in popularity. In just a matter of 3 clicks, you will be done with the process to extract data from PDF files all in a very simple and instinctive way. The PDF data extraction to Excel is not just done in just any normal way but actually in a special way that ensures that the output is of the highest quality possible. With over 20 languages supported, working to OCR scanned PDF files feels just like a walk in the park.
If you want to do more within the shortest time, this PDF table to CSV tool has got you covered with the support for batch PDF conversion. Both the XLS and XLSX Excel formats are supported so you can rest assured with full reliability and integrity. In the process to extract data from PDF files, this piece of software will definitely cause a stir.
Now that you have a whole bunch of tools to help you convert tables in PDF files into an editable Excel format, you can breathe a sigh of relief as you have a chance to enjoy the ultimate convenience of the process. You can finally escape from the hassle of retyping and copy-pasting lots of table data. I believe, after going through this article, you have found that one PDF data extraction software that laces your shoes best.
