Extract Text from PDF
Need to pull text out of a PDF? Upload your file and ParseJet extracts every word — including from scanned pages via OCR. Perfect for research, data extraction, content migration, and feeding documents into AI models.
Drop a file here or browse
Accepts PDF files
Free — 3 requests/day, no signup. for 300 credits/month free.
How it works
Select your PDF
Upload a PDF from your computer. Supports text-based PDFs, scanned documents, and mixed-content files up to 200 MB.
Text extraction
ParseJet processes each page — digital text is extracted directly, while scanned pages go through OCR. The full text is assembled in reading order.
Use your text
Copy the extracted text, paste it anywhere, or integrate with the API to extract text from PDFs in your application.
Key features
What makes this extract text from pdf stand out.
Better than copy-paste
Unlike manual copy-paste, ParseJet preserves line breaks, handles multi-column layouts, and doesn't scramble text order.
Scanned document support
Image-only PDFs from scanners or cameras are processed with OCR to extract all visible text.
Metadata extraction
Returns the document title, author, page count, and creation date alongside the extracted text.
No installation required
Works entirely in your browser for the online tool, or via HTTP API for programmatic access — no software to install.
Privacy-first
Files are processed and immediately discarded. Nothing is stored on our servers after extraction.
Use cases
Common scenarios where this tool saves you time.
Academic research
Extract text from research papers and journal articles for citation, annotation, or literature review tools.
Legal document processing
Pull text from contracts, court filings, and legal briefs for review, comparison, or e-discovery workflows.
Content migration
Migrate PDF-only content into a CMS, knowledge base, or wiki by extracting the text and reformatting it.
Training data preparation
Extract text from document PDFs to build training datasets for machine learning models.
Automate with the API
Use the same tool programmatically. Works with any language — just HTTP.
# Extract text from a local PDF file curl -X POST https://api.parsejet.com/v1/parse/auto/file \ -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \ -F "[email protected]" # Extract text from a PDF URL curl -X POST https://api.parsejet.com/v1/parse/auto/url \ -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{"url": "https://example.com/report.pdf"}'
import httpx
# Extract text from a local PDF
with open("contract.pdf", "rb") as f:
resp = httpx.post(
"https://api.parsejet.com/v1/parse/auto/file",
headers={"Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"},
files={"file": ("contract.pdf", f, "application/pdf")},
)
data = resp.json()
print(data["text"]) # Extracted text
print(data["title"]) # Document title
print(data["metadata"]) # Page count, author, etc. // Extract text from a PDF URL
const res = await fetch("https://api.parsejet.com/v1/parse/auto/url", {
method: "POST",
headers: {
Authorization: "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY",
"Content-Type": "application/json",
},
body: JSON.stringify({ url: "https://example.com/report.pdf" }),
});
const { text, title, metadata } = await res.json(); Want to automate this?
ParseJet API gives you the same parsing power via a single HTTP endpoint. No ffmpeg, no poppler, no tesseract — just one API call.
Frequently asked questions
How do I extract text from a PDF file?
Upload your PDF using the tool above. ParseJet processes it instantly and returns all extracted text. You can also use the API: POST /v1/parse/auto/file.
Can I extract text from a password-protected PDF?
ParseJet can extract text from PDFs that allow text copying. Fully encrypted PDFs that restrict all access cannot be processed.
How is this different from copy-paste?
Copy-paste from PDFs often breaks formatting, loses line breaks, and scrambles columns. ParseJet preserves reading order, handles multi-column layouts, and extracts text from scanned pages that copy-paste cannot reach.
Can I extract text from a PDF URL without downloading it first?
Yes. Use the URL endpoint: POST /v1/parse/auto/url with your PDF URL. ParseJet downloads and processes it server-side — no need to download the file yourself.
What output format does ParseJet return?
ParseJet returns Markdown-formatted text by default, preserving headings, lists, and tables. This works great for documentation, AI pipelines, and any tool that reads Markdown.
Is it free?
Yes. You get 3 free extractions per day with no signup. Create a free account for 300 credits per month. Paid plans start at $19/month with larger file size limits and higher quotas.
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PDF to Markdown Converter
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OCR — Extract Text from Images
Free online OCR tool to extract text from images. Supports JPG, PNG, GIF, WebP, and TIFF. Also available as a developer API for Python, JavaScript, and more.