PDF files are secure for exchanging and printing but things come difficult when you want to edit them. The first thing comes to your mind may be of employing PDF editors, which are expensive to purchase. But for some security concerned PDF files, you cannot edit it even if you have a PDF editor.

OK, they are security protected for a reason. But sometimes we really need to re-use the PDF files. Most of us may like to use some free PDF tools rather than expensive PDF editors. Following review is about to introduce 10 different free PDF to Word converters to you.

Part 1, desktop application for converting PDF to a Word document

1. AdreamSoft PDF to Word converter 1.0

AdreamSoft PDF to Word converter 1.0 is a beta release. It’s free to download and register during its beta period. Download the tool and activate it with the free Keycode provided by AdreamSoft.

AdreamSoft can convert PDF to Word doc and Docx easily with importing/dragging the PDF files to its main screen. You can also right click on a PDF file to convert PDF to a Word document. The user interface is very intuitive and well designed for all kinds of users. Most importantly, this tool is able to convert restricted PDF files to Word documents without a problem, while most of other ones on the Internet cannot.

Cons of this tool:The conversion quality is not worth the conversion time. Whatever, it does convert PDF to Word.

2. Hello PDF to Word converter

The newest version of this application is 1.1, it seems that the developer hasn’t upgraded this free version since November 2008. It can convert all pages or selected pages from PDF file to a Word document and automatically open the output Doc file when the conversion is done. What I want to highlight is its conversion speed. It only spent me 1 min to convert a 20 M PDF file to a Word document.

Cons of this PDF to Word converter is that it does not support the Adobe PDF 1.7. And one thing I have no idea to figure out is that why the outputs always shrink to the left-upper corner of pages, every page does!

3. Advanced PDF to Word Converter

The size of this application is 8M. The installation requires a reboot. When running this program, you should close your Office and it can only convert part of the PDF file pages to a Word document. The default output file is C/Output but sometimes you cannot find anything in this folder after the PDF to Word conversion. I think it is just a trick that leading you to buy they registration version! Frankly, this free PDF to Word converter “is not my type”.

Part 2, convert PDF to a Word document free online

For some privacy information, it may not safe enough to upload to someone’s Web site. And if you are traveling somewhere, it may not be convenient as the desktop applications do. But converting files online do not need to install anything on your computer. It’s green, isn’t it? So for the common data, the free online PDF to Word converter may help a lot. OK, below is some famous free online PDF to Word converter.

1. PDF online, PDF online.com

This free service is powered by BCL easyConverter SDK. In my opinion, this is the best free online PDF to Word converter, the images, the layout and the text are well retained. Directly upload your PDF files and wait for a moment. There will be a download link returned, just download the converted Word documents with this link. No Email address required, and the speed is high enough!

Cons: Then the only disadvantage I have found is the output file is too big, I tested a 415 KB，16 pages PDF file and found the converted file is 397 M. But, anyway, I think this online tool is on the top of all the free PDF to Word conversion service.

2. Nitro free PDF to Word Converter

It lets you upload PDF files through a web interface and will then send the converted file via email as an attachment. Compared to BCL easyConverter above, you must be more patient because I have waited for about 2 hours to get my converted Word documents and the quality is not as good as BCL easyConverter. If you need to convert PDF to a Word document in a hurry, it may not your choice. And, if your PDF file is more than 10 M, you cannot use this service.

Cons: The conversion service is not stable, many of my PDF files were failed to be converted.

3. Solid PDF to Word online

Solid document is the leading provider for PDF to Word solutions. But the online service is not as famous as their desktop applications. To use it, go to freepdftoword.org, select your conversion options and click a button to make an e-mail message appear with the settings you've chosen. Attach your PDF file and click send. Its servers will convert the PDF file and e-mail your converted Word Document back to you.

4. Zamzar.com

Zamzar will let you upload a file through its web interface, convert it, then email you a download link. It covers a very wide range of possible input and output formats and the max uploadable file size is 100 M in the free version. It mainly converts the files to image formats and document formats.

5. Koolwire.com

Koolwire is a web service that allows you to upload a PDF file or send it via email as an attachment, will convert it to RTF format for you, and will email the converted document back.

6. Adobe email conversion service

Adobe provides a PDF conversion service by email similar to Koolwire. However, it seems that only conversion to HTML is offered (no RTF or DOC). But convert HTML file to Word file is simpler. For more info, go to the following link http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/access_onlinetools.html

7. Gmail to Convert PDF to HTML

If you have a Gmail account, you can send your PDF as attachments to yourself, and then Gmail will allow you to open your attachments as HTML files. At last you need to convert the HTML file to Word document.

Here I just made a simple review for this 10 free PDF to Word converters. If I know there are more freeware for converting PDF to a Word, I will add them to the list.

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