PDF to Excel

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Why: 

Users most likely want to convert PDF to Excel when they have numerical data in a table that is suited for spreadsheets. Numerical and tabular data looks great in PDF but it is not useable for analysis. The PDF to Excel Converter will lift the data from the PDF and put it into the xlsx, xls and csv format.

Limitations:

The output of a PDF in Excel depends on a variety of factors. On the PDF side, these are the factors to consider:

PDF Quality:  

Ideally, the PDF was created electronically from an electronic file. Perhaps even from an Excel spreadsheet.  If so, the PDF will be of maximum fidelity and quality. As a result, the conversion algorithm will be able to interpret the PDF in Excel easily. 

Sometimes, however, PDFs are created by scanners. More recently, it is phones taking photos of documents. This type of PDF is an image or a scanned PDF.  The quality of these PDFs varies and so OCR is required to lift or convert the numerical data off the PDF and into Excel.

Skew:

For scanned or image PDFs, if the PDF data is not perfectly vertical it is called skewed. OCR technology is getting better and can correct for this but this can impact accuracy of output.

Misaligned columns:

A good PDF to Excel converter will get columns aligned correctly. Spaces, periods, dashes can confuse the the PDF to Excel algorithm. Top PDF to Excel converters will understand and see these tricks and therefore eliminate them to ensure output columns are correct.

Combined Rows:

PDF tables sometimes have rows of data that are slightly further apart than others. The excel output of word can separate the PDF data when these gaps are present. This can throw the table off.

Special characters: dollar signs, periods, dashes, specials currencies can all affect the PDF to Excel conversion output.

Testing the Options:

There are many converters out there and many of them claim to be free. When selecting your PDF to Excel conversion, these should be the considerations:

Can the PDF to Excel converter convert native or scanned PDF with OCR? Is it a paid feature?

Do you want an online or desktop solution? 

Online PDF to Excel is certainly the fastest and easiest solution to use. Desktop solutions require installation but offers more powerful PDF to Excel.

Credit card free trial: 

Subscription services also require giving a credit card in order to get full PDF to Excel conversions.

Cookies placed: 

does performing a PDF to Excel conversion mean that you get a tracking cookie placed on your computer that will mean you get followed around the Internet.

Subscription or Perpetual: 

Online PDF to Excel requires a monthly or yearly subscription fee. Desktop options are often a pay once PDF to Excel solution.

Trying a few different services is often the best option to see what PDF to Excel conversion is best for your PDF.

Top Options

1. Xodo.com

Xodo is an online super site offering all types of PDF tools. It has one free conversion per day and is powered by the PDFTron SDK. A 5-day free trial is available if users insert a credit card. The con of the service is that PDF to Excel is native conversion only.

2. SmallPDF

Probably the most famous and biggest website offering PDF tools. It has the option of OCR for PDF to Excel conversion but a credit card is required for the free trial. 1 free native PDF to Excel conversion is offered per day.

3. PDFtoExcel.com

This is a free website that also has a paid option. There are no limits on the number of PDF to Excel conversions and it handles OCR PDFs well. The servers can be slow when it is busy and the paid option allows for access to premium less busy servers.