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    Technology Manager of Test Dept.
 

Summary
The article provides a comprehensive guide on extracting text data from PDFs to Excel, addressing the challenges of balancing cost, efficiency, and accuracy in the process.



If you need a free solution to convert a single PDF into Excel, plenty of options are available. But handling bulk conversions with multiple PDFs? That’s where specialized tools come in.
You’re in the right place! This guide dives deep into free batch conversion methods, covering online services, powerful tools, and custom Python scripts for seamless automation. Plus, we’ll tackle tricky files—like bank statements, tax files or fillable PDFs—that often frustrate users with the dreaded “Please wait…” message.

Single PDF to Excel Conversion

For your convenience, I’ve compiled two commonly used free methods for you.
Using Excel to Convert PDF to Excel
Excel itself can be used to convert PDFs to Excel. For detailed instructions, refer to this guide.
Using Google Sheets to Convert PDF to Excel
Google Sheets also offers a method to convert PDFs to Excel. You can find the step-by-step process in this guide. These methods are useful for individual files but may not be efficient for batch processing.

Bulk Conversion of PDFs to Excel

Online Free Batch PDF-to-Excel Converters

For bulk processing, free online tools have limitations but can handle basic tasks:
Tool/MethodSpeed & EfficiencyBatch Processing & LimitationsAccuracy & Formatting RetentionAdditional Features & Security Considerations

Smallpdf

Fast processing for individual files; moderate speed when processing several files concurrently.

Supports batch conversion on its free plan—but expect daily conversion limits & file size restrictions (often around 5–10 files per session in free mode).

Generally good for basic tables; struggles with highly complex formatting or multi-column layouts in some PDFs.

Cloud-based processing; files are usually auto-deleted after a short window.

ILovePDF

Efficient conversion speed overall; performs well with small to medium-sized PDFs.

Offers batch processing, but free users face daily limits and maximum file size restrictions (both per file and overall).

Good accuracy for straight-forward table structures; might require post-editing for PDFs with complex layouts or embedded graphics.

Uses secure connections; files are encrypted and removed after a set time.

PDFtoExcel.com

Moderate speed largely dependent on the PDF’s complexity; simple layouts convert faster.

Batch conversion is available; however, free versions require individual uploads or have limits on simultaneous processing.

Acceptable on plain text-based tables; may lose intricate Excel formatting for more complex PDFs.

Online service with a focus on preserving raw data; privacy policies generally ensure temporary storage without long-term retention of your documents.

Online2PDF

Conversion speed can slow down with larger or multi-page files; overall performance is steady for smaller batches.

Fully supports batch conversion with generous number-of-pages limits, though individual file size constraints (often up to 100MB) and total pages processed may apply.

Offers various customization options; however, the conversion may sometimes struggle with PDFs having multiple columns or non-standard structures.

Provides options to tweak output settings; however, working on the cloud means always reviewing security measures especially when handling sensitive data.

While these methods do support batch PDF processing, they come with significant free usage limitations, such as page count restrictions and performance constraints. Additionally, there is a potential risk of data exposure when using free online tools. For sensitive or important data, it’s best to process files locally to ensure security.

Offline/Open-Source Free Methods (For advanced users)

Tool/MethodSpeed & EfficiencyBatch Processing & LimitationsAccuracy & Formatting RetentionAdditional Features & Requirements

Tabula

Generally fast for extracting table data from well-structured PDFs.

Enables batch processing via its command-line interface; best with clearly defined, grid-like tables – not designed for full-layout conversion.

Excels in extracting tabular data into CSV (which can then be imported into Excel) for PDFs with well-defined tables.

Open-source and free; requires some technical familiarity. No direct Excel output, but CSV exports work seamlessly with Excel.

Camelot (Python)

Speed varies with PDF complexity; lighter PDFs convert almost instantly, while complex ones take longer.

Batch processing is achievable by scripting; users can define parameters per file or folder to optimize extraction for multiple PDFs.

High accuracy for standard table structures; may struggle or need parameter fine-tuning for multi-line or irregular cells.

Requires basic Python coding skills; outputs to CSV/Excel-friendly formats. Great for those comfortable automating tasks and fine-tuning extraction parameters.

pdf2table (Python-based)

Efficient when handling text-based tables; similar performance to Camelot when tailored for specific PDF layouts.

Batch processing via scripting; capable of processing multiple files in a loop with custom configurations.

Performs well for PDFs with clear text data; formatting may not be as robust with highly formatted or graphic-rich tables.

Requires installation and some programming know-how; ideal for users who work with batch conversions in a reproducible, automated environment. Exports data that Excel can later consume.

Renee PDF Aide: A Robust Solution for Bulk PDF Text Extract

Renee PDF Aide is an easy-to-operate software that converts up to 80 pages/min. It supports conversion from PDF to Excel, Word, PowerPoint, ePub, Text, HTML, JPG, TIFF, and more. In addition, this software integrates various functions including optimizing, repairing, and encrypting PDF files. Despite its diverse features, the interface is user-friendly and simple. Renee PDF Aide uses advanced OCR technology to convert scanned PDFs and images into editable formats and supports one-click batch conversion for efficiency, safety, and a free conversion experience.
Renee PDF Aide – The Ultimate PDF2Excel Conversion Solution!

Versatile Effortlessly convert XFA, multitable, and scanned PDFs with OCR precision

Secure 100% local conversions ensure zero risk of data leaks

Efficient Batch Process dozens of PDF files in seconds

Comprehensive Seamlessly convert PDFs to Excel, PowerPoint, Text, and more

Budget Friendly Enjoy FREE unlimited PDF2Word conversions

Versatile Effortlessly convert XFA, multi

Secure 100% local conversions ensure zero risk of data leaks

Efficient Batch Process dozens of PDF files in seconds

Free TrialFree TrialNow 1335621 people have obtained the free version!
Usage Steps:
① After installing Renee PDF Aide, open it. Select “Convert PDF“.
select to convert pdf with renee pdf converter
② Add the PDF files to be converted by clicking the “Add Files” button. The software supports batch conversion, allowing you to import multiple files simultaneously. Once added, the file information will appear in the conversion list. Click the “Selected Pages” list to set the pages for conversion.
add excel files into renee pdf aide
Note: Click Options to set more requirements about the output files.
set more requirements
④ If your PDF file is a scanned copy, please select “Enable OCR” in location 3. If not, skip this step.
how to convert pdf to excel with renee pdf aide
The software offers three OCR text recognition modes:

A: Recognize text in pictures or PDF scans: This mode assumes the text on the PDF page is in a picture/scanned image and uses OCR (selecting the corresponding language improves results) to recognize and output the text.

B: Identify built-in fonts (to avoid garbled characters): This mode assumes the text on the PDF page uses embedded fonts. The program converts these fonts into images, then uses OCR (selecting the corresponding language improves results) to recognize and output the text.

A+B (slower): The program automatically determines whether the font in the file is a picture or an embedded PDF font, then converts and outputs it. This mode is time-consuming, resulting in longer conversion times.

⑤ Click “Convert” button. After conversion, a prompt will display the total number of files converted, as well as the successful ones. The PDF is now converted into an Excel file. To access the result files, click the links in the “Status” column.
pdf to excel convert excel

Understanding XFA PDFs

Some PDFs use XFA (XML Forms Architecture), which can cause issues when converting. If a PDF only displays “Please wait… If this message is not eventually replaced by the proper contents of the document, your PDF viewer may not be able to display this type of document.”, it is likely an XFA-based PDF.
XFA pdf files open error and promotes Please wait message
The XFA specification was never standardized as part of the ISO PDF format and has been deprecated in newer PDF versions, with its discontinuation becoming more apparent after 2017.

Why does this happen?

  • XFA PDFs require specific viewers like Adobe Acrobat Reader to display correctly.
  • Many standard PDF readers cannot process XFA forms, leading to blank pages.
  • Bank statements and government forms often use XFA.

Solutions:

1. Use a PDF viewer that supports XFA, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader.
2. Convert the PDF using OCR (Optical Character Recognition) to extract text. If you encounter an XFA-based PDF, checking its properties in Adobe Acrobat can confirm its format.
Here we recommand using Renee PDF Aide to convert such files:
Renee PDF Aide – The Ultimate PDF2Excel Conversion Solution!

Versatile Effortlessly convert XFA, multitable, and scanned PDFs with OCR precision

Secure 100% local conversions ensure zero risk of data leaks

Efficient Batch Process dozens of PDF files in seconds

Comprehensive Seamlessly convert PDFs to Excel, PowerPoint, Text, and more

Budget Friendly Enjoy FREE unlimited PDF2Word conversions

Versatile Effortlessly convert XFA, multi

Secure 100% local conversions ensure zero risk of data leaks

Efficient Batch Process dozens of PDF files in seconds

Free TrialFree TrialNow 1335621 people have obtained the free version!

Summary

In summary, extracting Text from PDFs to Excel can be done through various methods, depending on your needs. For single files, Excel and Google Sheets offer straightforward solutions. For bulk processing, online tools like Smallpdf and ILovePDF, as well as offline tools like Renee PDF Aide, Tabula and Python scripts, provide efficient and customizable options.