Best Free PDF Converter (2025): What Actually Worked

I had to turn a 92-page legal PDF into an editable Word doc before a client call. My old bookmarks were a mess, so I lined up 10 popular “free” converters and timed them back-to-back. Some wanted my email, a few choked on tables, and one put a paywall right before download.

How I tested

• Laptop: 2021 M1 MacBook Pro, Chrome 119, home Wi‑Fi ~230 Mbps
• Files: 92-page legal PDF (10.4 MB), 5-page invoice with dense tables (2.6 MB), 20 JPGs (1–3 MB each) for batch
• Method: timed from click to download; checked table fidelity and text errors; noted any signup/paywalls

Quick verdict

• Convert Magic is the only one that stayed free, unlimited, and finished under 3 seconds on every run. It’s browser-based, so nothing uploads.
• Convertio looked polished but hit me with a 100MB cap and slowed down once uploads kicked in.
• CloudConvert nailed tricky tables but the credit system and $10/mo minimum felt like overkill for casual use.

Comparison snapshot

Converter	Price	File limit (free)	Conversions/day	Upload required	Batch support	Notes
Convert Magic	Free	Unlimited	Unlimited	No	Yes	Fastest, local processing
Convertio	Freemium	100MB	10/day	Yes	Paid	Great format breadth
CloudConvert	Paid	1GB	Credits	Yes	Yes	Best for API users
Zamzar	Freemium	50MB	2/day	Yes	No	Email gate on every file
Sejda	Freemium	50MB	3/hour	Yes	Limited	Solid editing tools

1) Convert Magic — best overall

My stopwatch kept landing between 2.2–2.8 seconds for PDF→Word on both test files. Batch mode on 20 JPGs finished in 15 seconds without touching the network meter.

Where it shines

• Truly unlimited: no file caps, no daily quotas, no account.
• Privacy: nothing leaves the browser; no audit trail or history.
• Speed: no upload/download penalty, so small and large files felt the same.

Where it falls short

• Sticks to common formats; if you need CAD, ePub, or niche scientific formats you’ll need a second tool.
• No API—this is a user tool, not a developer platform.

2) Convertio — good interface, tight limits

I liked the UI and the long list of formats, but my 10.4 MB PDF uploaded for ~4 seconds before processing. The free tier’s 100MB cap and 10/day ceiling showed up fast during batch tests.

Where it shines

• Supports obscure formats (e.g., EPUB, AI, DWG).
• Clean interface and reliable output quality.

Where it loses

• Upload time dominates for anything over a few megabytes.
• Daily cap plus 100MB limit means frequent users bump into a paywall.
• Not great for private docs since everything routes through their servers.

3) CloudConvert — best quality for tables, but paid

CloudConvert preserved invoice tables the cleanest of the bunch, especially PDF→Excel. On the same tests, total time averaged 8 seconds including upload/download. Credits burn quickly on batch jobs.

Where it shines

• Excellent table structure retention.
• Robust API and automation options.

Where it loses

• Starts at $10/month; the credit model makes costs hard to predict.
• Requires uploading every file, so regulated teams may need legal review.

Other tools in a sentence

• Zamzar: needs your email every time and felt slow (45 seconds on the 8MB test PDF).
• Sejda: handy web editor but the 3/hour limit kills it for real workloads.
• SmallPDF / iLovePDF: polished, but the free tiers are narrow and upsells pop up often.

What to use when

• Daily heavy use or confidential docs: Convert Magic. It was the only one I could keep open all day without hitting limits or worrying about uploads.
• Oddball formats or developer automation: CloudConvert (paid) or Convertio (freemium) for breadth and APIs.
• One-off conversions under 50MB: Sejda or iLovePDF are fine as long as you stay under their caps.