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Test scope & comparison notes
These are recorded facts, not a unified ranking. Tested tiers and scope are not consistently recorded. Read pricing with its date and timing with its conditions. Privacy observations reflect visible flows and statements, not a security audit.
Cross-task capability coverage across selected products
Each product is scored independently per task edge; switch tasks below while keeping shared products selected| Task edge | PDFgear | aconvert.com | Switch / compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Image compression | Not tested in topic | 86/100 2048 × 2048 · PNG | Compare in task topic → |
| PDF to Word | 82/100 DOCX · Output attached | 79/100 DOCX · Output attached | Active task |
| PDF compression | 99/100 PDF · Output attached | 96/100 PDF · Output attached | |
| PDF merge & split | 99/100 PDF · Output attached | Not tested in topic | Compare in task topic → |
| Video compression | Not tested in topic | 85/100 MP4 · Output attached | Compare in task topic → |
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Browse this task →| Criterion | PDFgear PDF to Word 82/100 Seven-aspect task score Free login-free access includes deletion, but a skippable sharing prompt interrupts conversion and tables retain only visual borders, hindering edits. Tested export DOCX · Output attached Historical test · 2026-10-18 | Aconvert PDF to Word 79/100 Seven-aspect task score Aconvert achieved a 100% text retention rate on the 2-page benchmark PDF without requiring an account (preserving all 4 headings, 12 table cells, and page 2 marker); tables were flattened into paragraph layout, with a 6.52s server turnaround, zero watermarks, and instant deletion support, making it a dependable free guest converter. Tested export DOCX · Output attached Historical test · 2026-11-05 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & rules | ||
| Pricing plans | PDFgear web PDF-to-Word; free desktop alternative noted separately · 2026-10-20 Plan · source date Monthly / one-time Annual bill / period Quota & limits Web free2026-10-20 ↗ Free Free Free One PDF at a time, up to 100 MB; OCR is claimed by the vendor. Batch processing and no file-size limit are desktop features. 1 plan / billing-period records, all listed; — means that period is not recorded. The official web limit is 100 MB per file. Its OCR claim is not a RealTest scanned-document test. Desktop batch and offline processing are not web capabilities. Cancellation, sources & verification recordCancellation and refund terms follow official checkout and help policies. Official feature and pricing page ↗ · 2026-10-20 Capture 1 ↗ | Aconvert 100% free file conversion and compression service · 2026-11-01 Plan · source date Monthly / one-time Annual bill / period Quota & limits Free2026-11-01 ↗ Free Free Free 100% free without login, 40MB per file, up to 10 files per batch Full access to multi-format conversion and compression across documents, media, eBooks, and archives；40MB per-file limit, 10 files per batch, display ads present；Permanently free, no renewal；Perpetual access 1 plan / billing-period records, all listed; — means that period is not recorded. All conversion and compression features are 100% free with ad and voluntary donation support; 40MB per-file limit (up to 10 files per batch) with zero paid plans or paywalls. Cancellation, sources & verification recordCancellation and refund terms unverified Aconvert Official Homepage ↗ · 2026-11-01 Capture 1 ↗ Aconvert About and Free Model ↗ · 2026-11-01 Capture 1 ↗ |
| Free & trial allowance on the test date | Both the web tool (including Advanced OCR) and cross-platform desktop/mobile apps are currently 100% free | Entirely free with 40MB per-file limit and up to 10 files per batch |
| Cancellation & refunds | Cancellation and refund terms follow official checkout and help policies. | Not verified |
| Disclosure of costs & limits | Completely free throughout; only requires clicking 'skip' on the social share modal | Direct result table with download and delete actions after conversion |
| Task quality | ||
| Measured fixture results | Text retained: 100% · Editable table cells: 0 · Page 2 preserved: Yes | Text retained: 100% · Editable table cells: 0 · Page 2 preserved: Yes |
| Fixture findings | Text was retained but tables were not editable grids; a sharing prompt appeared during conversion. | 100% text retention, tables flattened into paragraph layout, 6.52s server processing, free guest export of standard DOCX without watermarks. |
| Original historical observation | PDFgear stays true to its 100% free philosophy—offering both Standard and Advanced OCR modes without login (02_workspace.png) and exporting a 16.0 KB .docx with 100% text retention and instant deletion (03_download.png); its only drawbacks are a 'Share to Continue' prompt with a faint gray 'skip' button (03_share_modal.png) and paragraph-based rather than native <w:tbl> table reconstruction. | Aconvert converted the benchmark PDF in 6.52s server turnaround, exporting a 58.6 KB watermark-free DOCX with 100% text retention (01_landing.png, 02_result.png, 03_download.png). |
| Suitable uses · historical assessment | Users who detest paywalls and third-party ads or need free OCR text recognition on scanned PDFs | Users needing fast PDF text extraction converted into editable Word documents without registration barriers |
| Result & output evidence | ||
| Scans / OCR | The fixture is a text PDF; scans and OCR were not tested | The fixture is a text PDF; scans and OCR were not tested |
| Delivery capabilities | ||
| Recorded export specifications | DOCX · Output attached · No watermark in test | DOCX · Output attached · No watermark in test |
| Historical specification note · not an official maximum | Full 2-page unwatermarked .docx (16.0 KB, 39 paragraphs, free OCR mode supported) | Full 2-page native DOCX document (58.6 KB, no watermark) |
| Watermark observation | No watermark | No watermark |
| Batch & API | Single-file conversion on web; unlimited local batch conversion via free Windows/macOS desktop app | Supports up to 10 files per batch; 40MB per-file limit |
| Recorded free-tier dimensions | Not verified | Not verified |
| Attached file dimensions | Not verified | Not verified |
| Published allowances & file limits · not tested | Web free: One PDF at a time, up to 100 MB; OCR is claimed by the vendor. Batch processing and no file-size limit are desktop features. | Free: 100% free without login, 40MB per file, up to 10 files per batch · Full access to multi-format conversion and compression across documents, media, eBooks, and archives · 40MB per-file limit, 10 files per batch, display ads present |
| Speed & reliability | ||
| Timing observation | Network-observed server wait: 10.8s · End-to-end reference: 12.3s | Network-observed server wait: 6.52s · End-to-end reference: 7.52s |
| Date & fixture | 2026-10-18 · anchor_pdf2word_v1 · US-West (California, AS2914) | 2026-11-05 · anchor_pdf2word_v1 · US-West (California) |
| Repeated tests & reliability | No standardized repetition count, success rate or variability range is recorded. | No standardized repetition count, success rate or variability range is recorded. |
| Interaction experience | ||
| Account requirements | No login in this test | No login in this test |
| Sign-in methods | No login or registration required | 100% guest access without account |
| Manual adjustment | Not verified | Not verified |
| Interaction observations | Zero third-party banner ads, though clicking 'Convert' pops up a 'Share to Continue — Share this tool on social media to unlock access and continue converting your files' prompt with a faint gray 'skip' link at the bottom (03_share_modal.png). | Not verified |
| Background & reputation | ||
| Service lifecycle notice | Not verified | Not verified |
| Operator | PDFgear Tech Pte. Ltd. (pdfgear.com) | Aconvert Project (PDFConvertOnline.com) |
| Recorded origin | Singapore | United States |
| Domain history record | 2022–Present (fast-growing free cross-platform PDF suite) | Development team active since 2000; Aconvert extended operations |
| Background & reputation assessment | Operated by Singapore-based PDFgear Tech Pte. Ltd., widely praised across tech communities for its 100% free Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android apps. | Not verified |
| External reputation record | Not verified | Long-running conversion service with over 530 million files converted, transparent server infrastructure disclosure, and multi-language support. |
| Engineering & privacy | ||
| Processing location | Uploaded for cloud processing | Uploaded for cloud processing |
| Third-party tracking record | Not verified | Google AdSense · Google Analytics |
| Engineering & privacy assessment | Provides an instant trash-can delete icon right beside 'Download File' and explicitly states 'Your files remain private and will be deleted after leaving our site' (03_download.png). | Not verified |
| Retention statement | Explicit retention period unconfirmed; inspect policy record | Claims deletion within 2 hours; deletion not independently verified |
| Evaluation basis | ||
| Pricing transparency | 33 / 35 Genuinely free with no subscription paywall, no registration requirement, no watermark, and even makes its 'Advanced (Enable OCR to recognize text from scans)' mode completely free for guests (02_workspace.png, 03_download.png). | |
| Interaction restraint | 19 / 30 Zero third-party banner ads, though clicking 'Convert' pops up a 'Share to Continue — Share this tool on social media to unlock access and continue converting your files' prompt with a faint gray 'skip' link at the bottom (03_share_modal.png). | |
| Background & reputation | 18 / 20 Operated by Singapore-based PDFgear Tech Pte. Ltd., widely praised across tech communities for its 100% free Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android apps. | |
| Engineering & privacy | 14 / 15 Provides an instant trash-can delete icon right beside 'Download File' and explicitly states 'Your files remain private and will be deleted after leaving our site' (03_download.png). | |
| Task quality | 51 / 65 OpenXML inspection confirms 100.0% text retention (all 4/4 headings, 12/12 table values, 3/3 body phrases, and Page 2 code preserved) with 3 background graphics preserving visual table borders, though it does not generate a native Word <w:tbl> table object (51.0/65) | 45 / 65 Text Retention: 100% · Native Word Tables (<w:tbl>): 0 (0 cells) · Page 2 Preserved: Yes |
| Deliverable specifications | 18 / 20 Exports a clean 16.0 KB .docx with no login or watermark, plus free optional Advanced OCR mode (18.0/20) | 17 / 20 Clean unwatermarked export (8/8); Export spec: Full 2-page native DOCX document (58.6 KB, no watermark) |
| Processing speed | 12 / 15 Network-observed server wait: 6.52s (API mode: cloud_aconvert_convert; network upload 1s / end-to-end 7.52s shown for reference only, never penalized) | |
