How the free online word converter works
Turning a word-processing document into a PDF that looks exactly like the original needs a full office suite: something that understands page sizes, fonts, tables, headers, footers and the thousand small layout rules of Word and Pages. No office suite runs inside a browser tab, so this is one of the few jobs on the site that uses a server. The document is opened by LibreOffice, the open-source office suite used by governments and companies around the world, and saved in the format you choose.
The upload goes to a private temporary folder that only this conversion uses. As soon as the result has been sent back to your browser, the folder is deleted with your document and the converted file inside it. Nothing is stored, logged by name or looked at. Files up to 25 MB are accepted, which covers almost any document, and most convert in a few seconds.
Which word format should you use?
PDF is the right target when a document must look the same everywhere: for sending a CV, submitting a form, printing, or sharing with someone who may not have Word. The PDF keeps the page layout, fonts, images and tables, and text stays selectable and searchable.
DOCX is the right target when someone needs to keep editing. Converting DOC, ODT, RTF or Pages to DOCX gives a file that opens in Word, Google Docs and every other modern word processor. It is the usual fix when a Mac user sends a Pages file to someone on Windows, or when an old DOC template needs updating.
ODT, the OpenDocument format, suits LibreOffice users and organisations that require open standards. DOC, the older Word format, is only worth choosing when an old program or system insists on it.
Common word conversions and why people need them
The most common jobs are Word to PDF before sending a CV or report, Pages to PDF or DOCX when a Mac document has to be opened on Windows, and old DOC files to DOCX so they open cleanly in current software. RTF, the plain-and-portable format older programs used, converts well to both PDF and DOCX.
Fonts are where conversions most often differ from the original. Our server has the common families plus metric-compatible replacements for Microsoft fonts: Carlito for Calibri, Caladea for Cambria and Liberation fonts for Arial, Times New Roman and Courier New. They take up exactly the same space, so lines and pages break in the same places. Documents set in unusual or decorative fonts may come out in a similar font instead.
Word formats compared
| Format | Compression | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| ABW | Lossless | documents written in AbiWord, the small word processor of many Linux desktops |
| DOC | Lossless | older Word files, templates and documents from legacy systems |
| DOCM | Lossless | Word documents that automate forms and reports with macros |
| DOCX | Lossless | letters, reports, CVs and most documents shared at work |
| DOT | Lossless | letterheads, forms and company templates from older versions of Word |
| DOTX | Lossless | letterheads, report layouts and company templates |
| ODT | Lossless | LibreOffice users and public-sector documents |
| Pages | Lossless | documents written on Macs, iPhones and iPads |
| RTF | Lossless | documents exchanged between different word processors |
| WPS | Lossless | documents from WPS Office, popular in China, and from Microsoft Works on older PCs |
Tips for converting word files
- Check the PDF before sending it, especially documents with unusual fonts or complex layouts.
- Embedding fonts when you save in Word keeps the exact typeface in any conversion.
- Remove a password from the document first; encrypted documents cannot be converted.
- For documents over 25 MB, compress the images inside them before converting.
Is it safe to convert word files online?
These conversions need an office suite or an e-book engine, which cannot run inside a browser, so unlike most of TapToConvert they use our conversion server. Here is exactly what happens to your file. It is sent over an encrypted connection to a private temporary folder that only this conversion uses. The converter works on it there, the result is streamed straight back to your browser, and the folder is deleted, with your file and the result inside it, the moment the result has been sent.
Nothing is stored afterwards, there is no account that files are attached to, and our logs record only the formats, the size and whether the conversion worked, never file names or contents. Any folder left behind by a failed conversion is removed automatically within ten minutes. If a file is too sensitive to leave your computer at all, install the same free program and convert it there; the commands are on each conversion page.
Word Converter FAQ
Will my Word document look the same as a PDF?
Nearly always. Layout, images and tables are kept. Fonts our server does not have are replaced with ones that take the same space, so pages break in the same places, but unusual fonts may look different.
Can I convert Pages files without a Mac?
Yes. Pages to PDF and Pages to DOCX work from Windows, Android or any browser. Simple documents convert well; elaborate Pages layouts may be simplified.
Is my document kept on your server?
No. It is deleted together with the result as soon as the result has been sent back to your browser.
Can I convert PDF to Word here?
Not yet. Turning a PDF back into an editable document is a different and much less exact process, which is not offered at the moment.
Is the word converter free?
Yes, with no sign-up and no watermark. Conversions that use our server accept files up to 25 MB each, with a fair-use limit per hour so the service stays fast for everyone. The site is supported by advertising.
Does the word converter work on phones?
Yes. It works in Safari on iPhone and iPad and in Chrome on Android. Converted files are saved to your Downloads folder.