Comparison
PDF to Word vs PDF to ODT: which should you pick?
When you convert a PDF so you can edit it, you have two main target formats: .docx (Word) and .odt (OpenDocument Text). Both start from the same text extracted from the PDF; the difference is which program you'll use afterwards and how open you want the format to be.
Word (.docx): the most compatible option
The .docx format is what Microsoft Word has used since 2007, and it also opens in Google Docs, LibreOffice and virtually every modern word processor. If you're not sure what program the person receiving the file will use, .docx is the safest bet: it is by far the most widespread text document format in professional and academic life.
Choose PDF to Word if you're going to keep editing in Word or Google Docs, if you're sending the file to someone who probably uses Microsoft Office, or simply if you have no particular preference.
ODT: the open format of LibreOffice and OpenOffice
ODT (OpenDocument Text) is an open standard (ISO/IEC 26300) maintained by The Document Foundation, the organisation behind LibreOffice. It doesn't depend on any single company and its specification is public. If you work with LibreOffice Writer or OpenOffice Writer day to day, converting straight to ODT saves you the detour through Word.
Choose PDF to ODT if your usual editor is LibreOffice or OpenOffice, if you prefer an open standard, or if whoever receives the file works in that ecosystem.
What if I only need the text, with no formatting?
If you don't mind losing paragraph breaks and formatting, and you just want the raw content to copy or analyse, neither of the formats above is necessary: use PDF to TXT, which produces a far lighter plain text file.
Summary
- Word (.docx) — maximum compatibility, ideal for Microsoft Office and Google Docs.
- ODT — open format, ideal for LibreOffice and OpenOffice.
- TXT — no formatting, ideal for copying or processing the text in another tool.
In all three cases the conversion happens 100% in your browser, without uploading your PDF to any server.