Most of you have been using the Docx format to handle documents in your office or home. But there are several functionalities and features that are available in PDF but not in Docx. But they don’t know how to convert docx to PDF and which tools are available.
In this article, you will learn how to convert Docx to PDF, at the same time, we will introduce you to some online Docx-to-PDF converters.
Part 1: 10 Free Online Docx to PDF Converters
1. WPS Tools
WPS Office is a free complete office suite that offers Word, Excel, and Presentation editors. You can create, edit, and collaborate on multiple file formats used in everyday life. The software pack is completely free to download from the WPS website.
If you are confused about whether it is a good choice for you, you can just check the Trustpilot rating for WPS Office which stands at 4.8 with almost a thousand reviews overall. So, if you are ready to use WPS to convert Docx to PDF, let’s dive into the step-by-step process.
Step 1. Go to the WPS and find Docx to PDF editor, or you can just follow the URL here to go straight to the page. https://pdf.wps.com/convert-word-to-pdf/
Step 2. As the first step, you will need to select a Word file from your PC and drop it on the screen.
Step 3. Once you have uploaded the Word file, the WPS program will automatically convert it into PDF, and the PDF file will be available for you to download directly to your computer.
Pros
User-friendly interface
Multi-platform Support
Batch Conversion
No Installation Required
Cons
A limited number of conversions: The number of files to be converted at one time cannot exceed five unless you download the app or upgrade to a membership.
Login required
2. CloudConvert Word to PDF Converter
CloudCoverter is an online file convertor where you can convert multiple types of multimedia files back and forth. These include audio, videos, documents, and images. This website supports 200+ formats of files and ensures high-quality conversions.
The website offers detailed options when converting files. This includes the number of outputs, bookmarks, and print compatibility, to name a few. The good news is that this tool is completely free to use. Moreover, the Trustpilot rating of the tool is also good, which stands at 4.8.
Below is a complete step-by-step tutorial on how you can use this tool to convert Docx to PDF.
Step 1. Go to CloudCovert website and look for Docx to PDF converter, or you can simply follow the URL https://cloudconvert.com/docx-to-pdf to find Docx to PDF converter.
Step 2. Once you are on this screen, you will find the option to select a Docx file from multiple locations, as you find easy.
Step 3. If you have selected My Computer from the options, you will be directed to select and open a file from your PC.
Step 4. After your file has been uploaded, you can convert into multiple file formats, as mentioned in the following real-time window. Select your preferred file type (PDF in our case) and click on “Convert”.
Step 5. Just after you have clicked “Convert”, the tool will process your file, converting into PDF within a couple of seconds, and showing the PDF file that is now available to download to your PC.
Pros
Multiple conversion options
Wide range of file formats
User-friendly interface
Password support
Cons
Internet Connection
Privacy
File Size Limits
Limited Customization
3. Zamzar Online File Converter
Zamzar is an online file converter and just like CloudConvert, it offers a variety of file formats to be converted back and forth. It includes documents, archives, eBook converters, and video converters.
The tool is completely free to use from start to end, even without signing up, so you can convert files without the need to sign up on the website. The Trustpilot rating, as can be seen in the image above, is 4.5 based on almost 300 reviews.
Below is the step-by-step tutorial on how you can convert files from Docx to PDF using Zamzar.
Step 1. Go to the Zamzar website and find Docx to PDF converter or you can click this link to directly land on the Docx to PDF converter page of the Zamzar website.
Step 2. On this page, you will find the option to “Choose Files”. From here, you can choose your Docx file from cloud storage or computer and upload it.
Step 3. After you have uploaded your file, you are left with multiple options to select the output format of your file, which can range from simple PDF to epub format for eBooks. Select your preferred output file format and click on “Convert Now.”
Step 4. After this, the tool will take a couple of seconds to convert your file into PDF and you will get the option to download the output file to your computer by clicking on the “Download” button.
Pros
Wide range of file formats
User-friendly interface
Cloud-based service
Cons
Internet Connection
Quality
Privacy
Limited customization
No offline option
4. SodaPDF
SodaPDF is an easy-to-use software tool used for converting and signing digital documents. This includes image converters and document converters in multiple formats. The tool is free to use for a limited number of conversions, but after this, you will have to buy a monthly, yearly, or bi-annual plan.
The Trustpilot rating for this tool stands at 3.8, based on just above 400 reviews. Below is a detailed tutorial on how to convert Docx to PDF using SodaPDF.
Step 1. Go to the SodaPDF website where you will find Docx to PDF converter in a list of tools. You can also go to https://www.sodapdf.com/docx-to-pdf/ directly to find the Docx to PDF converter page.
Step 2. Choose files from your cloud or computer storage to upload to the SodaPDF website.
Step 3. As soon as you are done uploading the file, it will be automatically converted into PDF, leaving you with the converted file that can be downloaded to your PC.
Pros
Wide range of features
User-friendly interface
Integration with other tools
Free trial
Cons
Cost
Installation and system requirements
Limited free trial
5. Adobe Acrobat Converter
Adobe Acrobat offers multiple ranges of online tools that are used for day-to-day office and academic operations. These tools include converters from PDF, converters to PDF, PDF editing tools, and document signing tools.
This tool is free for a limited number of conversions, and after this, you will have to pay a subscription fee. The Trustpilot rating is not very good for Adobe; it stands at 1.2 with over 3500 reviews from customers worldwide.
Below is a brief tutorial on how to convert Docx files to PDF using Adobe.
Step 1. Go to the Adobe website and find Adobe Acrobat online tools. Here you will find Adobe Acrobat Docx to PDF editor. Or you can simply go to the link to directly find the page https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/online/word-to-pdf.html
Step 2. Click on “Select a File,” and it will open your PC documents. You can find the file you want to convert from your libraries and upload it on the Adobe platform.
Step 3. The file will take a couple of seconds to get uploaded and will be directly converted into a PDF file.
Step 4. When your download is ready, you will be provided with the link of the converted file and a “Download” button, from where you can download the file to your computer.
Pros
High quality output
Integration with other Adobe products
Cloud-based service
User-friendly interface
Cons
Cost
Limited free version
Internet connectivity
6. SmallPDF Converter
SmallPDF offers a complete suite of tools you will need to be smarter with handling documents at work or at home. These tools include PDF converters, PDF compressors, PDF signers, and editors. If you want to have a specialized tool for PDFs, SmallPDF can be your go-to solution.
It is free to use for a limited number of conversions, but after this, you will have to pay a subscription fee. The Trustpilot rating of this tool is 2.7 for 230 reviews, but let’s find out what it has in stock for us. Below is a briefly-detailed tutorial on how you can convert Docx to PDF using SmallPDF.
Step 1. Go to the SmallPDF website and find Docx to PDF converter tool.
Step 2. On the main screen, click on “Choose Files” and select the required file from your PC or cloud storage.
Step 3. Upload the file, and the tool will start converting it to PDF format right away.
Step 4. After some time, your file will be converted into PDF, and now you can “Download” and “Export” your converted file from the given options.
Pros
User-friendly interface
Cloud-based service
Fast and efficient
High-quality output
Cons
Limited free version
Cost
Internet connectivity
7. Online2PDF Converter
Online2PDF is a complete PDF handler that includes a complete suite of tools, including PDF editors, PDF mergers, and PDF exporters. This tool supports multiple formats of files that can be converted back and forth to PDF format.
The tool is absolutely free to use and has a 4.1 rating on Trustpilot, which makes it a reliable tool to use to manage PDF formats. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to use this tool to convert Docx files to PDF format.
Step 1. Once you are on the Online2PDF website, search for Word to PDF converter and upload the file in the same way as mentioned above for every converter.
Step 2. After you have uploaded a file on the website, there are multiple options to convert your file into. Select a proper format you want (PDF in this case) and move forward with the process.
Step 3. Once you have clicked on the “Convert” button, your file will be converted into PDF format and the download will be started automatically.
Pros
User-friendly interface
Batch processing
High-quality output
No installation required
Cons
File size limit
Dependence on Internet connectivity
Limited support
No offline access
Lack of advanced features
8. ILovePDF Converter
ILovePDF is another online that works with PDF files and can be used to compress, split, convert, and merge multiple PDF files at a time. All you have to do is select a file from your computer and convert it or work with it as you want.
The tool has a 4.2 rating on Trustpilot and can be for free without paying the annual or monthly subscription fee. Below is a detailed guide on how to use ILovePDF to convert files.
Step 1. You can go to the ILovePDF website to find Docx to PDF converter or click on the link https://www.ilovepdf.com/word_to_pdf to directly access the page.
Step 2. Once you have selected and uploaded the file, the screen will change into a new window and you will be directed to click on “Convert to PDF” to convert your Word file to PDF.
Step 3. After converting your file, you will be directed to another window where you can download your file in the PDF format.
Pros
User-friendly interface
High-quality output
Customization options
Batch processing
Complimentary tools
Multi-platform support
Cons
File size limit
Limited number of free conversions per day
Lack of offline access
Limited customization options
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9. Convertio
Convertio is an all-in-one file handler, and manager used to convert, merge, and edit files from multiple formats. You can work with audio, video, presentations, and eBooks using this tool. The best part about this tool is that multiple devices are supported on it and there are custom settings that can be used to enhance your file conversions.
The tool is free to use for a limited number of conversions, and after it, you will have to buy a subscription plan. Convertio has a rating of 5.0 on Trustpilot with over 5000 reviews. This makes it a very effective Docx to PDF converter.
The detailed process of Docx to PDF conversion using Conversion is mentioned below:
Step 1. Go to the Docx to PDF converter page on the Convertio website and choose files from your PC or cloud storage to upload.
Step 2. After clicking the convert button, your file will be directed to a window that will allow you to download the converted file.
Step 3. Select the file type you want to get the output in and click “Convert”.
Pros
Supports a wide range of file formats
Cloud-based
No software installation required
Supports batch conversion
Offers a free plan
Cons
Limited free plan
Requires internet access
No local software
10. OnlineConvert
OnlineConvert works with plenty of file formats to convert them back and forth. Whether it be audio, webservice, software, or images, OnlineConvert will do the task for you by providing you with multiple file formats of your choice.
Some of the functionalities of this tool are free to use, while for others, you may need to subscribe to a payment plan. This tool stands at a rating of 2.4, which may not be a good one but let’s try it ourselves to see how it works.
Step 1. You will have to go to the OnlineConvert web page to find Docx to PDF converter page. In this window, you will have to upload a Docx file from your PC, Google Drive, or OneDrive.
Step 2. Now Click on the “Start” button to start the conversion process.
Step 3. The tool will take a couple of seconds before your file is ready to be downloaded in the format you want.
Pros
Easy to use
Supports a wide range of file formats
Cloud-based
Offers a variety of conversion options
No software installation is required
Free to use
Cons
Internet connection required
Limited file size
Ads and pop-ups
Part 2: Introduction to Docx & PDF
Docx is a file format used for storing and exchanging documents created with Microsoft Word, a popular word-processing software. The term "docx" stands for "document (XML)" because it is based on the XML (Extensible Markup Language) format.
Docx files contain various elements such as text, images, tables, charts, and formatting information.
PDF is a file format developed by Adobe Systems. This format allows documents to be shared and viewed consistently across different platforms. PDF files can contain text, images, vector graphics, hyperlinks, interactive elements, forms, and more.
Part 3: 4 Reasons Why You Should Use Docx to PDF Converter
1. The limitation of Docx to PDF function on MS Word
For those of you who don’t know, MS Word also provides a function to convert Docx files to PDF within the program. However, this function does not work 100% correctly. For example, the layout of the converted file will be messed up and some elements like tables, images, and header and footer settings might be missed.
2. Better security
There are many reasons to use PDFs in place of Docx files and one of the most important ones is better security. PDF files are known to have more security features than Docx files, which ultimately makes them less vulnerable to unauthorized access and viruses and malwareyour PC or cloud storage to upload.
3. Consistent appearance
Converting Docx files to PDF ensures the document looks the same on any device or software, thereby preserving its formatting and layout. Also, no matter which device you are viewing a PDF file on, it will look the same as the original file.
4. Improved readability.
PDFs offer better readability than Docx files because they can be viewed and printed without the need for the original software or fonts, and can be easily zoomed in or out without affecting the quality of the document.
Part 4: 4 Common Use Cases of the Docx to PDF Feature
There are many use cases of Docx to PDF editor features that have their usage in daily life for both office workers and students. However, we are going to list the top 4 use cases here that will enable you to work more efficiently and utilize this Docx to PDF feature. These include:
Resumes
Contracts
Business Documents
Reports
If you are looking to work with these document formats but can’t find the proper format that can be easily converted to PDF, we have got you covered. Below are 4 such templates that will make your work easy.
1. Modern Dark Resume for Work Hunting
As obvious from the name, this resume is a simple option when it comes to work hunting in the IT and corporate sector. The information included in this resume includes a detailed education section, experience, contact information, skills, and hobbies. You can edit this resume right from the link in the name from the WPS website.
2. Contract and Bill of Sale for Automobile
This template can be used for both contract of vehicle and bill of sale of any automobile. You can edit and use this simple template from the WPS website and the link mentioned in the name, which can then be downloaded in the form of MS Word and can be converted into PDF for later use.
When working in the corporate sector, you will need to work with the business documents. To protect these documents and make them more professional, you will have to add a cover that matches your business theme.
This template will help you edit an already-made document cover.
4. Simple Business Work Report
If you are often submitting business reports to your manager or supervisor, you will be in search of a template that can provide you with all the necessary information needed for the report. This simple report template will help you design and edit your business report within just a few clicks.
FAQs about Docx to PDF
Q1: How do I convert a DOCX file to PDF without MS Word?
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how you can convert a Docx file into PDF without MS Word:
1. Open a Word document in WPS Office and click on “menu” on the top left of the window. From “File”, go to “Export to PDF”, and click on it to export your document to PDF.
2. A window will appear on your screen asking you about the directory where you want to save your PDF file. Click on the “Export to PDF”, button and your file will be exported to PDF in your PC.
Q2: Are there any limitations when converting a DOCX file to a PDF?
Complex layouts, like hyperlinks and cross-references, intricate formatting, or advanced features in the DOCX file may not be accurately replicated in the resulting PDF. Also, make sure the document is not too large.
Q3: Can I convert a password-protected DOCX file to a PDF?
The simple answer is no; you can’t convert a password-protected Docx file to a PDF. You will have to first unlock the document, and then you’ll be able to convert it to PDF.
Q4: Can I convert a DOCX file to a PDF on iPhone & Android?
Convert doc to pdf on iPhone without installation
1. First of all, go to the document you want to convert into PDF.
2. Click on the share button on the document screen.
3. Now select the print option on the share screen.
4. Pinch to zoom out on the document in print mode and click on the share option.
5. Now, click on save to file to your desired location to convert the document into PDF format.
Convert doc to PDF on iPhone and Android
On both Android and iPhone, you can use the WPS Office app to convert documents from Docx to PDF. Here’s a simple way to do that:
1. Open the Word document on your phone and click on “Tools” in the bottom left corner of the screen.
2. Click on “Export to PDF” and your file will be exported to PDF format in the location on your device you want.
Learning More about Converting Files from Docx to PDF
In the above paragraphs, we learned how to convert Word documents to PDF without using paid software tools. However, all the tools mentioned above have some restrictions and limitations when it comes to the number of conversions you can perform during a certain time.
That’s why we recommend you use the WPS office to convert your Docx files into PDF format. You can do this both from the WPS website and using the WPS office suite on your PC or Mac. WPS Office suite has a variety of features that will allow you to customize settings while converting documents into PDFs.
