pdfminer.six
pdfminer.six: A free, self-hosted Python library for extracting PDF text, layout, images, and fields. Ranked #31 of 60 in PDF Data Extraction Software by our editors (6.3/10); pricing: Free plan; best for python users extracting native PDF text and fields.
At a glance
- Editor score6.3 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forPython users extracting native PDF text and fields
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Scanned-PDF OCRNo
- Facts checked23 Oct 2026
Where it wins
- Extracts text, page layout, images, AcroForm fields, and tagged content.
- Supports selected-page extraction, encrypted PDFs, CJK, and vertical writing.
- Free and open source, with a Python API and command-line interface.
Where it doesn't
- Does not provide OCR for image-only scanned PDFs.
- Requires a developer workflow rather than offering a hosted extraction service.
- Support is through documentation and community channels.
Our verdict on pdfminer.six
pdfminer.six is a community-maintained Python package for extracting information from PDF documents. It is aimed at developers who want to process PDFs from Python or a shell, rather than teams seeking a hosted extraction service. The library can return text or page-layout objects, and its documented capabilities include images, AcroForm fields, table of contents, and tagged content. It runs on Linux, Windows, and macOS and is distributed under the MIT license.
Its breadth is useful when extraction needs go beyond plain text. Developers can select pages or limit extraction by page count, inspect layout and text positioning, retrieve embedded images and interactive form fields, and decode encrypted PDFs with a password. Support for CJK languages and vertical writing also suits documents with those text formats. The package exposes a high-level Python API as well as a command-line interface, so it can fit code-driven and shell-based workflows. It is self-hosted, with documentation and community support channels.
The main boundary is scanned-document handling: OCR is not a capability, so image-only PDFs may need a separate OCR tool before text extraction is possible. There is no hosted service layer in the offering; implementation and processing belong in the developer's own workflow. The package is free and open source, so there are no paid tiers to compare. Choose pdfminer.six when you need programmable extraction from native PDF content and can manage processing yourself. Look elsewhere, or pair it with OCR software, if your core requirement is extracting text from scans or using a managed service.
Your product? Our editors can test pdfminer.six in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
pdfminer.six pricing
pdfminer.six fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Scanned-PDF OCR | No |
| Table extraction | Not verified |
| Form and field extraction | Yes |
| API access | Yes |
| Max pages per file | Not verified |
| Deployment | Self_hosted |
| Batch processing | Not verified |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Linux, Windows, macOS |
| Support | Docs, Community |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | pdfminersix.readthedocs.io |
| Facts checked | 23 Oct 2026 |
Alternatives to pdfminer.six
- ABBYY VantageAn enterprise document-processing platform with AI extraction, review, routing, and workflow integrations.9.4
- UiPath Document UnderstandingA workflow-oriented option for teams that need document extraction with human review and routing.9.3
- Adobe PDF Services APIA broad cloud API for extracting PDF content and automating document workflows.9.2
See all pdfminer.six alternatives →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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