The Best Ways to Convert Word Documents to PDF in 2025
Five tested methods compared honestly — for when you have Word installed, when you do not, and when you are on a phone.
Word documents are great to write in but problematic to share. Open a DOCX file on a different computer and fonts can change, spacing can shift, and tables can collapse. Converting to PDF solves this — a PDF looks identical everywhere, regardless of the software the recipient is running.
Here are five ways to do it, ranked from most to least reliable.
Word built-in Save As PDF
Most ReliableBest for: Anyone with Microsoft Word installed
How: Open your document in Word, go to File, choose Save As, pick PDF from the format dropdown, then Save.
Pros: The gold standard. Word renders its own format perfectly — fonts, tables, headers, footers, and images all come out exactly right.
Cons: Only works if Microsoft Word is installed. Older versions of Word (pre-2010) have a slightly different workflow.
Google Docs
EasiestBest for: Anyone with a Google account
How: Upload your DOCX to Google Drive, open it in Docs, then File → Download → PDF Document.
Pros: Free, no software to install, works on any device with a browser. Handles most formatting well for standard business documents.
Cons: Complex formatting with custom fonts or precise spacing may shift slightly. Not ideal for print-ready documents.
Online converter
Best for MobileBest for: Any device, especially phones and tablets
How: Visit ilovepdf8.net/word-to-pdf, upload your DOC or DOCX file, and download the PDF.
Pros: Works on any device without installing anything. Good results for standard documents. Files are deleted automatically after processing.
Cons: Requires an internet connection. Very complex formatting may occasionally need minor touch-ups.
Mac Print to PDF
For Mac UsersBest for: Mac users without Microsoft Word
How: Open the document in any compatible app (LibreOffice, Pages), then File → Print → PDF dropdown at the bottom → Save as PDF.
Pros: Built into macOS, always available. Works with any app that supports printing.
Cons: Quality depends on which app was used to open the file. LibreOffice handles Word files better than Pages for complex layouts.
LibreOffice Writer
Free AlternativeBest for: Windows or Linux users without Microsoft Word
How: Open the file in LibreOffice Writer (free download), then File → Export As → Export as PDF.
Pros: Free, open-source, handles most Word formatting reasonably well.
Cons: May handle fonts and tables differently from Word. Worth checking the output if your document has complex formatting.
Tips for a better result
- —Accept all tracked changes before converting — they will appear in the PDF if still visible in the document.
- —Embed fonts when possible to prevent substitution on other devices.
- —Check the PDF after converting. Zoom into tables and images to confirm nothing has shifted.
- —For resumes, letters, and straightforward reports, any of these methods works fine — the formatting is simple enough that errors are rare.
Convert Word to PDF
Upload your DOC or DOCX file and download a PDF. Works on any device, no sign-up needed.
Word to PDF — Free