Able2Extract vs PDFelement (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Able2Extract if

• Fits if you pull tables out of PDF reports into Excel often
• Works for people who want to buy once and skip a subscription

Look elsewhere if

• Pricey if you convert rarely, since the full license is $199.95
• Tight if you want to test it properly, because the trial converts 3 pages at a time after one file
• Watch out: a later major version costs $59.95 unless you pay for the $49.95 a year support plan
• Skip it if you need several users, as a license is one person on up to two computers
• Watch out: Apple Silicon Macs need Rosetta 2, since the program needs an x86 CPU

Pick PDFelement if

• Fits if you want to pay once, $129.99, and skip the subscription
• Works for people who switch between a computer, a phone and a browser, with 20GB of cloud to sync

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if crossed-out prices and countdown timers put you off
• Not for you if you want a proper trial, as tools allow a few uses each and saved files get a watermark
• Tight if you lean on the AI, as paid plans include 50 uses before a $3.99-a-month AI plan
• Watch out: the perpetual license covers version 13 only, and its phone and web access lasts a limited time
• Pricey if you use both Windows and Mac, as each price covers one platform and both cost $10 more

Able2Extract

• The trial lasts 7 days and, after one file, converts only 3 pages at a time.
• A license covers one user on up to two computers; there is no multi-user or concurrent license.
• The program needs an x86 CPU; on Apple Silicon Macs it needs Rosetta 2.
• Upgrading to a later major version costs extra ($59.95) unless you buy the $49.95 a year support plan.

PDFelement

• Prices are shown against much higher crossed-out figures with a countdown; the one-platform price covers Windows or Mac, and both cost more.
• The perpetual license covers PDFelement 13 only, and its mobile and web access lasts for a limited time.
• Heavier AI use is a separate AI plan: $3.99 a month for 1,000 uses or $39.99 a year for 12,000.
• The free trial adds a watermark when saving and allows only a few uses of tools such as eSign and AI.

Able2Extract

PDF to Excel conversion

Pulls tables out of native or scanned PDFs into Excel with the layout kept, using preview and conversion templates.

Other output formats

Converts to Word, PowerPoint, CSV, AutoCAD (DWG), HTML and images, and can run batches of files at once.

OCR for scanned PDFs

Turns scanned pages into editable, searchable documents before conversion.

Editing and compression

Edits text and images, splits pages, adds annotations and attachments, reduces file size and repairs damaged files.

Forms, signing and redaction

Fills interactive forms, signs digitally, and applies permanent redaction, watermarks and password encryption.

PDFelement

Edit, convert and organize

Edit text and images, convert to and from Office formats, compress, combine, split, crop and reorder pages, and process files in batches.

OCR and data extraction

Turns scans into searchable, editable text, recognizes tables and pulls form data and receipt details out of PDFs.

Forms, signing and redaction

Create and fill forms, including XFA, sign with digital certificates, request e-signatures, redact and set passwords.

AI tools

Chat with a PDF, summarize, translate, rewrite, check grammar and detect AI-written text; paid plans include 50 AI uses.

PDFelement Cloud

Paid plans include 20GB of cloud storage for files and signatures, synced across the desktop, mobile and web apps.

Measuring and Bates numbering

Measure distance, perimeter and area on drawings, and add Bates numbers, headers, footers and watermarks.

Able2Extract

• Professional 30-day license$49.95

  for 30 days, paid once, with no renewal

  Full-featured single-user license that expires after 30 days; buy again or switch to the full license.

• Professional full license$199.95

  one-time

  Lifetime single-user license for version 21, activatable on up to two of your own computers.

PDFelement

• Quarterly Plan$11.99

  per quarter for one platform, renews automatically

  Shown against a crossed-out $49; $21.99 a quarter for the cross-platform version. All features, 20GB of PDFelement Cloud and no watermark.

• Yearly Plan$79.99

  per year for one platform, renews automatically

  Shown against a crossed-out $129; $89.99 a year cross-platform. A year of updates and all features on desktop, mobile and web.

• 2-Year Plan$109.99

  for 2 years for one platform, renews manually

  Shown against a crossed-out $149; $119.99 cross-platform. Two years of updates and all features.

• Perpetual Plan$129.99

  one-time purchase for one platform

  Perpetual use of PDFelement 13, shown against a crossed-out $159; $139.99 cross-platform. Mobile and web access are included for a limited time only.

Able2Extract

• Lifetime license

  One-time lifetime license

  The full license is a single payment with no recurring fees, and refundable within 14 days of purchase.

PDFelement

• Other savings

  Black Friday prices

  The Windows store page, under a Black Friday 2026 banner, shows the Yearly Plan at $67.99 for one platform ($76.99 cross-platform) and the Perpetual Plan at $110.49 ($118.99). No end date is shown.

• Lifetime license

  Perpetual license for PDFelement 13

  Wondershare sells a one-time license for version 13 at $129.99 for one platform or $139.99 for Windows and Mac together.