Last Updated on November 26, 2024
Portable document format (PDF) comes with numerous benefits over other file formats.
PDFs provide higher graphic integrity. In other words, these files retain the exact same content and layout regardless of the device or operating system they’re viewed on.
PDFs also implement higher levels of content security using features like passwords, watermarks, and digital signatures. That explains why most files shared across the internet tend to be in this format.
User-friendliness is another thing to love about PDFs. These files are easy to create and read by most people.
There’s also the element of compactness and multi-dimensionality. Not only is the information in PDF files easily compressible. The documents also allow you to integrate numerous types of media content – text, images, vector graphics, audios, videos, animations, 3D models, hyperlinks, and buttons.
But despite their many perks, PDFs also have certain drawbacks.
Most notably, these files can be painfully difficult to edit. PDF documents also tend to be less engaging. And the fact that the content in PDF files is usually letter-sized can make it difficult to scroll through the document.
One way to address these limitations is by using a PDF content reader. In this article, we look at the top 10 AI PDF content readers to analyze and summarize PDF files.
What Is an AI PDF Content Reader?
An AI PDF content reader is an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered application that helps you view, browse, and print PDF files. These software allow you to quickly access PDFs on your computer or mobile phones. Most of them also contain features for highlighting, annotating, commenting, and chatting with your PDF documents.
AI PDF readers work in a more or less similar manner. After accessing the tool on the web or in the app, you begin by uploading your PDF files into the dashboard. You can then ask the software any question pertaining to the uploaded document.
For instance, you could ask the tool to search for specific information in the file or highlight certain key phrases. You could also use it to e-sign, abridge, or comment on the PDF file. The range of interaction is limitless and depends on the specific PDF analyzer you’re using.
10 AI Apps to Read and Interact With PDFs
1. ChatPDF
Pricing: Free
ChatPDF is an artificial intelligence tool that provides a wide range of chat capabilities with PDF documents. The software enables you to interact with your PDF files in a conversational manner and without needing to sign up for an account.
When you upload a PDF file to ChatPDF, the software creates a semantic index for each paragraph before replying to any queries relating to the document. The tool utilizes a text-generation artificial intelligence model similar to ChatGPT to trawl and understand the gist of your content, so it can generate quick and accurate responses. It’s effective at extracting information from any PDF file regardless of the size and device you’re accessing it on.
ChatPDF may also come in handy if you need to annotate or summarize your PDF documents. A few seconds is all the tool needs to condense your PDFs.
All content uploaded to ChatPDF is saved in a secure cloud storage and subsequently deleted after seven days. This guarantees data privacy, especially for documents that contain sensitive information. And while this software is used primarily for analyzing PDFs, it also supports seamless interaction with other document types. These include books, essays, manuals, contracts, research papers, etc.
The primary limitation of ChatPDF is that it’s less efficient at analyzing images within PDF documents. Some users also gave the tool a thumbs-down for its inability to quickly respond effectively to questions relating to several paragraphs simultaneously. However, the benefits evidently outweigh the drawbacks.
2. AlgoDocs
Pricing: Paid plans start from $23/month; a free version also available
AlgoDocs is an AI-driven data extraction tool that shares many features with ChatPDF. The software accelerates the often-tedious and error-prone process of manually extracting data from large PDF files. It works fast and delivers accurate results no matter the device or OS you’re accessing it from.
AlgoDocs utilizes advanced artificial intelligence self-learning algorithms that quickly read your PDFs to get the essence of the content. This allows it to give prompt and accurate responses.
The tool also uses a combination of image processing and optical character recognition (OCR) technologies to understand images and other special characters within the uploaded files. The OCR technology is also beneficial when you want to extract tables and infographics from your PDF documents.
AlgoDocs is web-based. The software is readily accessible on the internet provided you have stable Wi-Fi. You don’t need to download and install it on your device to unlock its features.
The tool is easy to use too. Simply visit the website and create your extracting rules. Then, upload your documents using either AlgoDocs UI/API or Email integration. Finally, export the extracted data to Excel/Json.
There are several other documents that AlgoDocs can read besides PDF files. You can also use the tool to extract information from bank statements, scanned invoices, purchase orders, receipts, payrolls, etc.
3. LightPDF
Pricing: Plans start from $19.90/month; a free trial available
LightPDF is a one-stop solution for all your PDF extraction needs. This tool is a PDF reader, editor, and converter…all rolled into one. It works in the cloud, guaranteeing maximum safety of all your uploaded files.
The fact that this software mainly operates in the cloud also means you can access it using any device and at any time. Whether you’re in the office, at home, or traveling, all you need is an internet connection to chat with your PDF files.
You no longer have to drive to a cybercafé to print out a document or meet a contract party in person. Simply open the document and take any action as required, such as editing, annotating, signing, or watermarking.
LightPDF also provides share and collaboration features. The app lets you stay connected with your team and collaborate on PDFs in real time even if you’re located in different time zones. That makes it an especially great fit for content creators or editors working for multinational organizations.
All you need to collaborate with your team is generate and share a link to them. You can then agree on a common time to work on a PDF document. Alternatively, you can grant everyone the freedom to edit the document at their most convenient hours.
4. ChatWithData
Pricing: Paid plans start from $10/month; a free version also available
The name of this AI PDF reader is a true representation of its capabilities. The software was developed primarily to help users extract meaningful data from their PDFs at a fraction of the time it would take to obtain such information manually.
Just like ChatPDF, ChatWithData builds a semantic index over each paragraph in the uploaded file. It then utilizes OpenAI’s language learning abilities to locate and analyze the most relevant sections in the document before giving you an accurate answer.
There are three ways to upload your PDFs. You can drag and drop the files using the drag-and-drop functionality. The other two options include clicking on ‘Browse my computer’ or inputting the URL of the file in the provided field.
The file size you can upload to the chatbot depends on your current plan. The free plan supports uploads of up to 10 MB while the paid versions let you upload up to 30 MB.
It’s also worth noting that ChatWithData doesn’t only extract information from PDFs. You may also use it to interact with other file types, such as Excels and Google Docs. You don’t need to sign up for an account to chat with your documents either. Simply upload your file and start chatting.
5. AskYourPDF
Pricing: Free
Although PDFs are famous for keeping content layout intact across multiple devices and operating systems, the sheer amount of information in these files can often feel overwhelming. It may take forever to simply locate specific sentences or facts in the document.
Fortunately, AskYourPDF was designed with such challenges in mind. The tool lets you upload your PDFs to it and then ask any question pertaining to the document. There’s even a provision for downloading your chat history and saving it for future reference.
AskYourPDF uses the powerful AI model – ChatGPT – to help you navigate and understand your documents more efficiently. It quickly analyzes your uploads and then displays an interactive chat interface where you can post any queries relevant to the document. The software effectively addresses the limitations of skimming or scanning through large files looking for key information.
AskYourPDF doesn’t impose a limit on the number of PDFs you can upload. It’s engineered to accept as many files as possible, provided that you upload them one at a time and not simultaneously.
The software provides multilingual support too. You can chat with it in any language of your choice. That also means you could use it to collaborate with people who’re not necessarily English speakers.
Like most applications on this list, AskYourPDF supports several document extensions. These include .pdf, .docx, .txt, .csv, .ppt, .pptx, .rtf, and .epub.
As regards limitations, AskYourPDF only accepts uploads of up to 20 MB. The tool also lacks PDF editing capabilities. Still, these drawbacks don’t compare to the many PDF interactive features the software provides.
6. DropChat
Pricing: Free
Multiple file support is one of the many standout features of this PDF analyzer. The software can read PDFs, DOCX, TXT, and PPTX. It can also process information from a variety of less common file formats, including MP3, MP4, OGG, WAV, FLAC, MD, and EPUB. Moreover, you can upload your PDFs by simply inputting URLs.
Whichever file format you upload to DropChat, the tool will swiftly create a ChatGPT-like chatbot where you can engage interactively with the document. Ask general queries about the uploaded files to simply while the day away. Or, ask specific questions to locate hidden information from the document. And when you’re satisfied with the responses, you can clear the chat history or save it for future reference.
DropChat is embeddable on your website. This is an added benefit in that you can readily access the chatbot right from your website without logging out of your online sessions.
Using DropChat is incredibly easy too. Simply sign in using your user credentials or register for an account if you don’t already have one. Once in, upload your PDFs and begin interacting with them using the tool’s chatbot interface.
DropChat guarantees the security and privacy of all uploaded documents through encryption while the files are transferred and stored. The company uses Amazon AWS’ SOC2 Type II certification to prevent your data from possibly slipping into malicious hands.
7. Grain
Pricing: Paid plans start from $49/month; a free trial available
Grain is your gateway to interactive conversations with any PDF document. The software functions primarily as an API that enables developers to incorporate document chat features into their applications.
Grain provides a simple and intuitive chatbot. It supports PDFs of any size, making it especially suitable for interpreting large files. The software also chats in all major languages. Therefore, you can easily collaborate on documents with your non-English-speaking team. All you need to do is translate the document from the native to the target language and then share the translation with your team members.
This chatbot generates 100% accurate answers despite the language you’re using it on. That’s due to the implementation of cutting-edge problem-solving technologies and models, including OpenAI, Langchain, and Pinecone.
Grain takes information extraction to a new level. While many AI PDF readers only retrieve the requested information, this tool extracts the exact list of sources used to generate its responses.
Perhaps the only major drawback to Grain is that it doesn’t come with a free plan. The software is exclusively premium-based, with the most affordable plan starting from as high as $49 per month. But considering the many nifty features the PDF reader provides, there’s more than enough motivation to purchase its premium bundles. Besides, the tool has a 7-day money-back guarantee policy that lets you check it out before buying a subscription package.
8. ChatDoc
Pricing: Paid plans start from $5.99/month; a free version also available
Like Grain, ChatDoc enables you to chat with your PDF documents and get instant answers with cited sources. This gives you the peace of mind knowing that the information you’re looking for was actually extracted from the document.
The tool works incredibly fast regardless of the file size uploaded. Its speed isn’t affected by the document type either. Whether it’s simple PDF files or research papers, manuals, contracts, or books, you can trust ChatDoc to perform accurate analyses.
ChatDoc’s developers appear to have had user-friendliness in mind while designing this application. First, the software maintains a tidy and intuitive dashboard. It also provides simple answers that users of different experience levels understand. The tool responds to every query in plain, concise language. However, you can expand the answers depending on the depth of the information you’re looking for.
ChatDoc is one of the few AI-driven PDF readers that allow users to query multiple files at once. Ask targeted questions about specific sections of your document, whether it’s plain text or a table. And if you’re unsatisfied with the answer, you can verify its accuracy by clicking to check for the citations.
Encrypted cloud storage keeps your PDFs safe until they’re permanently deleted from ChatDoc’s system.
9. MathPix PDF Reader
Pricing: Paid plans start from $4.99/month; a free version also available
At first glance, MathPix PDF Reader appears to work like any regular PDF analyzer. But it only takes a few seconds of interacting with the software to uncover the full range of its capabilities. MathPix functions both as a PDF reader and converter.
As a PDF reader, MathPix works on any device, including desktop and mobile phones. The tool doesn’t only analyze PDFs in plain text. It also uses optical character recognition to interpret documents with images, tables, and infographics. It’s especially effective at reading files with mathematical operations, formulae, and figures, which explains its moniker.
As it was optimized for math and scientific research papers, MathPix can interpret PDFs in virtually all fonts and typefaces. That includes both printed and handwritten PDFs.
This software is also effective at interpreting both single and multiple lines. To highlight a single line, simply hover over the line to reveal a ‘copy to clipboard’ button. Alternatively, click and drag to highlight multiple lines. The tool’s default copy functionality is inline or block mode LaTeX. However, you can always choose another format to copy your mathematical equations, including MathML or AsciiMath. Just open the Preview mode, right-click the equation, and select the format you wish to copy it in.
As a PDF converter, MathPix can convert your entire PDF documents into many file formats. These include Word, HTML, LaTeX, and MathPix Markdown. The tool supports multiple languages too.
10. xMagic
Pricing: Premium plan undisclosed; a free version available
xMagic comes with all the cool features you’ll want in an AI PDF reader. The tool maintains an interactive dashboard. To use it, simply visit the homepage and then activate the software by attempting to upload your PDF file. This will automatically open a chatbot interface with the following welcome message;
“Hi there, welcome to xMagic! I’m here to assist you with your personal data and tasks. You can start by uploading some documents and I will help answer questions, summarize and analyze them. How can I help you today?”
You’ll need to confirm that your PDF file was uploaded successfully before you can begin interacting with xMagic. Note that while the tool accepts any question, the relevance of its answers will depend on the information it could find in the uploaded file. Simply key in your queries in the field marked ‘Enter your query here’ to begin chatting with your PDF uploads.
xMagic allows you to chat with one or multiple documents at a time. You can upload up to 20 documents with the free plan.
The software provides simple and concise answers to complex questions. Its accuracy isn’t affected by the number of files you’re chatting with. However, for more efficiency, it’s recommended to interact with one PDF document at a time.
Final Word
Trawling PDF files for precise information can be difficult if done manually. Fortunately, the above artificial intelligence tools were designed exclusively for that.
While choosing an AI PDF reader, insist on programs that guarantee data privacy, higher accuracy, and faster speeds. It’s also best to choose PDF readers that do not impose a limit on the number and size of PDF files you can upload.
