Search in PDF
Upload a PDF, search for a phrase, and see highlighted snippets with page numbers. No signup required for the first 2 pages.
Searching inside a PDF is essential when you need to find a specific clause, quote, or term without reading every page. Our free PDF search tool lets you upload a document, enter a phrase, and see highlighted snippets with page numbers in seconds. We extract text from native PDFs and use OCR for scanned documents, so you can search even image-based PDFs. Results update as you type—no need to re-upload to try different search terms. The first 2 pages are free without signup; create a free account for full-document search. We process files in memory and never store your documents. For plain text extraction use our PDF to Text converter; for structured output try PDF to Markdown. To search across many documents by meaning, use our Knowledge Bases and Chat. Browse all free document tools on DocLD.
Why Search with DocLD?
Fast search across your PDF with clear, highlighted results.
Fast Search
Extract and search in seconds. Re-search instantly as you type without re-uploading.
Highlighted Snippets
See matches in context with your search phrase highlighted. Each result shows the page number.
Private & Secure
Your files are processed securely and never stored. Privacy is our top priority.
How It Works
Search your PDF in four simple steps
Upload PDF
Drag and drop your PDF or click to browse. We accept all standard PDF formats.
Extract Text
We extract text from each page, including OCR for scanned documents.
Search
Enter any phrase to search. Results update as you type.
View Snippets
See highlighted matches with page numbers. Click through to find what you need.
How We Compare
See how DocLD PDF search stacks up against Adobe Acrobat, browser Find, and other tools
| Feature | DocLD | Adobe Acrobat | Browser / Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-document search | Partial | ||
| Highlighted snippets | |||
| Page numbers in results | |||
| OCR (scanned PDFs) | Partial | ||
| No signup (first 2 pages) | |||
| Privacy / no storage | |||
| Re-search without re-upload | |||
| API / bulk search |
Search Methods Compared
Choose the right way to find what you need in your documents
| Method | Best for | Limitation | Try |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keyword search (this tool) | Single PDF, exact phrase or word | One document at a time | You are here |
| Semantic search | Many PDFs, find by meaning | Requires signup | Knowledge Bases |
| Natural language Q&A | Ask questions across documents | Requires signup | Chat |
Popular Use Cases
Search PDFs for contracts, research, compliance, and more
Contract clause search
Find indemnity, termination, or liability clauses in agreements without reading every page.
Legal & NDA review
Spot key terms, confidentiality limits, and expiry dates in legal documents and NDAs.
Research & citations
Locate authors, study names, or exact quotes in papers and reports for citations.
Compliance & audit
Find policy references, dates, and required disclosures in compliance and audit PDFs.
HR policies & handbooks
Search employee handbooks and policy PDFs for leave, benefits, or code-of-conduct sections.
Technical manuals & specs
Find part numbers, error codes, or procedures in technical PDFs and specification sheets.
Time to First Result by Document Size
Our PDF search extracts text and runs your query in seconds. Larger documents take a bit longer to process once; after that, you can re-search instantly without re-uploading.
- Short PDFs (5–20 pages): Results in 2–4 seconds
- Medium (50 pages): Typically under 10 seconds
- Long documents (100+ pages): Usually under 20 seconds
- Re-search: Instant—no need to re-upload
Tips for Best Results
Get the most out of PDF search with these simple tips
Use exact phrases when possible
Searching for a full phrase like "indemnification clause" often returns fewer, more relevant results than a single word.
Try different wording if no results
Search is case-insensitive but matches the exact characters. If nothing appears, try a synonym or shorter phrase.
Works on scanned PDFs
We use OCR for image-based and scanned PDFs, so you can search text that isn’t selectable in the original file.
Re-search without re-uploading
After the first extraction, change your search term as often as you like; the file stays in memory for the session.
50MB max file size
We support PDFs up to 50MB. For larger files, consider splitting the document or signing in for optimized processing.
Your data stays private
Files are processed in memory and not stored. We don’t keep your documents after you’re done.
When to Use What
Pick the right DocLD feature for your task
| Task | Use |
|---|---|
| Single PDF, find exact phrase or word | This tool (Search in PDF) |
| Many PDFs, find by meaning or topic | Knowledge Bases |
| Ask questions in natural language | Chat |
Need to search across hundreds of documents?
Use Knowledge Bases for semantic search across your document library, and Chat to ask questions in natural language.
Get Started FreeFrequently Asked Questions
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