How do I convert a Word document to PDF without Office?
You don’t need a Microsoft 365 subscription to make a PDF from a .docx file. Four free routes work in 2026: a browser-based converter (fastest for simple documents), Google Docs (good layout fidelity, but your file goes to Google), LibreOffice (best offline fidelity, requires install), and your OS print-to-PDF (works when you can already open the file). Which one to choose depends on how complex your formatting is and whether the document is confidential.
Method 1: Browser converter — private, no install
EasyPDFHub’s Word to PDF tool reads the .docx in your browser (mammoth + pdf-lib) and outputs a clean text-based PDF. Honest limit: it is text-focused — simple letters, essays, and notes convert well; heavy tables, text boxes, and embedded charts may lose layout. Nothing uploads, which makes it the right pick for CVs and confidential drafts.
Method 2: Google Docs — free, but cloud
Upload the .docx to Google Drive, open with Google Docs, then File → Download → PDF. Fidelity is good for most business documents. The trade-off: your file now lives in Google’s cloud, so skip this for anything you wouldn’t store in Drive anyway.
Method 3: LibreOffice — best offline fidelity
LibreOffice Writer (free, Windows/Mac/Linux) opens .docx files and exports PDF with strong layout accuracy, including tables and images. It requires a ~350 MB install, so it suits people who convert regularly. Use File → Export as PDF and keep the default settings.
Method 4: Print to PDF — when the file already opens
If any app on your machine can open the document (WordPad, Pages, a web viewer), press Ctrl+P and choose Microsoft Print to PDF (Windows) or Save as PDF (Mac). It rasterizes whatever the viewer renders — fine for archiving, not ideal for selectable text. Going the other direction? See PDF to Word (text export) and the 2026 extractor comparison.