Summarise a PDF.
Drop in a PDF, Word document or some text and get the key points in seconds. The AI runs right here in your browser, so your document is never sent to a server.
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Get the key points of a PDF, Word file or text with AI on your device.
Updated
- Price
- Free. No sign-up, no watermark.
- Input
- PDF, Word (.docx, .odt, .rtf), web page, .txt or pasted text.
- Output
- Key points, a short summary or a one-line headline.
- AI model
- Chrome’s built-in AI on desktop Chrome, or a model of about 300 MB downloaded once.
- Limits
- Best in English; over about 20,000 words, the first part is summarised.
- Privacy
- Your document is summarised in your browser and never uploaded. Only if the on-device AI can’t run and you choose the server option is the text sent to Altto’s server, which doesn’t keep it.
How to summarise a PDF or Word document
Add a PDF or Word file, or paste text, then choose key points, a short summary or a one-line headline, and how long it should be. Copy the result or download it as a .txt file.
- 01
Add your document
Choose a PDF or Word file, or paste text straight in.
- 02
Pick a style
Key points, a short summary or a one-line headline — short, medium or long.
- 03
Copy or download
Copy the summary or save it as a text file.
Tips for more useful summaries
A summary is only as good as what goes in and how you use it.
- Pick the style for the jobKey points suit reports and meeting notes you want to scan. A short summary reads better for articles, and a one-line headline is handy for naming a file or writing an email subject.
- Summarise just the part you needFor a long report, paste in only the section you care about, such as the conclusions. A shorter input gives a more focused summary, and it finishes sooner.
- Choose Long for dense documentsShort works well for articles and letters. For a dense report or a set of terms, choose Long, so fewer important points get squeezed out.
- Use it to decide what to readA summary is a quick way to tell whether a document needs a full read, or which part to read first. It isn’t a substitute for reading contracts or anything you’ll sign.
Like every Altto tool, this runs on your device — nothing you add is uploaded. How Altto works
of summary to choose from: key points, a short summary or a one-line headline, each in a short, medium or long version.
Will it run on my device?
Because the AI runs on your own device instead of on a server, your computer does the work — that’s what keeps your files private. Most computers from the last few years are fine, but a more powerful one is noticeably faster.
Minimum
- ComputerAny laptop or desktop from about the last 6 years (e.g. Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3)
- Memory (RAM)4 GB
- BrowserThe latest Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari
- DownloadAbout 300 MB the first time (kept for next time)
Short documents take seconds; long reports can take a few minutes.
Recommended Fastest
- ComputerA recent laptop or desktop (e.g. Intel Core i5 / AMD Ryzen 5 or better)
- Memory (RAM)8 GB or more
- BrowserChrome or Edge
- BonusWith 16 GB of memory (or a graphics card with more than 4 GB) and 22 GB of free disk space, Chrome can use its own built-in AI, which is faster and writes better summaries
Phones and tablets can summarise short texts, but may run out of memory on long documents.
Tested on a mid-range PC with AMD Ryzen built-in graphics (no separate graphics card), in Chrome: A 300-word news article: 25 seconds with Chrome’s built-in AI; with the downloadable model, 9 seconds to load and 7 seconds to summarise.