What matters for bank statements
Bank statements are not generic tables. They include value dates, booking texts, multi-line descriptions, balance columns, and bank- specific headers. Generic PDF converters often break columns or merge cells.
If you need a clean import into Excel or German accounting tools (DATEV, Lexware), pick a workflow that is built for statements.
Comparison table
| Tool | Best for | Privacy | Effort | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KontoCSV | German bank statements (PDFs, scans, multi-page) | GDPR-focused (EU processing, deletion after conversion) | Very low | 3 pages free, then pay-as-you-go credits |
| Adobe Acrobat Pro | Occasional table exports from text-based PDFs | Depends on workflow (desktop export is safest) | Medium | Subscription (varies by region) |
| Online PDF converters | Non-sensitive, simple PDFs | Risky (often unclear hosting/deletion) | Low to medium | Free with limits or paid tiers |
| Manual Excel entry | Very small volumes or one-off fixes | Local | High | Time |
Tool breakdown
Highlights
- Automatic bank/layout detection
- AI/OCR for scans
- CSV, Excel, DATEV, Lexware export profiles
Limitations
- Designed for statements, not general PDFs
Highlights
- Powerful PDF tooling
- Decent table recognition
Limitations
- Not specialized for statements
- Manual cleanup is common
- No accounting export profiles
Highlights
- No install
- Works for some simple layouts
Limitations
- Weak for statement layouts
- Often not GDPR-friendly
- Ads and file limits
Highlights
- Full control
Limitations
- Slow
- Error-prone
- Not scalable
Recommendation
If you regularly convert statements (or need DATEV/Lexware-ready exports), a specialized statement converter saves the most time.
If you only have one simple, text-based PDF and you already pay for Acrobat, it can work but expect manual fixes.
FAQ
Do these tools support scanned statements?
Only if they include OCR. Many generic converters fail on scans. KontoCSV includes OCR and is optimized for bank statement layouts.
Will the CSV import into DATEV or Lexware?
Generic exports rarely match accounting templates. With KontoCSV you can choose export profiles for DATEV and Lexware.
Where can I read the German version?
The German original is here: /kontoauszug-pdf-zu-csv-tools-vergleich.