1. Best Free Ocr Mac
2. Ocr On Mac Free
3. Ocr Pdf Mac Free

Here are the 23+ best free OCR software for windows and mac. With OCR, electronic equipment identifies shapes by detecting dark and light patterns on printed characters and then translates those into computer text via character recognition.

A text-based image is recognized and converted into an editable document by detecting the text. OCR serves two purposes: storing paper documents and reusing them.

Best free OCR API, Online OCR and Searchable PDF (Sandwich PDF) Service. Try instantly, no registration required. Available as On-Premise OCR Software, too. The Cloud OCR API is a REST-based Web API to extract text from images and convert scans to searchable PDF. FreeOCR for Mac OS X, download best alternative solutions carefully chosen by our editors and user community. FreeOCR for Mac OS X. PDF-OCR-Free is a straightforward application that helps you convert PDF documents into searchable PDFs. The program supports scanned PDF files, since a smart OCR function is provided. The OCR process is automated so the only user interaction is telling ABBYY FineReader Express which document to load and to where the OCR’d version should be saved. Instead of creating a new document or opening an existing one, ABBYY FineReader Express has a Quick Tasks panel that opens on launch. EaseUS PDF Editor. EaseUS is known for its long-standing reputation, having started in the.

At the same time, OCR can search for documents in order to streamline workflows and make them easier to handle, so most companies will use OCR software.

What is the best OCR software to use? We will introduce you to 23+ free OCR programs that will help you handle your files more efficiently.

23+ Best Free OCR Software for Windows & Mac

1. Symphony

Using Symphony, scanned files can be searched using the OCR technology in the back end. You can submit PDFs, TIFF files (Tagged Image File Format), e-faxes, emails, and other document types to this service.

Features:

• Symphony OCR helps you to detect text from PDF files containing scanned images.
• You can copy and paste data from the documents.
• It allows you to search text in the document.
• This tool can be integrated with SharePoint, ShareFile, etc.

2. FineScanner

In addition to scanning documents, FineScanner can also digitize books and convert them into a searchable format. Following the scan, you will be able to edit the output file.

Features:

• It can read your mobile screen, including icons, links, buttons, etc.
• FineScanner allows virtual assistant commands to get PDF, scan documents, open books.
• Output can be shared with other people.
• You can use it on an iPad or iPhone.

3. Text Fairy

Text Fairy is an Android app for OCR. It can view the text from photos or images taken by the camera. It can recognize print in more than 50 different languages.

Features:

• It can extract text from scanned images.
• This app automatically modifies the image accurately for a better result.
• You can edit the resulted file.
• It can convert images into PDF files.
• Text Fairy does not show any advertisement while using it.

4. Softworks OCR

With Softworks, you can extract information from images using OCR software. As a result, it helps you minimize manual entry while providing an automated solution for your business.

Features:

• It assists you to improve the quality of scanned documents.
• Softworks OCR accepts numerous input sources.
• It uses a system vision algorithm to analyze the processed page.
• This tool can detect existing layers of text within an image or document.

5. Soda PDF

Soda PDF turns paper documents and images into editable PDF files. Multiple documents can be recognized simultaneously.

Features:

• Soda PDF supports you to change font type, style, and size.
• It stores files on the server for 24 hours.
• You can use this app online and offline.
• PDF files having images can be easily converted into plain text.
• It encrypts the URL between the server and the browser.

6. Chronoscan

Chronoscan is an application for document processing and data extraction. Flexibility and user-friendliness are its hallmarks. Using this tool, you can scan documents in less time.

Features:

• It allows you to scan a large volume of documents.
• You can easily filter out text from PDF files.
• Chronoscan allows you to upload documents to the cloud.
• You can export all the documents to ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software.
• It assists you to reduce data entry work.
• This software helps you to quickly organize your documents.

7. Readiris

A simple software package called Readiris converts text from paper or image documents automatically. This feature makes editing files easier rather than retyping them.

Features:

• It supports numerous output formats.
• Readiris can listen to your books in a format specified by you.
• Compatible with Windows and Mac operating systems.
• Chronos can assist you to edit the embedded text in an image.
• You can export documents to Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.

8. Amazon Textract

Amazon Texttract is a tool for extracting text from scanned documents. Automation of document workflow, fast processing of many documents is possible with it.

Features include:

• It recognizes content written in form or table.
• This tool uses API to get data from documents.
• It automatically extracts data from forms.
• Textract can read virtually any document.
• Automatically identifies key information.
• You can adjust document quality in percentage.
• It is integrated with Amazon’s Augmented AI service for document processing.

9. Evernote Scannable

Best Free Ocr Mac

Evernote Scannable is a mobile app that lets you transcribe paper into digital files. A file can be shared with other people using this application.

Features:

• You can scan slips, business cards, contracts, etc.
• It automatically rotates, crops, and adjusts images.
• Evernote allows you to export documents as JPG and PDF files.
• You can easily extract contact details from business cards.
• This app can be utilized on iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch.
• Preview images before approving them.
• It allows you to send the converted file via email or text message.

10. Infrrd

Infrrd is a solution for OCR. You can convert documents into easily readable files with this program. Contracts, financial documents, and medical documents can be filtered using the app.

Features:

• Infrrd app can see titles and text quickly.
• It allows you to filter text from Infrrd using machine learning.
• You can integrate with your current CRM (Customer Relationship Management).
• This tool utilizes AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology to extract data from the invoice.
• You can classify documents according to category.
• It gives an OCR solution for all document formats.

11. Text Scanner [OCR]

Text Scanner [OCR] is an Android application that scans text. Text can be converted from images using this program. Automatically recognize characters from a photo with this tool.

Features:

• It supports 50+ languages.
• You can scan the handwritten paper and change it into a digital format.
• Text Scanner [OCR] helps you to share a file with others via email.
• You can keep the file to Google Drive.
• It supports communication software like Google Hangouts and Google+ social media websites.

12. Scanbot SDK

The Scanbot SDK allows you to scan and create documents right from your phone. With this SDK (System Development Kit), Android and iOS projects can be easily integrated.

Features:

• It automatically recognizes text from scanned images.
• You can extract text from documents and convert it into searchable and editable files.
• This app supports all major operating systems.
• You can use it offline.
• Scanbot SDK can understand Latin, Arabic, Asian, etc. characters.
• You can scan PDF documents having a multi-page.

13. OCR Text Scanner

Text can be recognized in scanned documents using OCR Text Scanner. This app makes handwritten and typed documents editable by turning them into an editable format.

Features:

• It can recognize text in more than 30 languages.
• You can copy text from the clipboard.
• OCR Text Scanner encourages you to share a document via email.
• It automatically identifies text written in the scanned document.
• This tool helps you to save a quotation written in a magazine or book.
• You can utilize the OCR Text Scanner online and offline.
• OCR Text Scanner supports you to send the extracted file to other people via email.
• It can identify typed text format.

14. Google Cloud

Text can be detected in images using the Google Cloud Vision API. You can convert PDF files, PNG files, JPEG files, etc. to machine-readable text using this tool.

Features:

• You can use this application on a computer, an Android phone, an iPhone, an iPad, and more.
• It can detect handwriting in images.
• This tool can extricate and save text from uploaded images.
• It triggers the cloud function in order to save text to online storage.
• Google Cloud automatically image files located in the cloud.

15. OneNote

OneNote is an optical character recognition product that allows you to copy text from a printout or picture. The software allows you to make changes to the file.

Features:

• You can turn data written in the image into text with just one click.
• It allows you to extract text from printouts.
• OneNote supports you to extract text from a business card.
• You can paste copied text utilizing the keyword shortcut.

16. OnlineOCR

OnlineOCR recognizes characters and text in PDF documents and images. Over 15 images can be converted to editable text formats per hour using the software.

Features:

• It holds more than 46 languages, including English, Chinese, French, etc.
• OnlineOCR can control BMP (Bit Map), PNG (Portable Network Graphics), zip files, etc.
• You can change text into Word, Excel, RTF, and plain text format.
• This service enables you to integrate converted files into your website.

17. Adobe Acrobat

With Adobe Acrobat, you can convert scanned PDF files and images into searchable and editable documents. The fonts look similar to printouts.

Features:

• You can instantly edit any printed document.
• It enables you to simply cut and paste the text into other applications.
• Acrobat allows you to export the file to Microsoft Office.
• You can convert scanned documents to PDF files and move the data from one location to different.
• This tool assists you to keep the look and feel of documents like the original one.

18. OmniPage Ultimate

A digital document can be easily edited and searched with OmniPage Ultimate. Almost any file format can be scanned with minimal effort.

Features:

• Provide ready-to-use document formats.
• You can combine this application with mobile and printers.
• It carries a wide range of applications, including Microsoft Office, HTML, and more.
• You can open this app from the network.
• This app can recognize in more than 120 languages.

19. ABBYY Cloud Reader

The ABBYY Cloud Reader recognizes handwritten and printed pages. The program can recognize over 200 languages. You can use this tool to create searchable Word, Excel, PDF, etc. files from PDF/image files.

Features:

• It supports Mobile devices and desktop PC.
• This tool can recognize receipts and business cards.
• ABBYY Cloud Reader gives REST (Representational State Transfer).
• It converts recognized data into XML (Extensible Markup Language).
• This tool gives a library for Java, .NET, iOS, and Python.

20. Cisdem pdf converter

With Cisdem, you can easily convert PDF files. Text, images, tables, and other elements can also be retained along with their original formatting using the tool. It is capable of converting PDFs to MS Office, Apple iWork, and images.

Features:

• It assists you to scan PDF into searchable documents.
• You can transform multiple PDFs into various document formats.
• Generate PDF from Word, PowerPoint, HTML, EPUB, etc.
• Supported platform: iOS.

21. Nanonets

A web service called NanoNets allows you to digitize documents and PDFs using OCR. It can be used to convert over a hundred scanned documents into formats such as XML, PDF, and others.

Features:

• You can define a category of text for accurate detection.
• It allows you to upload up to 50 images of each text category.
• NanoNets automatically type out characters from carried images.
• You can get your converted files within a few hours.
• It can change the human-readable text into structured data using OCR.
• This app allows you to extract information from images.

22. LightPDF

It enables you to edit scanned PDF files online by converting them to editable text formats. Adding files is as easy as clicking a button.

Features:

• It allows you to select more than one language for recognizing text.
• This tool encrypts your personal information.
• You can turn images and PDF into PPT, TXT, RTF, etc. formats.
• LightPDF provides support on the phone.
• You can scan files having more than 30 MB in size.

23. Ocr.space

A service called OCR.space is used to convert text-containing images into editable formats. Furthermore, you can get PDF text through this site.

Features:

• It provides you to choose a specific language for your document.
• This service can also change a screenshot of text documents.
• You can use Ocr.space without any registration.
• Ocr.space enables you to see an editable file into a multi-column text format.
• It does not store your private data on the server.

24. Easy Screen OCR

You can convert images into editable text files with Easy Screen OCR. A screenshot can be converted into text using this software.

Features:

• It helps with a drag and drop facility to upload files.
• Easy Screen OCR removes uploaded files within 30 minutes.
• You can select text from images without registration.
• This service uses Google’s learning service to keep your cloud data safe.
• You can add up to five pictures for the conversion.
• It can recognize 100+ languages.
• Easy Screen OCR allows you to set a shortcut for easy access.

Sometimes, we need to extract the content from the scanned PDF files to text, and that's when PDF to text OCR functionality comes in very handy. OCR acronym for Optical Character Recognition. Many PDF programs come with the OCR feature, which makes scanned PDF documents searchable and editable.

If it's your very first time looking for the best free PDF OCR solution out there, we can understand how challenging it can be. But no worries!! This post will introduce the top free PDF OCR tools and how to OCR a PDF on Windows and Mac.

Best Free PDF OCR Software for Windows and Mac

There is abundant third-party software on Windows and Mac. Come and find the best tool for you to OCR a PDF.

EaseUS PDF Editor

EaseUS PDF Editor is an excellent PDF OCR software. This program can recognize and convert image-based PDF to an editable format and accurately detect and convert as many as 29 languages, such as English, French, German, Japanese, etc.

What's more, this Windows PDF editor enables you to edit and manage your PDF files like below:

• Insert, delete, reorder, extract, crop, or rotate PDF pages with ease
• Add comment, lines, or highlight PDF documents
• Add or remove password from PDF
• Sign your PDF effortlessly

Want to explore more information? Just click the below button to get it. And there is a tutorial that guides you to OCR a PDF using this tool, and you can follow it to use the OCR feature easily.

Step 1. Click Create and choose From file from the top left corner

If you want to OCR from an existing PDF file, click from the File option on the top left corner to start the process.

Step 2. Click OCR on the toolbar

After clicking OCR on the menu, select the language, then wait for a couple of seconds.

Step 3. Edit your PDF as you wish

You can use crop, rotate, combine, etc. features according to your needs. There are several features, and it allows you to manage this process easily and effortlessly.

Step 4. Click Save to keep the changes

When you are finished with editing, click save to keep the changes. You can also click save as and type a new file name if you want to keep the old version unchanged.

Adobe Acrobat DC

With its OCR functionality, you can easily convert your scanned PDFs or images into editable and searchable documents. It can perform OCR on PDFs that contain vector art, images, hidden text, or a blend of these elements.

Above all, the OCR tool in Adobe Acrobat DC offers many editing features, including text recognition, combining files, adding comments, and more.

Pros:

• Support cutting and pasting the text into other apps
• Work with many languages
• Accurately match fonts
• A free trial is available

Cons:

• Lots of features can overwhelm beginners

URL: https://acrobat.adobe.com/us/en/acrobat/how-to/ocr-software-convert-pdf-to-text.html

PDF OCR X

You can also count on PDF OCR X to help you convert scanned PDF documents into searchable PDFs or text documents with ease. It comes with advanced OCR functionality to extract the text from PDFs, even if it is in an image.

Above all, this PDF OCR-free solution is exclusively designed to handle PDFs created using a scan-to-PDF tool.

Pros:

• Drag and drop functionality to upload documents
• Able to convert PDFs to both text or searchable PDFs
• Support JPEG, PNG, BMP, and more image formats
• Support more than 60 languages

Cons:

• Lack editing features

URL: https://solutions.weblite.ca/pdfocrx/index.php

Readiris

When looking for a PDF to Word OCR solution, Readris serves the purpose best. Supporting both Windows and Mac, the tool can convert PDFs, texts, and images in a scanned document to modify in the format of your preference, including Word.

Its new added features such as a new recognition engine, new user interface, and faster document management make it even more remarkable as a PDF OCR solution or even more.

Pros:

• Various editing features are available
• User-friendly interface
• Open files faster

Cons:

• Lack a forever-free version

URL: https://www.irislink.com/zh-Hans-chn/c1810/IRIS---The-World-leader-in-OCR--PDF-and-Portable-scanner.aspx?

PDFMate PDF Converter

PDFMate PDF Converter entails advanced OCR technology that can help you convert PDFs to editable documents without any hassle. You can extract images and text from image-based PDFs and convert them into selectable and editable text or work files.

Besides the OCR functionality, the software has so much to offer, such as merging and creating PDF, encrypted converted files, customizing layout, and more.

Pros:

• Convert scanned documents to editable ones with OCR
• Support converting PDF to TXT, DOC, and other formats
• Add permission password to documents
• Simple and easy to use

Cons:

• Some crash problems during conversion processes

Ocr On Mac Free

URL: https://www.pdfmate.com/pdf-converter-free.html

Best 3 Free PDF OCR Online Tools

For those who aren't willing to download software on the computer, the online OCR tools in this section may be the best choices.

OnlineOCR.net

Suppose you don't want to install any program on your system for PDF to word OCR, no worries. With OnlineOCR.net, you can get the job done without installing any tool on your computer. It can recognize characters and text from scanned PDF and convert them into the editable doc format.

It is a completely free PDF OCR online service that even comes with a guest mode, which implies there is no need to register to use it.

Pros:

• Support converting scanned PDFs to editable DOC format
• Work even without registration
• Convert PDF to Word, text, or excel format
• Support many languages

Cons:

• Support file size maximum up to 15 MB

Ocr Pdf Mac Free

URL: https://www.onlineocr.net/

ABBYY FineReader Online

ABBYY FineReader Online is another online OCR tool designed to help scan and convert PDF documents into Word and many other editable formats. It even supports import and export documents to cloud storage services such as OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox.

The tool will keep converted files in the cloud for around 14 days, giving you enough time to download and share your files during the period.

Pros:

• Support many input and output file formats
• Export a converted document to popular cloud storage services
• Easy to use
• Able to convert scanned PDF to text OCR

Cons:

• Require registration

URL: https://finereaderonline.com/en-us/Tasks/Create

PDF2Go

PDF2Go is also an amazing PDF OCR online tool you can use to convert scanned files to text so that you can edit with ease. You can drag and drop your file or upload it from cloud storage. With PDF2Go, you don't have to copy the text manually, as this PDF OCR free tool will handle this job for you.

Above all, it works with all web browsers out there.

Pros:

• Convert scanned documents to word with OCR
• Support both DOC & DOCX and text format
• Work on a smartphone as well
• No registration is required

Cons:

• Lack support for uploading a file from the OneDrive service

URL: https://www.pdf2go.com/pdf-to-word

How to OCR a PDF?

As mentioned above, we'll help you learn how to OCR a PDF on Windows and Mac, and it's time. We will use Adobe Acrobat DC to walk you through how to OCR a scanned PDF to have an editable copy of your document.

Step 1. In Adobe Acrobat for PC or Mac, open your scanned PDF file.

Step 2. Tap 'Edit PDF' in the right place. The Adobe Acrobat will automatically perform OCR to your file and make it editable.

Step 3. Tap the text element you would like to edit and begin typing.

Step 4. Finally, select 'File' > 'Save As' and enter a new name for your editable file.

Conclusion

That's all on PDF OCR free tools. We have covered tools that really help to OCR a PDF to word or text on Windows and Mac with ease.

It's time for you to make a selection. Our advice is to pick EaseUS PDF Editor to get the job done.

Free PDF OCR Solutions FAQs

If you still have problems with the PDF OCR feature, those FAQs may help you.

1. How to OCR my PDF to word?

For PDF to word OCR, all you need to do is upload your scanned PDF document and choose the output file format as Word/DOC/DOCX while using any PDF OCR tool.

2. How to OCR my PDF to editable text?

Like PDF to word OCR, you need to select an output file format as .txt while using any PDF OCR tool to PDF to text OCR.

3. How to OCR my PDF to Excel?

The best way to OCR your PDF to excel is to use an online OCR service like ABBYY FineReader Online. It will provide you with an option to choose '.xlsx' as your output format.