13 Best FREE OCR Software (2024 Update) (2024)

OCR (Optical character reader/recognition) is the electronic conversion of images to printed text. There are many OCR software which helps you to extract text from images into searchable files. These tools accept numerous image types and convert them into well-known file formats like word, excel, or plain text.

Following is a handpicked list of OCR Software with their popular features and website links. The list contains both open-source (free) and paid software.

Best OCR Software: Top Picks!

#1) Nanonets

NanoNets is an AI-based OCR software that digitizes data from all kinds of business documents/images. Automate manual data extraction workflows by capturing just the data/information you need. Increase productivity by automating time-consuming & error-prone manual document processing tasks.

Nanonets is a versatile tool compatible with Windows, Mac, and Ubuntu platforms. It is equipped with a broad range of features, such as the ability to combine and split PDFs. Another significant feature includes screenshot translation, offering convenience for global users. However, it doesn’t support scanner integration.

Features:

• Extract data from invoices, tax forms, purchase orders, bank statements, insurance forms, medical forms, id cards & much more.
• Searchable PDF abilities
• Fast API response times
• GDPR compliant
• On-premise deployment available
• Nanonets integrates with various platforms such as Conga Composer, Salesforce, Workday, and Veeva.
• It supports over 20 languages including English, French, and German, accepts XML input, and enables file exports in formats like Word, Excel, JPG, etc.
• Files can be stored in cloud services like Creative Cloud and Document Cloud.
• Offers Customized client onboarding, White-labelled UI, Custom Data Retention, and more
• It provides customer support via Contact Form, Email, Phone, and Live chat.
• Price: Plans start at $0.1 per Page.
• Free Trial: Lifetime Free Basic Plan

Visit Nanonets >>

Lifetime Free Basic Plan

#2) Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Acrobat is an OCR system that helps you to convert scanned PDF files, and images into searchable/editable documents. It provides custom fonts that look similar to printouts.

Adobe Acrobat is a comprehensive solution compatible with Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices. It facilitates the process of managing documents with the capability to combine and split PDFs. It also supports screenshot translation, catering to the needs of diverse users. Nevertheless, it lacks scanner integration functionality.

Features:

• You can instantly edit any printed document.
• It enables you to easily cut and paste the text into other applications.
• Acrobat enables you to export the file to Microsoft Office.
• You can convert scanned documents to PDF files and move the data from one location to another.
• This tool helps you to keep the look and feel of documents like the original one.
• Adobe Acrobat integrates with numerous platforms such as Salesforce and Workday.
• It supports over 20 languages, processes XML inputs, allows exports in formats like Word and Excel.
• Stores files in cloud services like Creative Cloud.
• Offers Security and password-protected PDF files, Turns scanned documents into editable, searchable PDFs, and more.
• It provides customer support via Phone, Live Chat, Contact Form, and Call request.
• Price: Plans start at $22 a month. 10% Discount on Yearly Payments
• Free Trial: 14-Days

Visit Acrobat >>

7-Days Free Trial

#3) Filestack Capture

Filestack Capture is a document digitization service that identifies printed text characters or image qualities through digital image analysis. It can extract and organize data from credit cards, passports, driver’s licenses, and tax receipts. It offers reliable, responsive, and secure service to deliver your files with unparalleled control and speed.

Filestack Capture is an OCR converter software that offers a robust set of features. It can convert audio files and recognize barcodes, enhancing its utility in diverse contexts. It also supports screenshot translation, broadening its functionality. Deployable on Cloud, SaaS, and web-based platforms, it is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux systems, making it a flexible solution for various users.

Features:

• Provides AI and Machine-Learning based image and form recognition services.
• It is equipped with security policies to safeguard your applications.
• Offers fast data transfer and supports uploading files via drag and drop
• You can automate your data capture process with Filestack’s OCR API.
• Works with multiple languages like German, English, French, Dutch, Turkmen, and Chinese.
• Price: Plans start at $59 per month.
• Free Trial: Free basic plan

Visit Filestack >>

Free Basic Plan

#4) ABBYY Cloud Reader

ABBYY Cloud Reader is a tool that recognizes a full printed or handwritten page. It can detect more than 200 languages. This tool helps you to transform PDF/image to searchable MS Word, Excel, PDF, etc. format.

ABBYY Cloud Reader is a robust tool designed for Mac, Android, and Windows users. While it does not support scanner integration or screenshot translation, it shines in its ability to convert audio files, recognize barcodes, and manage PDFs, including combining and splitting them. Additionally, it provides batch processing, streamlining workflow by allowing multiple tasks to be processed simultaneously.

Features:

• It supports Mobile devices and desktop PC.
• This tool can recognize receipts and business cards.
• ABBYY Cloud Reader provides REST (Representational State Transfer).
• It converts recognized data into XML (Extensible Markup Language).
• This tool provides a library for Java, .NET, iOS, and Python.
• It provides customer support via Contact Form, Email, and Phone.
• Seamlessly integrates with Microsoft® Office.
• ABBYY Cloud Reader supports numerous languages including Russian and Arabic.
• Supports various input files like Doc, PDF, and allows exports in Word and Excel formats.
• Store your extracted file in cloud storage platforms like Google Drive.
• It offers features like annotation, password protection, digital signatures, and hidden data removal.
• Price: Plans start at $29.99 a month.
• Free Trial: 7-Days

Visit ABBY >>

7-Days Free Trial

#5) OmniPage Ultimate

OmniPage Ultimate is OCR software that can convert your document easy to edit and search. It can scan file to any format with minimal effort.

OmniPage Ultimate is a versatile OCR tool available for Mac, Linux, and Windows users. It supports batch processing, audio files conversion, barcode recognition, and PDF splitting, significantly enhancing its usefulness. However, it doesn’t feature scanner integration, screenshot translation, or the ability to combine PDFs, which might limit its applicability in certain scenarios.

Features:

• Provide ready-to-use document formats.
• You can integrate this application with mobile and printers.
• It supports a wide range of applications, including Microsoft Office, HTML, and more.
• You can open this application from the network.
• It provides customer support via Live Chat, Phone, and Contact form
• OmniPage Ultimate integrates with Microsoft Dynamics CRM, SharePoint, etc.,
• It supports over 20 languages including English and French, accepts various input file types like PDF and JPEG.
• You can export your file in XLS, Docx, Xlsx, PPTX, HTML, XML, RTF, and ePub formats
• Offers annotation, form creation, and document encryption features
• Price: Plans start at $156 a month.
• Free Trial: Life Time Free Basic Plan

Visit Omnipage >>

Life Time Free Basic Plan

#6) Cisdem pdf converter

Cisdem is an easy-to-use PDF converter tool. The tool also allows you to retain texts, images, tables, elements and keep them in the original formatting. It allows you to convert PDF to MS Office, iWork, images, and more.

Cisdem PDF Converter is a powerful tool compatible with Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS. Its extensive capabilities include batch processing, audio files conversion, barcode recognition, and the management of PDFs both combining and splitting. Additionally, it supports screenshot translation. However, it doesn’t offer scanner integration, slightly limiting its scope for certain tasks.

Features:

• It helps you to scan PDF into searchable documents.
• You can convert multiple PDFs to various document formats.
• Create PDF from Word, PowerPoint, HTML, EPUB, etc.
• Text Fairy integrates with C++, supports 50+ languages like English, accepts Text and PDF inputs, and allows Text and PDF exports.
• It offers features like screen cropping filters, improved cropping performance, and stability improvements.
• Price: $59.99 One-time Payment, No Time Limit
• Free Trial: Life Time Free Basic Plan

Visit CISDM >>

Life Time Free Basic Plan

#7) Easy Screen OCR

Easy Screen OCR enables you to turn images into an editable text file format. It helps you to capture screenshots to extract text in an efficient way.

Easy Screen OCR is a user-friendly tool compatible with Windows, Mac, and Android platforms. It facilitates batch processing, audio file conversion, screenshot translation, and PDF splitting, enhancing the user’s productivity. However, despite these diverse capabilities, it doesn’t support scanner integration, barcode recognition, or the combining of PDFs, which may limit its utility in some scenarios.

Features:

• It supports drag and drop facility to upload files.
• Easy Screen OCR deletes uploaded files within 30 minutes.
• You can extract text from images without registration.
• This service uses Google learning service to keep your cloud data safe.
• You can add up to five pictures for the conversion.
• Easy Screen OCR enables you to set a shortcut for easy access.
• It provides customer support via Email
• Easy Screen OCR integrates with multi-column documents.
• Supports languages like English and Chinese, accepts JPEG, PNG, etc. as input, and allows exports in Text, PDF, and Docx.
• It offers features like cross-platform functionality, text scanning, and hotkey setting.
• Price: $15 One-time Payment, No Time Limit
• Free Trial: Life Time Free Basic Plan

Visit Easy Screen >>

Life Time Free Basic Plan

#8) Readiris

Readiris is a simple software package that automatically transforms text from paper documents or images. It helps you to make changes in the file without retyping it.

Readiris is an all-inclusive tool compatible with Mac, Windows, Linux, and iOS. It offers a wide range of capabilities, including scanner integration, batch processing, audio file conversion, barcode recognition, and PDF management—both combining and splitting. Adding to its versatility, it also supports screenshot translation, ma

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.
• Chronoscan helps you to edit the embedded text in an image.
• It provides customer support via Contact form
• Seamlessly integrates with Verbal recognition
• Works with multiple languages like English, French, and German
• Readiris accepts various inputs like XML, JPG, DOC, and allows exports in formats like DOCX, HTML, and EPUB.
• It stores files in cloud services like Dropbox and Google Drive
• Offering features like annotation, fast document opening, PDF compression, and electronic signatures.
• Price: Plans start at $59 a month.
• Free Trial: 17-Days

Link: https://iriscorporate.com/softwares/readiris-17/

#9) OnlineOCR

OnlineOCR recognizes characters and text from PDF documents and images. It allows you to convert more than 15 images per hour into editable text formats.

OnlineOCR, a free OCR software, accepts a wide range of input file types including PDF, TIF/TIFF, JPEG/JPG, BMP, PCX, PNG, GIF, and ZIP. It boasts diverse output options, allowing users to export files in formats such as PDF, Word, Excel, RTF, and Text. Features like image-to-text and secure conversion add to its usability and security.

Features:

• It supports more than 46 languages, including English, Chinese, French, etc.
• OnlineOCR can handle BMP (Bit Map), PNG (Portable Network Graphics), zip files, etc.
• This service allows you to integrate converted files into your website.
• It provides customer support via Email
• Works with 44+ multiple languages like English, Afrikaans, and Albanian
• Supported Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, and macOS
• Price: Plans start at $29.95 a month.
• Free Trial: Life Time Free Basic Plan

Link: https://www.onlineocr.net/

#10) Ocr.space

Ocr.space is a service that converts images containing text into an editable file format using OCR. This website also helps you to get text from PDF files.

Ocr.space is a comprehensive tool designed for Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms. It offers a variety of features including scanner integration, batch processing, barcode recognition, and screenshot translation, which greatly enhance its functionality. However, it does not support audio file conversion, PDF combining, or PDF splitting, potentially limiting its versatility in certain use-cases.

Features:

• It allows you to choose a specific language for your document.
• This service can also transform a screenshot of text documents.
• You can use Ocr.space without any registration.
• Ocr.space enables you to get an editable file into a multi-column text format.
• It does not store your confidential data on the server.
• It provides customer support via Contact form, and Email
• Seamlessly integrates with OCR Engine 2
• Ocr.space supports over 15 languages including Arabic and Chinese.
• Accepts inputs like JPG, PDF, and Word, and enables exports in PDF, JSON, and Text file formats.
• It offers speed, larger image support, and multi-page TIFF scan features.
• Price: Plans start at $30 a month.
• Free Trial: Life Time Free Basic Plan

Link: https://ocr.space/

#11) Symphony

Symphony is a back-end OCR engine which ensures that the text of the scanned file is searchable. This service enables you to extract text from PDF, TIFF (Tagged Image File Format), e-faxes, email, etc.

Symphony is a dynamic OCR tool exclusively available for Windows users. It is adept at batch processing, audio files conversion, barcode recognition, and PDF management—including combining and splitting. Additionally, it supports screenshot translation. However, it lacks scanner integration, which might restrict its functionality in certain contexts.

Features:

• Symphony OCR helps you to detect text from PDF files containing scanned images.
• You can copy and paste text from the documents.
• It enables you to search for text in the document.
• It provides customer support via Contact Form, Email, and Phone
• Symphony integrates with Email, supports languages like English and Spanish, accepts HTML, Text, and PDF inputs, and allows Excel exports.
• It offers features like custom cover sheets, email notifications, and page count specification.
• Price: Request a Quote from Sales
• Free Trial: 30-Days

Link: https://trumpetinc.com/products/symphony-ocr/

#12) Text Fairy

Text Fairy is a versatile tool designed for Android, Windows, and Mac users. It incorporates features such as scanner integration, audio file conversion, PDF management—including combining and splitting—and screenshot translation. However, it does not support batch processing and barcode recognition, which might limit its applicability in certain scenarios. This app can scan text from images or photos taken from the camera. It can recognize print from more than 50 languages.

Features:

• It can extract text from scanned images.
• This app automatically adjusts the image accurately for a better result.
• You can edit the resulting file.
• It can convert images into PDF files.
• Text Fairy does not show any advertisem*nts while using it.
• It provides customer support via Email
• Seamlessly integrates with C++
• Works with 50+ multiple languages like English, and German
• Supports TEXT, and PDF files as an Input option
• You can export your file in TEXT, and PDF formats.
• Offers Filters to cropping screen, Fixed PDF generation, Improved performance of cropping screen, Stability improvements, and more
• Price: Plans start at $0.82 a month.
• Free Trial: Life Time Free Basic Plan

Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.renard.ocr&hl=en_IN

#13) Scanbot SDK

Scanbot SDK helps you to scan and create documents from your phone. It provides SDK (System Development Kit) that can be easily integrated with iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Scanbot SDK is excels in scanner integration and batch processing, as well as barcode recognition. However, it does not support audio files conversion, PDF combining or splitting, and screenshot translation, potentially limiting its functionality in some use-cases.

Features:

• It automatically recognizes text from scanned images.
• You can extract text from documents and transform it into searchable and editable files.
• This app supports all major operating systems.
• You can use it offline.
• You can scan PDF files having a multi-page.
• It provides customer support via Contact Form, and Email
• Scanbot SDK supports 90+ languages including German and Arabic.
• Accepts Text input, and allows exports in PDF, TIFF, and JPEG formats.
• It offers features like automatic scanning, local storage encryption, blur detection, and perspective correction.
• Price: Request a Quote from Sales.
• Free Trial: 7-Days

Link: https://scanbot.io/products/data-capture/data-capture-sdk/ocr-sdk/

#14) Google Cloud

Google Cloud Vision is an API that can detect text in images. It allows you to convert PDF, PNG, JPEG, etc. file format to machine-readable text.

Google Cloud is a robust solution compatible with Windows and Linux platforms. It boasts a comprehensive set of features including scanner integration, batch processing, audio file conversion, barcode recognition, and screenshot translation. In terms of PDF management, it supports both combining and splitting, making it an all-encompassing tool for diverse tasks.

Features:

• It can detect handwriting in images.
• This tool can extract and save text from uploaded images.
• It triggers a cloud function in order to save text to online storage.
• Google Cloud automatically detects image files located in the cloud.
• It provides customer support via Phone, Chat, and Contact Form
• Google Cloud integrates with platforms like Genesys and Twilio.
• Supports 100+ languages, and accepts various file inputs.
• It exports in CSV and JSON formats, offering features like face and logo detection, text detection, and object localization.
• Price: Request a Quote from Sales.
• Free Trial: 90-Days

Link: https://cloud.google.com/vision/

#15) Amazon Textract

Amazon Textract is a service that helps you to extract text from scanned documents. You can use it to automate document workflow, and process numerous documents quickly.

Amazon Textract is a comprehensive tool available for Linux, macOS, and Windows users. It provides an extensive array of features including scanner integration, batch processing, audio files conversion, barcode recognition, and screenshot translation. Additionally, it allows users to manage PDFs, supporting both combining and splitting, making it a robust solution for various tasks.

Features:

• It identifies content written in form or table.
• This tool uses API to get data from document.
• It automatically extracts data from forms.
• Textract can read virtually any documents.
• Automatically identifies key information.
• You can adjust document quality in percentage.
• It is integrated with Amazon Augmented AI service for document processing.
• Amazon Textract integrates with platforms like ServiceNow, supports numerous languages including German and Chinese.
• Accepts JPEG, PNG, PDF inputs, and exports in .zip and JSON formats.
• It offers OCR, form and table extraction, handwriting recognition, and more.
• It provides customer support via Contact Form
• Price: Plans start at $0.60 a month.
• Free Trial: 90-Days

Link: https://aws.amazon.com/textract/

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Best FREE OCR Software for Windows PC