Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software can turn scanned papers in an image format into editable documents. With this software, you can use a PDF editor or a word processor to change scanned papers.
Here, we’ll talk about the best computer OCR tools. We’ve compared each OCR app and pointed out its best features so that you can choose the one that best fits your needs.
Best OCR Software For PCs
#1) Filestack
The best way to handle files, among other things, is to extract text quickly and accurately. Filestack is a service for managing files that lets you share, work on, and send files. Its services include OCR, which uses AI to pull text from files, whether printed or written by hand.
Features:
- Change from and to any standard file format
- Workflows can be used to automate features like OCR.
- It is fast and secure because it has a CDN built in.
- Tools for working with files include editing images, previewing documents, and finding viruses.
Verdict: Aside from OCR, Filestack has a lot of other tools that can be helpful if you need to manage files in other ways. It also has different plans, one of which is free and excellent for growing.
Price:
- Free
- Start: $59/month
- Grow: $199/month
- Scale: $359/month
- Trial: Yes | 21 days
Website: Filestack
#2) Nanonets
It Is Best To Automate Document Data Extraction Processes using OCR and machine learning. Nanonets is an OCR program that uses AI and lets you scan data from any paper.
Eliminate the need to enter info by hand. Nanonets make sharing documents and data easier for businesses, ERPs, databases, and cloud storage systems.
Features:
- Get more done by taking out only the info you need.
- Integrate with ERPs, databases, and cloud storage services.
- Automate the entire process of handling documents.
- The OCR API is free, has low latency, and you can make as many calls as possible.
Verdict: Nanonets is a robust OCR software tool with impressive machine-learning features. It is perfect for businesses of any size that want to automate processes involving many documents. Nanonets come with options out of the box for a wide range of common document types.
Price:
- Starter: Free
- Pro: $499 per model per month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
- Trial: Yes | 7-day
Website: Nanonets
#3) LightPDF
Best for making free PDF, Excel, or Word files from pictures. LightPDF is a free tool you can use online to turn pictures into PDF, Word, and Excel files. The OCR program is easy to use, so it only takes a few minutes to digitize many scanned images.
Features:
- Change scanned pictures into files in PDF, Word, or Excel.
- Changes made online.
- A lot of accuracy.
Verdict: LightPDF is an OCR program that lets you turn scanned images into papers that can be edited. Most people will only need the basic form. But most people can also pay for the more advanced form.
Price:
- Basic: Free
- Personal: $19.90 billed monthly, $59.90 billed annually.
- Business: $79.95 for one year, $129.90 for two years.
- Trial: Yes | 7-DAY
Website: LightPDF
#4) OCRSpace
Best for free online conversion of scanned images or PDF files to editable Word files. The best OCR app to turn scanned images and PDFs into editable papers is OCRSpace. To turn a paper into an editable files, you can either upload the file or paste the URL. The app will determine how the device is turned and automatically enlarge pictures if needed.
Features:
- PDF, JPG, PNG, and WebP files can all be changed online.
- Scanning receipts.
- Helps more than 20 languages.
Verdict: OCRSpace is a free online program with many useful features. You can use the app on both PCs and mobile devices with any browser that works with it.
Price: Free
Website: OCRSpace
#5) FreeOCR
Best for free conversion of scanned pictures to Optical Character Recognition on Windows.
FreeOCR is a free program that lets you turn JPG and other standard picture formats into documents you can edit. HP made the Tesseract OCR PDF engine and is part of the app. In an OCR accuracy event held by the University of Nevada, the engine finished in the top three.
Features:
- Send to Microsoft Word.
- Support famous image formats like JPG and others.
- Support for Twain.
Verdict: FreeOCR is a free Optical Character Recognition program that is easy to use and doesn’t take up much space on your computer. This app has an open-source system that Google keeps improving and keeping up to date.
Price: Free
Website: FreeOCR
#6) OnlineOCR – Free Online OCR
Best for free online conversion of scanned pictures and PDF files.
OnlineOCR is a web app that lets you turn scanned images and PDF files into Word, Excel, or plain text files that you can change. The free OCR app can turn up to 15 pages per hour into text. You can sign up for free, which gives you access to advanced tools like converting PDFs with multiple pages.
Features:
- Get text from PDFs and pictures.
- Formats like GIF, TIFF, BMP, and JPG can be put in.
- Make files in Excel, Word, and Text formats.
- Help 46 or more languages.
Verdict: OnlineOCR is a simple and easy-to-use OCR app that you can use online. You can use it to change scanned pictures and PDF files on any device.
Price: Free
Website: OnlineOCR
#7) Simple OCR
The best way to convert scanned pictures on Windows for Optical Character Recognition (OCR) in a batch.
As the name suggests, Simple OCR is a simple app that you can use to convert scanned papers to OCR. The developer says scanned pictures can be turned into editable documents with 100% accuracy. Spots or dots in scanned pictures can be removed with this app. It works with papers using non-standard fonts, layouts with multiple columns, and tables.
Features:
- Remove noise from papers.
- Keep the format.
- Batch OCR is used in both English and French.
- Save as a TXT or RTF file.
- Support setups with more than one column and tables.
Verdict: Simple OCR is a tool for turning scanned images into papers that can be changed. However, the app only supports a few input and output types, which may only meet some people’s needs.
Price: Free
Website: Simple OCR
#8) Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
This is the best way to edit, digitize, and organize PDF files on any device.
Adobe Acrobat Pro DC is an excellent program for making changes to PDFs. The software lets you make PDFs and change them, sign them digitally, work in batches, and convert OCR files. The app also has features for working together that help speed up the process.
Features:
- Make PDFs and change them.
- Transfer PDFs.
- Mark PDFs.
- Conversion to OCR.
Verdict: The Optical Character Recognition feature of Acrobat Pro DC makes it an excellent tool for changing PDF files. Even though the price is high, the benefits make it worth it.
Price:
- Adobe Acrobat Standard DC: $12.99 per month
- Adobe Acrobat Pro DC: $14.99 per month
- Trial: Yes | 7-day
Website: Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
#9) PDFelement
The best app for Windows and iOS to edit and convert PDF files.
PDFelement lets Windows users change and organize PDF files. You can change and make new forms and other papers using the software. You can also organize PDF files on iOS devices with this app.
Features:
- PDF text and pictures can be changed on Windows, iPhone, and iPad.
- Fill out PDF forms.
- OCR lets PDFs be changed.
- Processing PDFs in a batch.
Verdict: PDFelement is not a free tool, but its features make it worth the cost. The app is easy to learn and lets you make and control PDF documents.
Price:
- PDFelement Pro: $69.99 per year
- PDFelement Pro Bundle: $89.99 per year
Website: PDFelement
#10) Easy Screen OCR
It is best for scanning pictures, taking screenshots, and turning them into text on mobile and PC devices.
Another great OCR app is Easy Screen OCR, which pulls text from scanned photos and screenshots. You can use the app to get foreign-language text from websites and then translate it with Google Translate or another app. The app can be used on both PCs and mobile devices.
Features:
- Get words from pictures.
- Google’s OCR mode.
- Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows are all supported.
- Screens with OCR.
- It works with more than one language.
Verdict: Easy Screen OCR has a simple way that makes it easy to turn images into text that can be edited. Compared to other paid OCR apps, this one is cheap.
Price:
- Lifetime: $15
- Half-yearly: $29
- Yearly: $49
- Trial: Yes | 3-day
Website: Easy Screen OCR
Conclusion
When it comes to free, web-based OCR tools, you can’t beat OCR Space and Online OCR. If you need free Windows software for batch OCR of scanned images, try out SimpleOCR. Many languages can be used inside these programs.
LightPDF OCR is the go-to program for transforming photos into editable documents like PDF, Word, and Excel. OCR to Word is a simple way to transform scanned documents into editable Microsoft Word documents.
