Optical Character Recognition (OCR) tools can take scanned images and turn them into editable documents. To make changes to scanned documents, you can use a PDF or Word editing program along with this software.
Here we will go over the top optical character recognition (OCR) programs for PCs. To help you find the right OCR app, we compared their top features and ranked them.
Following Is The List of the Best OCR Software for PCs
#1) Filestack
Best for fast and accurate text extraction, as well as other file-handling tools.
Filestack is a file management tool that lets you upload, edit, and send files. One of its services is AI-based OCR, which can read text from both printed and handwritten documents.
Filestack can handle IDs, passports, tax returns, and just about any other kind of paper. Aside from that, it is very good at finding written text.
Features:
- Any common file type can be changed.
- Workflows make it possible to automate features like OCR.
- With its built-in CDN, it is fast and secure.
- Tools for managing files, such as changing images, viewing previews of documents, and finding viruses
Verdict: The bottom line is that Filestack has many useful tools besides OCR that can help you manage your files better. It also has many different plans, including a free one that’s great for growing.
Price:
- Free
- Start: $59 a month
- Grow: $199 a month
- Scale: $359 per month
- Trial: Yes | 21 days
Website: Filestack
#2) Nanonets
Best for using OCR and machine learning to automate processes for extracting data from documents.
This is AI-based OCR software called Nanonets that lets you scan any kind of paper and turn it into digital data. Nanonets can capture and retrieve information from mortgage forms, tax forms, ID cards, invoices, payslips, and just about any other kind of paper.
With Nanonets, you can eliminate the need to enter data by hand. Nanonets help businesses, ERPs, databases, and cloud storage services share papers and data.
Features:
- You can get more done by getting only the info you need.
- Connect to ERPs, databases, and cloud storage services.
- Automate the whole process of processing documents.
- Unlimited calls can be made to the free, low-latency OCR API.
Verdict: Nanonets is a strong OCR application program that can do amazing things with machine learning. It works great for any size business that wants to automate processes involving a lot of paper. Nanonets offer quick and easy ways to handle many standard kinds of documents.
Price:
- Starter: It’s free
- Pro: $499 per model per month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
- Trial: Yes | 7-day
Website: Nanonets
#3) LightPDF
The best free tool for turning pictures into PDF, Excel, or Word files.
LightPDF is a free web app that can transform your images into PDF, Word, and Excel documents. The OCR software is easy to use, so digitizing a large number of scanned pictures only takes minutes.
Features:
- Scan pictures and save them as PDF, Word, or Excel files.
- Changing things online.
- A lot of accuracy.
Verdict: LightPDF is a good OCR tool that can turn scanned images into documents that you can edit. Most people will only need the basic form. However, the advanced form is also not too expensive for most people.
Price:
- Basic: Free
- Personal: monthly fee of $19.90, yearly fee of $59.90.
- Business: $129.90 for two years, $79.95 for one year.
- Trial: Yes | 7-DAY
Website: LightPDF
#4) OCRSpace
The best way to turn scanned photos or PDF files into editable Word papers online for free.
The best OCR app for turning scanned images and PDFs into editable files is OCRSpace. To make a paper editable, either upload it or paste the URL. The app will instantly figure out the orientation of the camera and enlarge images if needed.
Features:
- You can change PDF, JPG, PNG, and WebP files online.
- Scan the receipt.
- Helps more than 20 languages.
Verdict: OCRSpace is a free online tool that has many valuable features. The app can be used on PCs, phones, and any computer that works with it.
Price: Free
Website: OCRSpace
#5) FreeOCR
This is the best way to convert scanned pictures to Optical Character Recognition for free on Windows.
FreeOCR is a free tool for turning JPG and other common picture formats into editable documents. HP created the Tesseract OCR PDF engine that is part of the app. The engine placed among the top three in an OCR accuracy contest run by the University of Nevada.
Features:
- Send to MS Word.
- Allow JPG and other standard picture files.
- Twain’s help.
Verdict: FreeOCR is a lightweight, easy-to-use, and free optical character recognition program. This app has an open-source system that Google is constantly improving and keeping up to date.
Price: Free
Website: FreeOCR
#6) OnlineOCR
This is the best way to change scanned images and PDF files online for free.
You may convert scanned photos and PDFs to editable Word, Excel, or plain text files with the help of OnlineOCR, a web software. The free OCR app has a maximum conversion rate of 15 pages per hour. The ability to convert multi-page PDFs is one of the premium capabilities that paid users have access to.
Features:
- Get text out of PDFs and pictures.
- You can use GIF, TIFF, BMP, and JPG files.
- Make files in Excel, Word, and Text.
- Help with over 46 languages.
Verdict: OnlineOCR is a simple online OCR app that is easy to use. It works on all devices and can change scanned pictures and PDF files.
Price: Free
Website: OnlineOCR
#7) Simple OCR
Best for converting a lot of scanned pictures to Optical Character Recognition on Windows.
That’s right, Simple OCR is a simple app that you can use to turn scanned papers into OCR files. The developer says that turning scanned images into editable papers is always done correctly. The app can get rid of spots or speckles in scanned pictures. It works with tables, papers with non-standard fonts, and layouts with more than one column.
Features:
- Remove noise from papers.
- Keeping the format.
- Language batch OCR in English and French.
- You can save in both TXT and RTF.
- Allow layouts and tables with more than one column.
Verdict: If you need to convert scanned images into editable documents, a fantastic free program is Simple OCR. The app’s limited input and output types, meanwhile, may make it ineffective for the majority of users.
Price: Free
Website: Simple OCR
#8) Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
The best way to edit, digitize, and organize PDF files on any device.
You can change PDFs very well with Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. The software lets you make and convert PDFs, sign documents digitally, work with multiple files at once, and convert OCR files. In addition, the app has tools for working together that make things run more smoothly.
Features:
- Make PDFs and change them.
- Send PDFs to other people.
- Sign PDFs.
- Changes using OCR.
Verdict: The bottom line is that Acrobat Pro DC is an excellent tool for changing PDFs that has Optical Character Recognition built in. It costs a lot, but 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 way to change and edit PDF files is on Windows and iOS.
With PDFelement, you can change things about PDF files on Windows. The software lets you change and make forms and other papers. Using this tool, you may also arrange PDFs on iOS devices.
Features:
- You can change text and pictures in PDF files on Windows, the iPhone, and the iPad.
- Make PDF forms.
- OCR to make PDFs readable.
- Processing PDFs all at once.
Verdict: The benefits of PDFelement make it worth the price, even though it’s not free. This app is easy to learn and allows you to create and manage PDF files.
Price:
- PDFelement Pro: $69.99 per year
- PDFelement Pro Bundle: $89.99 per year
Website: PDFelement
#10) Easy Screen OCR
The best app for turning scanned photos and pictures into text on PCs and phones.
One other fantastic OCR program that can do the same thing with screenshots and scanned images is Easy Screen OCR. The app lets you take text from websites written in other languages and translate it with Google Translate or another tool. It can be used on both PCs and phones.
Features:
- Get words out of pictures.
- Google OCR mode.
- Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows all can be used together.
- OCR tool for screens.
- It works with many languages.
Verdict: Easy Screen OCR has a simple interface that makes it easy to turn images into text that you can change. Its price is pretty low compared to other paid OCR apps.
Price:
- Lifetime: $15
- Half-yearly: $29
- Yearly: $49
- Trial: Yes | 3-day
Website: Easy Screen OCR
#11) Boxoft Free OCR
The best way to get free text out of any picture.
You can get text out of pictures with the Boxoft Free OCR tool. The app works with English, German, Italian, French, Dutch, Basque, Portuguese, and Spanish, among others. The app can turn scanned papers into files that you can change.
Features:
- OCR text from your pages.
- Understand more than one language.
- Change OCR text.
- You can save OCR text in either ZIP or TXT formats.
- Your page range.
Verdict: Boxoft Free OCR is a great program for editing scanned pictures. It is a great deal because it offers many advanced features for a low price.
Price:
- Basic: Free
- Pro: $27
Website: Boxoft Free OCR
#12) ABBYY FineReader
The best way to organize your work is with scanned and digital PDF files.
One of the best OCR apps is ABBYY FineReader. The app has many tools that can help you streamline your work. It is current and simple to use, which makes it simple to change and arrange files.
Features:
- You can read, change, and convert PDFs.
- OCR lets you turn scanned papers into digital files.
- Reader for screenshots.
- Make PDF boards.
- Protect PDFs by signing them.
Verdict: The bottom line is that ABBYY FineReader is a great program for working with both printed and digital files. The OCR app is a great deal for the price—it only costs one time. The app has productivity tools that make working on papers and working with others faster.
Price:
- FineReader PDF for Mac: $129 one-time payment.
- FineReader PDF 15 Standard for Windows: $199 one-time payment.
- FineReader PDF Corporate for Windows: $299 one-time payment.
- Trial: Yes | 7-day
Website: ABBYY FineReader
Conclusion
Online OCR and OCR Space are the best free Optical Character Recognition tools that you can use online. For free OCR of a bunch of scanned pictures on Windows, SimpleOCR is the best choice. These tools can be used in more than one language.
The LightPDF OCR tool is the best way to turn pictures into PDF, Word, or Excel files. Try OCR to Word if you want to change scanned images from any file to MS Word.
