Image to Text (OCR) · Selection guide
Choose the output first: plain text to copy, or a searchable PDF? Saving an image as a PDF does not itself recognize the words. Crop and straighten a photographed document, then start with a sample whose smallest characters you can read.
Document language and interface language are different. Check the OCR language, page allowance and export format in the source. Compare phone scanning, web uploads and desktop OCR separately; a documented free export in one version does not establish it for another.
Compare names, dates, amounts and table columns with the original. Copy and paste the result to check reading order. OCR is not translation or summarization; handwriting and complex layouts need extra review. Check upload and retention terms before using private documents.
Compare documented features
— Not verifiedThis comparison is based on published official documentation. It is not a hands-on test or a quality ranking. Unknown features are not treated as verified.
| App name | Where will you use it? | Free output | No account needed | No watermark | Works offline | Batch processing | Content language | Good to know / Sources and review date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Scan | iPhone / iPad | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | The listings say a subscription raises OCR capacity from 5 to 100 pages. Scans save to Adobe cloud; check recognized text before sharing. Free download does not mean every task is free. Check in-app purchases, export limits and country/device availability in the store. Sources and review date |
| Google Lens | Website | — | — | — | — | — | — | Available features may vary by device and access method. Sources and review date |
| iLovePDF | Website | — | — | — | — | — | — | Verify file formats, size limits and language support in the official plan. Sources and review date |
| NAPS2 | Desktop | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | Download an OCR language first; copy text through a PDF viewer. Sources and review date |
| PDF24 | Website | Yes | Yes | — | No | — | — | Check the official page for current quotas and output conditions. Sources and review date |
| Tesseract | Desktop | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | — | Requires command-line setup and language files; no built-in graphical interface. Sources and review date |