OCR, or Optical Character Recognition, is a sophisticated software enabling computers to extract text from images. Initially coarse and unreliable, OCR software has evolved with the power of technology. These programs have become the fastest way to convert text within images into a document editable using text processors like Word.
If you're in need of a reliable and high-quality OCR software, Mytour recommends exploring the insights shared below.
Top OCR to Text Conversion Software
1. FreeOCR
- Get FreeOCR here.
FreeOCR is a free OCR software that provides all the essential functions you need. If you have a scanner, you can directly scan and extract text from paper. You can also import images, multi-page TIFF, and PDF files into FreeOCR for conversion to text. FreeOCR uses an open-source tool originally developed by Hewlett Packard and later released by Google for public use. FreeOCR is also known as 'Tesseract.'
2. SimpleOCR
- Get SimpleOCR here.
True to its name (SimpleOCR means simple and easy OCR), the software allows you to extract text from your scans as well as from document files effortlessly and quickly. If you need to extract text from complex documents (e.g., containing multiple rows, columns, images, etc.), you may have to pay a fee. Another highlight of this software is its support for handwriting recognition.
3. Easy Screen OCR
- Get Easy Screen OCR here.
Easy Screen OCR is a compact and best free OCR software based on Google's cloud-based recognition tool, requiring an internet connection to function. This OCR application helps you extract text from screen captures, copy text from websites, or any text on the screen. What's special is that the app supports over 100 languages. So, for example, if you want to translate Japanese text, just take a screenshot and use Easy Screen OCR. The app also provides you with options to customize hotkeys.
4. Capture2Text
- Get Capture2Text here.
Capture2Text is a handy software for OCRing text from files on your screen. Simply press a hotkey, select the screen area you want to OCR, and Capture2Text will send the result directly to the clipboard for you to paste into text processors like Word.
You don't need to install the application, just run the executable file to use Capture2Text on any Windows operating system from Windows 7 and above. Since Capture2Text is open-source software, you can copy and modify it as you wish, as long as you comply with the terms of the GNU license.
5. A9t9
- Get a9t9 here.
As a free and open-source software, A9t9 will provide you with an excellent OCR experience without any disruptive ads. A9t9 supports a variety of languages. If you're using Windows 8.1 or later and need quick and fee-free OCR, simply click a button on the Windows Store app. Within seconds, A9t9 will process your image into a document for you to edit.
6. Adobe Scan
- Download Adobe Scan for Android
- Download Adobe Scan for iPhone
Adobe Scan is an OCR and camera scanning app compatible with Android or iOS devices. When using it, you won't encounter any hidden fees or be required to subscribe to any Adobe services. After the conversion process, you'll receive text within a PDF file. If you want to edit this file directly, you can use the paid version of Acrobat.
Another notable feature of Adobe Scan is its handwriting recognition ability. If your handwriting is of good quality, the app will have an easier time recognizing it. Additionally, the app's automatic scanning, OCR, and business card directory features are highly praised. You can also sharpen images before extracting text from them.
Here are 6 software options supporting the conversion from OCR files to text. For more information, refer to the Top OCR Software for Editing Scanned Data here.