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PDF OCR tools

Ranked on the record · 16 apps

Best PDF OCR Tools 2026

PDF OCR software can turn text in scanned PDF pages into content you can search, copy or edit. This list helps buyers compare ways to handle PDFs across desktop, mobile and browser platforms.

The page presents tools without a published scoring basis. Review each product’s platforms, free access, trial terms, licensing and code availability before choosing.

Foxit PDF Editor

by Foxit PDF Editor

Foxit PDF Editor suits people who need to edit, convert, sign, or manage PDF documents across desktop, web, and mobile platforms.

Free trial AndroidiPhone & iPadWebWindowsMac

Record5.8 Visit site The record

PDFgear

PDFgear suits people looking for PDF editing and document utilities across web, desktop, and mobile platforms.

AndroidiPhone & iPadWeb+3

Record5.6 Visit

NAPS2

NAPS2 suits individuals and organizations that need free document scanning on Windows, macOS, or Linux.

WindowsMacLinux+1

Record5.4 Visit

Prizmo

Prizmo suits people who scan documents or business cards and want searchable or editable exports.

iPhone & iPadMac

Record5.4 Visit

Soda PDF

AndroidiPhone & iPadWeb+3

Record5.3 Visit

OCRmyPDF

OCRmyPDF suits users who need searchable text in scanned PDFs and can work with a self-hosted tool or Python library.

WindowsMacLinux+2 Free plan Record4.9 Visit

SoftMaker FlexiPDF

Windows 169.90 PLN a year Record4.9 Visit

Tungsten OmniPage

OmniPage may suit businesses converting documents in batches or users who need searchable, editable files from scans and images.

WindowsMacLinux+2 €99 one-time Record4.8 Visit

UPDF

UPDF may suit users who need PDF editing, annotation, OCR, conversion, or form creation across desktop and mobile platforms.

AndroidiPhone & iPadWindows+1 Free plan Record4.6 Visit

PDF-XChange Editor

Windows $62 one-time Record4.0 Visit

Wondershare PDFelement

PDFelement may suit people who need to edit, annotate, convert, or recognize text in PDFs across desktop, mobile, and web platforms.

AndroidiPhone & iPadWeb+2 — Record4.0 Visit

ABBYY FineReader PDF

FineReader PDF suits people who need PDF text editing, annotations, conversion, form creation, or OCR on Windows, macOS, or iOS.

iPhone & iPadWindowsMac — Record3.4 Visit

Adobe Acrobat Pro

It suits individuals and organizations that need to edit, convert, protect, sign, or process PDFs across major desktop, mobile, and web platforms.

AndroidiPhone & iPadWeb+2 — Record3.2 Visit

PDF24 Creator

Windows Free plan Record3.2 Visit

Sejda PDF Desktop

WindowsLinux €71 a year Record3.1 Visit

Kofax Power PDF

Windows — Record3.0 Visit

Before you choose

Match the platform to your workflow

Check where you need to run OCR. Listed products work across Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, web and Linux.

Adobe Acrobat Pro supports Android, iOS, macOS, web and Windows. Kofax Power PDF names Windows support; Sejda PDF Desktop names Windows and Linux.

Compare free access and paid plans

A free plan can lower the cost of occasional OCR work. NAPS2, OCRmyPDF and PDF24 Creator offer free plans.

Adobe Acrobat Pro and Kofax Power PDF use paid pricing models. PDF-XChange Editor and Sejda PDF Desktop offer freemium plans, while Soda PDF provides a free plan.

Look for a trial before paying

A trial gives you a time-limited way to assess a paid workflow. Soda PDF notes access for seven days.

Check the plan terms before relying on continued access after the trial period.

Check the code and licence

Some tools in this category make their code open source. If you need to inspect, change or redistribute code, review the licence for the tool you choose.

A free plan and open-source code are separate considerations. Confirm both before selecting a workflow for work or personal projects.

Questions

What do PDF OCR tools do?

They recognize text in PDF files so scanned content can support search, copying or editing.

Which platforms are represented?

You’ll find entries for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, web and Linux.

Are free options available?

Yes. NAPS2, OCRmyPDF and PDF24 Creator offer free plans. Other tools use paid or freemium models.

Do any products offer a free trial?

Soda PDF notes a seven-day trial. Trial conditions may vary by product.

Can I find open-source OCR tools?

Some listed tools provide open-source code. Review the licence before changing or redistributing code.