2021-09-06 15:34:40 • Filed to: PDFelement for Mac How-Tos • Proven solutions
Free OCR Software 23+ Best Free OCR Software for Windows & Mac 1. Using Symphony, scanned files can be searched using the OCR technology in the back end. You can submit PDFs, TIFF files (Tagged Image File Format), e-faxes, emails, and other document types to this service. Features: Symphony OCR helps you to detect text from PDF files. Free Ocr App Mac Os 3 Best Free OCR Apps For Mac OS. Yes, you read it right. It is Google Docs. Now the latest version of Google Docs does offer you with OCR feature. It lets you convert any image or PDF into text and then you can edit those documents the way you want.
Image-based PDF documents are common both for personal and business use. These kinds of files can be difficult to edit, however, especially if you don't have the right software. To be able to edit, copy, or search through scanned PDF files you need to look for a program that is equipped with Optical Character Recognition (OCR). In this article, we'll introduce you to a great OCR software Mac - PDFelement. We'll also explain how to OCR PDFs on Mac.
How to OCR a PDF on Mac
To perform OCR on Mac is easy if you are using the right tools, such as PDFelement. Below, we'll outline how to use all of its robust features.
Step 1. Import a Scanned PDF
First, you need to open PDFelement for Mac, and then open your scanned PDF file in the program. To do so, click on 'Open File' at the bottom left and select the file that you want to OCR.
Step 2. Recognize PDF with OCR
When the scanned PDF is opened, the program will detect it and remind you to perform OCR. After clicking on the 'Perform OCR' button, a pop-up window will appear. Here you will be required to select an OCR language that matches your PDF content. You can also specify an ideal DPI and page range to perform OCR. After that, click on the 'Perform OCR' button. OCR will be performed immediately.
Step 3. Edit the PDF (Optional)
After OCR is complete, a new PDF file will be opened in the program automatically, which is already searchable and editable. You can click on the 'Edit' button to start editing the content. Learn more about how to edit scanned PDFs on Mac here.
The Best OCR Software on Mac
PDFelement for Mac not only allows you to edit standard PDFs, but it also lets you modify scanned PDFs. With advanced OCR technology, image-based PDFs can be turned into editable text immediately. The OCR technology supports languages such as English, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Chinese, and French, among others.
In addition, PDFelement for Mac is built with a number of editing tools that let you modify the text, images, and pages, or markup and comment on PDFs, plus more. This program lets you convert your PDF file to or from other file types, such as Excel, Word, HTML, images, PPT, EPUB, and Text, etc. It is fully compatible with macOS X 10.12 (Sierra), 10.13 (High Sierra), 10.14 (Mojave), and 10.15 (Catalina).
Tips: Preview Does Not Support OCR on Mac
Preview is a built-in program on Mac, which can help you read, edit, and manage PDF files. However, this does not include scanned PDFs. If your PDF document is a scanned or image-based PDF file, then Preview won't be able to help you edit or make any changes to the PDF file because it does not have the OCR feature.
Tips: Automator Can Not Extract Text from Scanned PDFs
Automator is usually used to extract text from PDFs. However, this will only work on normal, non-scanned PDF files. It does not support extracting text from scanned or image-based PDF files as it does not support OCR.
Tips: Adobe Reader for Mac Can Not OCR PDFs on Mac
Adobe Reader for Mac is also widely used for Mac users to view and manage PDF documents since it is a free tool. Unfortunately, this program doesn't support OCR technology. This means you won't be able to edit a scanned or image-based PDF file unless you pay for the upgraded version of Adobe Acrobat in order to edit or manipulate the scanned PDF document.
Free Download or Buy PDFelement right now!
Free Download or Buy PDFelement right now!
Buy PDFelement right now!
Buy PDFelement right now!
If you use PDF on daily activities, you've come across a PDF or image containing the text. It can be troublesome at times, as there are moments where we need to extract the text from the PDF/image.
If the case mentioned just now happened to you, don't worry, as OCR software (optical character recognition) is here to save the day. Check out some of the best OCR software you can use to extract text from an image-type PDF! All you'll need to do is pick the most suitable one for you.
1. EaseUS PDF Editor
Mac Ocr Freeware
EaseUS is known for its long-standing reputation, having started in the industry in 2004, and EaseUS PDF Editor is one of their latest products.
This software did not fail to meet everyone's expectations. Users can edit PDF and images in any way possible, including extracting the text from the image. The OCR process is done as quickly as one, two, three, and the user does not need to wait for more than one minute to get their text. To make it even better, they have a free trial for those who want to test it out.
Overall, this Windows PDF editor is perfect for those who want to extract text as efficiently as possible. Anybody can master the software in less than five minutes, making it suitable for everybody.
Pros
- It offers lots of language for its OCR feature
- Lots of features to tweak PDF
- Compress, sign, rotate, crop, and split PDF files as you want
Cons
- Need to pay for the version without the watermark
Ocr Software For Mac
Compatibility: Windows
Now download it to explore more useful and advanced editing tools!
2. TalkHelper PDF Converter
Although the software TalkHelper is one of the best PDF Converter, it also offers OCR as one of its built-in features.
TalkHelper PDF has features that allow its user to extract text from images or PDF and convert them to editable Excel or Word. There is no need to worry about the language, as the software offers 46 languages for its OCR feature. Besides OCR, there are also other features such as splitting and merging PDF with a high-quality result.
Free Ocr Reader For Mac
Pros
- Gives maximum output
- User-friendly
- bookmark feature
Cons
- The loading time depends on the size of the PDF
- Offers free trial
Compatibility: Windows
3. Nuance Omnipage Ultimate
Do you need OCR software for a mid-sized or large company? Then Nuance Omnipage Ultimate is the right solution for you.
What makes Nuance Omnipage Ultimate stand out from other OCR software is that it offers around 120 languages for its scanning feature. The software also assures that the OCR result is as close as it is to the original material. It will be delivered in high quality.
The software has other advanced features that make the workflow more efficient. However, it will take a while for one to understand the interface due to its complexity.
Pros
- Offers scanner integration.
- Integrates cloud-sharing option
- Batch processing
Cons
- Too complex for beginners
Compatibility: Windows
4. Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
Who doesn't know the Adobe series? The renowned brand also releases software that offers OCR as its feature, and the software is Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.
The software by Adobe doesn't disappoint, as its OCR feature never fails to convert documents to PDF in a matter of seconds. The original document will also remain intact, so there is no need to worry about losing any element from the original document. If you plan to purchase this software, you'll have to prepare a decent amount of money for it.
Pros
- Able to work with Microsoft Office
- Preserves the originality of the document
- Lots of features for editing PDF
Ocr Scan Mac
Cons
- Pricey for some people
- Features can be too overwhelming
Compatibility: Windows and Mac
5. Readiris Pro
If you're looking for an OCR software that can do everything in one package, then Readiris Pro is another software you ought to watch.
Readiris Pro is the ultimate PDF tool that can have lots of features. With just a few clicks, you can convert PDF, image, or other documents to a readable format that you can also edit. Language is not a problem, as the software is decked with 138 recognition languages, leaving no room for miscommunication.
The software also has other features such as text-to-speech and editing PDF. And it's compatible with all scanners too! Unfortunately, there are too many varieties of the product, making it confusing for first-timers.
Pros
- Has many kinds of formats (even epub)
- Does not modify the original format
- Cloud-sharing option
Cons
- Does not work well with low-quality documents
- The least costly version has the least features
Compatibility: Windows and Mac
6. Free Online OCR
Sometimes we have no time to download software. Don't worry because online OCR websites, such as Free Online OCR, can help you.
As the name stated, Free Online OCR is a free OCR software you can access through a browser. It is as simple as it gets. All you need to do is upload the file (image or PDF) then convert it to the desired format. It's simple, easy to use, and quick. Perfect for those who are in a hurry.
Pros
- Loads quickly
- Easy interface
- Accessible anywhere
Cons
- Hourly limit
- Harder to adapt if the file has a colored background
Compatibility: Windows and Mac (online)
7. Soda PDF Online
Are you in need of online, free OCR software with more variety? Check out Soda PDF Online!
Despite being a browser-based software, Soda PDF is as powerful as standard software. Users can convert files back and forth from all kinds of formats. The OCR feature can recognize and extract text accurately. After the user gets the desired text, he can tweak it in any way he wants because everything is available in Soda PDF Online.
Pros
- Web to PDF conversion
- Able to text in images
- Allow e-signature
Cons
- Sign-up is a must
- Slow support
Compatibility: Windows and Mac
8. OCR Space
For those who need a straightforward application, look no more because OCR Space is here for you. Just like its straightforward layout, OCR Space does everything quickly and fast. You need to upload the file (or paste the URL), choose the language, add more details (if there are any), and start the scanning process. In less than one minute, you will get your text ready and accurate.
Pros
- Receipt scanning, table recognition, and other minor details
- Offer options on how the output will be
- Does not store user data
Cons
- Limited to 5 MB for free users
- No text editor
Compatibility: Windows and Mac
Conclusion
OCR software is powerful software that allows us to extract things we need on images on PDF. It will save us plenty of time and better workflow. There is no need to copy things endlessly because you can do everything in a matter of seconds. All you need to do is to find the best OCR software that suits you the most.