OCR Programs: 7 Free Tools for Text Recognition in Images and PDFs

1. What is OCR software?
2. What is an OCR software needed for?
3. What should be considered when choosing an OCR software?
4. The 7 best free OCR softwares
5. OCR Tools: The first step towards digitalizing your business

OCR technology (Optical-Character-Recognition) has revolutionized the way we handle documents. Gone are the days when printed papers had to be typed up by hand for data entry. Today, you can extract text and information from images and scanned documents with OCR programs. But how exactly do such programs work? Where are they used? And what are the best free OCR programs currently available? We will answer all these questions in this article.

What is OCR software?

OCR stands for Optical-Character-Recognition. It is a widely used technology for recognizing text in images, such as in scanned documents and photos. It virtually converts any type of image that contains written text (typed, handwritten, or printed) into machine-readable text data.

OCR technology became known in the early 1990s for digitalizing historical newspapers. Since then, the technology has continuously evolved and now offers almost one hundred percent accuracy. Advanced methods like zone-based OCR have also been developed. These extract only specific text data fields from a document. The extraction is based on zones defined before the scan.

What is an OCR software needed for?

OCR programs are most often used for converting printed documents into machine-readable texts. Once a scanned paper document has gone through OCR processing, the text of the document can be edited with word processing programs like Microsoft Word and Google Docs. This avoids manually typing out the text and prevents inaccuracies and typographical errors.

In addition to the Digitalising printed documents OCR software is also used for the following tasks and areas:

• Digital archiving of documents
• Passport identification at airports
• Scanning coupon codes
• Extracting contact information from documents or business cards
• Converting handwritten notes into machine-readable text
• Data entry for business documents (bank statements, invoices, receipts)
• Aids for the blind – visually impaired and blind people can scan printed text and have it read out in synthetic speech. This simplifies their access to written information such as emails or product labels.

What should be considered when choosing an OCR software?

There are several factors you should consider when choosing an OCR program:

1. Your industry: There are many types of documents – from banking and insurance documents to invoices and receipts. That's why it's important to find an OCR software that recognizes documents relevant to your industry.

2. Performance: Not all OCR tools deliver the same results. To assess the performance of OCR software, there are three criteria you should keep in mind:
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   ⁠- Character recognition: How accurately does the software read individual characters?

   
   

   
   ⁠- Field recognition: How accurately does the software capture all characters in a specific field?
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   ⁠- Automation rate of the document: How well is the program able to interpret all relevant fields of a document?
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3. Integration: Depending on the size of your business and your IT environment, you might need to connect your OCR software with your document management system. The easiest way is to look for an OCR tool that allows for API integration.

4. User interface: A user-friendly interface makes it easier for your employees to use the OCR software. It also reduces the time it takes to learn.

5. Customer support: Although OCR software is quite easy to use, it's still helpful to be able to contact the provider if you run into problems. What days and at what time can you reach the support team? What kind of support is offered? Email, phone, or chat? If possible, look for an OCR tool that offers support in German to avoid misunderstandings.
   

The 7 best free OCR softwares

A comprehensive OCR system with many functionalities and customization options represents a significant investment. If your company is just starting, it might be worth trying out free OCR programs first. You'll subsequently find some of the best free OCR programs currently offered on the market:

1. CamScanner

CamScanner is an OCR freeware available since 2011 for Android and iOS operating systems. The tool scans printed documents like invoices, identity cards, and tickets. You can also convert them into different formats like PDF, Word, and Excel and edit them afterwards. CamScanner is used by more than 750 million users worldwide and is available in more than 20 languages, including German, English, French, and Japanese.

Image: CamScanner homepage

CamScanner functions

• Extraction of data and text
• Data import/export
• Document conversion
• Document imaging
• Electronic signature
• Image pre-processing
• Text editing

CamScanner Prices 

You can get the CamScanner app for free in the Play Store and in the App Store. Although it contains many ads, the free version offers the basic functions of the scanner app and a cloud storage of 200 MB. If you need more cloud storage and advanced features, you can purchase the premium app for $ 4.99 per month. More information about the CamScanner prices can be found on OMR Reviews.

CamScanner Alternatives 

CamScanner doesn't meet your company's requirements? Then you can find a selection of CamScanner alternatives on OMR Reviews. The verified reviews from our community will help you find the right tool for your company.

2. Veryfi Receipts OCR & Expenses

Verify Receipts OCR & Expenses aims to help companies of all sizes automate their data entry. The free OCR program enables data capture from receipts, invoices, and tickets and extracts important information such as the supplier's name, the amount, and the taxes. The app is also SOC2 Type2 certified and complies with CCPA, HIPAA, and GDPR.

Image: Veryfi Receipts OCR & Expenses homepage

Veryfi Receipts OCR & Expenses functions

• Line-by-line extraction of items from receipts and invoices
• Digitalization of documents within three seconds
• Connection to thousands of banks around the world
• Reporting function 
• Information security and data protection integrated in the app

Veryfi Receipts OCR & Expenses Prices 

With the free plan of Veryfi Receipts OCR & Expenses, you can process up to 50 receipts and invoices per month. If you want to process more, or simply different types of documents, the pay-as-you-go model is perfect for you. It allows you to process up to 25,000 different documents per month. Not only invoices and receipts but also W-2 and W-9 forms can be handled. To find out more about the Veryfi Receipts OCR & Expenses prices you should check out OMR Reviews.

Veryfi Receipts OCR & Expenses Alternatives 

The OCR app does not meet your company's requirements? On OMR Reviews, you can find a selection of alternatives to Veryfi Receipts OCR & Expenses. The verified reviews from our community will help you find the right tool for your company.

3. MyQ Roger

MyQ Roger is a smart workplace assistant that allows you to scan, print, and store documents in the cloud. The free OCR program works on any Android and iOS device – whether it's a smartphone, tablet, or Chromebook. Thanks to its integration with iOS and Google voice assistants, you can also control it by voice command.

Image: MyQ Roger homepage

MyQ Roger functions

• Scanning via smartphone
• Available in multiple languages
• PDF conversion
• Document workflow management
• Storage of processed documents in a connected cloud storage
• Smart voice assistant
• Multiple authentication methods

MyQ Roger Prices 

You can download the MyQ Roger app for free from the App Store and Play Store. It offers all the basic functions you need to digitalize your documents. There is no limit on the number of users and connected devices. You can find more about the MyQ Roger prices on OMR Reviews.

MyQ Roger Alternatives 

MyQ Roger doesn't meet your company's requirements? Then you can find a selection of MyQ Roger alternatives on OMR Reviews. The verified reviews from our community will help you find the right tool for your company.

4. Nanonets

Nanonets is a free OCR system that uses deep learning to digitalize documents. For example, you can read electricity meter readings or convert menus into structured data. You can also have texts categorized and images annotated. Nanonets supports various types of documents – from IDs and mortgage forms to invoices and orders.

Image: Nanonets homepage

Nanonets Functions

• Fields to be captured can be defined
• Self-learning AI
• Requires a small amount of training data
• Adding annotations
• Ability to add team members
• Automatic import from emails
• Multiple export options
  

Nanonets Prices 

The free Nanonet version is particularly suitable for small businesses. Here, you can scan up to 100 pages with limited fields. If you have a large team and need more features, there's the Pro plan starting at $ 499 per month. If your company processes data on a large scale, an enterprise package is available. More about the Nanonets prices can be found on OMR Reviews.

Nanonets Alternatives

Nanonets doesn't meet your company's requirements? Then you can find a selection of Nanonets alternatives on OMR Reviews. The verified reviews from our community will help you find the right tool for your company.

5. SimpleOCR

SimpleOCR is a free OCR software that uses advanced algorithms to recognize text from scanned paper documents. It then converts the results into editable digital formats like Word and Excel - saving you the need to manually type in data. The tool achieves an accuracy of up to 99.8% according to several tests. SimpleOCR also supports more than 50 languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, and Chinese.

Image: SimpleOCR Freeware Overview

SimpleOCR functions

• High accuracy in character recognition
• Support for multiple languages
• Intuitive user interface
• Support for multi-core CPUs
• Advanced PDF encryption or compression
• Batch processing mode
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SimpleOCR Prices 

SimpleOCR is free for everyone - for private users, educational institutions, and even businesses. The tool is also available as a license-free OCR SDK for developers who want to use it in their own applications.

SimpleOCR Alternatives

SimpleOCR doesn't meet your company's requirements? Then you can find a selection of SimpleOCR alternatives on OMR Reviews. The verified reviews from our community will help you find the right tool for your company.

6. Boxoft Free OCR

Boxoft Free OCR is a free application that extracts text from various file formats. These include TIF, GIF, JPG, PCX, BMP, ICO, PNG, WMF, EMF, TGA, and even RAW image formats. The very easy-to-use program allows you to edit scanned images afterwards to optimize your results. Moreover, Boxoft Free OCR supports several languages like English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch, and Portuguese.

Image: Boxoft Free OCR homepage

Boxoft Free OCR Functions

• Generate text from images with one click
• Recognizes characters in multiple languages
• OCR text can be edited within the app
• OCR text can be saved as a TXT or ZIP file
• Batch file processing

Boxoft Free OCR Prices 

Boxoft Free OCR is available for download for macOS and Windows operating systems. If you want to capture text directly from your screen, you can upgrade to Boxoft Screen OCR. This allows you to select text anywhere on the screen, even in areas you can't mark with the mouse, such as dialog boxes, protected websites, and PDF files. To find out more about the Boxoft Free OCR prices you should visit OMR Reviews.

Boxoft Free OCR Alternatives

The OCR software does not meet your company's requirements? Then you can find a selection of Boxoft Free OCR alternatives on OMR Reviews. The verified reviews from our community will help you find the right tool for your company.

7. VueScan

VueScan is a free OCR program for scanning documents and photos, including negatives. It allows you to scan multiple images at once and edit them within the software. VueScan supports multiple languages and is compatible with over 6,000 scanners worldwide. The paid options from VueScan can be used on up to four computers.

Image: VueScan homepage

VueScan Functions

• Cross-platform program
• Compatible with over 6000 scanners
• Batch scan function
• Multiple scan options
• Editing tools
• Good technical support

VueScan Prices 

VueScan has a free version. However, this adds a watermark to the scans until you purchase a license. The Standard Edition costs €9.95 per month, while the Professional Edition costs €19.95 per month. You can find out more about the VueScan prices on OMR Reviews.

VueScan Alternatives

VueScan doesn't meet your company's requirements? On OMR Reviews, you can find a plethora of VueScan alternatives. The verified reviews from our community will help you find the right tool for your company.

OCR Tools: The first step towards digitalizing your business

Regardless of size or industry – digitalization is essential to survive in today's corporate world. A first step on this long journey could be the digitalization of your documents using OCR software. With OCR tools, you save time and resources on manual data entry and minimize typographical errors and inaccurate data. Depending on their range of functions, OCR programs can thus represent a significant investment. As a startup or small business, it is therefore more sensible to try out free OCR programs first.

If you want to read more into the topic of optical character recognition and discover further OCR tools OMR Reviews is the right place. Here you will not only get to know the tools and their functions. In the community reviews, you'll also learn how they work in practice and compare different OCR programs.