Are you and your small business nonetheless drowning in paperwork? Precise bodily paperwork? It’s 2024. Let’s change that.  

Your paperwork nonetheless maintain worth. You, together with workers and stakeholders, would possibly obtain and work on them for a wide range of enterprise selections each day. By switching to a free optical character recognition (OCR) software program device, you possibly can convert non-parsable or post-data format paperwork into editable file codecs and construct an organized information repository.  All this with out paying one other bill!

Companies may also swap to the free OCR software program to arrange and handle mission information for crew collaboration.

Let’s have a look at the listing of the 8 finest free OCR software program to make doc scanning, modifying, and digitization simple and handy.

How can we choose and consider OCR software program on G2?

At G2, we rank software program options utilizing a proprietary algorithm that considers buyer satisfaction and market presence based mostly on genuine consumer opinions. Our market analysis analysts and writers spend weeks testing options towards a number of standards set for a software program class. We offer you unbiased software program evaluations – that is the G2 distinction! We didn’t settle for cost or alternate hyperlinks for product placements on this listing. Please learn our G2 Analysis Scoring Methodology for extra particulars.

8 Finest Free OCR Software program in 2024

OCR software program offers companies with all-in-one doc help and administration companies. It permits customers to scan, search, edit, and modify photos and convert them into editable paperwork. 

These OCR consumer opinions come from G2’s finest OCR software program class web page. Please word that within the context of this listing, distributors providing a trial are thought of free.

To qualify for inclusion on this class, software program should:

• Course of digital photos of varied file sorts 
• Seize information from scanned PDFs and convert them into Phrase paperwork
• Determine and parse non-editable plain textual content and convert it into editable textual content
• Arrange digital recordsdata both on-premise or within the  cloud 
• Provide engine compatibility throughout Mac, iPhone, Linux, Android, and Microsoft Home windows

This information was pulled from G2 in 2024. Some opinions might have been edited for readability. 

1. Laserfiche

Laserfiche, a doc creation and storage device, digitizes your whole paper path. It’s been a pioneer in offering enterprise content material administration companies to create, edit, modify, and share content material throughout inner and exterior stakeholders. Laserfiche comes with appropriate OCR integrations which you could deploy to your present content material infrastructure. 

Laserfiche helps digital recordsdata and automates doc scanning and processing in order that paperwork may be shared throughout groups.

What do customers like finest:

“We love utilizing Laserfiche. It’s a particularly protected storage alternative for worker and donor recordsdata that aren’t to be accessed by anybody unnecessarily. We’ve workers that use this every day for his or her position. Implementing and administering it is extremely easy, particularly when workers by chance make modifications they didn’t imply to. Buyer help is great after we run into one thing that we’ve got a troublesome time supporting ourselves with.”

– Laserfiche Assessment, Heidi H. 

What do customers dislike:

“Non-responsiveness on direct emails. No follow-up by sure staff. No customizable views on the monitor. I wish to transfer to the cloud, however I do not wish to lose performance. Cloud or prem, options needs to be the identical – all the time. Do not make us select.”

– Laserfiche Assessment, DIANNA D. 

2. FineReader PDF for Home windows and Mac

FineReader PDF for Home windows and Mac converts PDFs into file codecs like .doc, .docx, .rtf, or .txt so you possibly can add, parse, edit, and retrieve textual content. It additionally gives on-line OCR  to course of giant volumes of paperwork.

The software program additionally helps current scanned paperwork and converts them into machine-readable textual content. As soon as parsed, you possibly can retailer paperwork securely in your cloud storage or on-premise.

What do customers like finest:

“I discovered FineReader’s free model to be a one-stop all-in-one device when utilizing PDF. To start out with, I just like the clear interface and the way simple it’s to make use of. It’s my go-to device at any time when I want so as to add a digital signature to my paperwork in PDF format. I additionally like the truth that I can classify my paperwork, as this helps me in organizing my confidential paperwork. As an IT skilled, I’ve had earlier expertise utilizing ABBYY FineReader OCR resolution in tasks, and seeing its seamless integration into the device looks like a sport changer for me. I simply love the OCR evaluation a part of the device.”

– FineReader PDF for Home windows and Mac Assessment, Sreyas V.

What do customers dislike:

“In some circumstances, utilizing Abbyy’s PDF to Stay PDF conversion might have a nasty impact on the doc print high quality (decision) and its file measurement.”

– FineReader for Home windows and Mac Assessment, Yohai C.

3. TextIn 

TextIn processes and aligns texts from non-editable file codecs into an easy-to-understand and correctable file format. This doc customization and alteration device captures, extracts, and modifies textual content recordsdata in keeping with the consumer’s discretion.  It additionally automates document-based workflows throughout groups to extend transparency and visibility.

TextIn is thought for clever picture and doc processing and may analyze, kind, and classify information throughout a number of industries. 

What do customers like finest:

“I like that it will probably scale back the quantity of paper that it’s important to carry round – you possibly can simply scan every part. I additionally like that it auto-crops the picture and you may edit utilizing filters. I additionally like with the ability to save photos in several file codecs.”

– TextIn Assessment, Aarifah B. 

What do customers dislike:

“It generally crops abruptly as a substitute of cropping the required web page. It all the time places the watermark brand on the backside of the web page. It doesn’t enable optical character recognition, and within the pdf file, it saves the web page as a picture as a substitute of textual content.”

– TextIn Assessment, Dev A.

4. Ephesoft

Ephesoft gives database automation and administration companies for companies utilizing synthetic intelligence (AI). The top-to-end file automation promotes crew collaboration, mission administration, and team-wide doc accessibility. Ephesoft works on tender copies of PDF recordsdata and extracts vital information from the textual content. It additionally has a number of add-ons like kind indentation, textual content alignment, and quotation help.

Ephesoft Execs	Ephesoft Cons
AI-driven doc processing	Irritating consumer interface and navigation
Pure language processing (NLP) algorithms for contextual understanding	Restricted doc verification help
Information customization from import recordsdata	Cluttered information validation workflows

What do customers like finest:

“We recognize a number of qualities of Ephesoft. Specifically, the software program is a superb and user-friendly means to assist us arrange and interpret information that was much less helpful in its earlier format. The platform additionally saves money and time by routinely figuring out all file sorts and processing strategies, which reduces the necessity for human intervention. We’re additionally followers of how adaptable the interface is; we have made a number of modifications to make it work higher for our wants. All this makes Ephesoft a worthwhile asset to our crew as a result of it may be adopted shortly with out requiring specialist information or expertise.”

– Ephesoft Assessment, Stephanie W. 

What do customers dislike:

“It is slower than different on-line classification and extraction instruments. Additionally, a number of options that Ephesoft advertises are discouraged by its skilled companies and help workers. Lastly, it takes substantial effort to maximise the answer’s potential, and the time required to replace can shortly add up.”

– Ephesoft Assessment,  Shanil Ok. 

5. Nanonets

Nanonets assist scan, add, edit, re-scan, and re-save paperwork in an organized repository. It gives AI automation to autocorrect doc textual content and spotlight inconsistencies in content material. Nanonets additionally has an intuitive cellular app that means that you can scan, save and edit PDF paperwork with ease immediately from cellular units. Its giant storage capability and quite a few doc modifying and formatting options make it appropriate throughout platforms.

Nanonets’ clever AI automation offers companies to 34% of Fortune 500 firms.

What do customers like finest:

“Due to Nanonets we have been capable of digitally course of complicated invoices and affirmation orders. The AI’s self-learning capabilities have been probably the most exceptional function for us – with the mannequin enhancing persistently as extra information was offered.”

– Nanonets Assessment, Nadim A. 

What do customers dislike:

“The mannequin coaching at first is usually a bit tedious and arduous to visualise correctly, particularly for big and complicated recordsdata, corresponding to monetary statements from suppliers from a number of international locations. However as soon as every part is ready up, it’s nicely definitely worth the coaching time.”

– Nanonets Assessment, Charles E. 

6. Rossum

Rossum’s (previously Elis) AI-assisted information extraction device captures invoices. This platform may help accounting and bookkeeping professionals refine their workflows. Customers can import PDFs or scans of invoices, and Rossum routinely extracts the related information right into a structured format with out the necessity for templates. Information can then be conveniently validated throughout the interface, and exported for additional processing utilizing one of many device’s software program integrations like  Netsuite or Quickbooks Desktop Professional. 

What do customers like finest:

“The perfect factor about Rossum is the saved keystrokes. I imply, that is the entire level of this. From a developer perspective, Rossum’s pretty open method to permit for modification of the UI and the way information is processed by way of Rossum was the true promote level. My firm has very particular wants, and the flexibility to scale the UI up or down on the fly is unbelievable and straightforward.”

– Rossum Assessment, Connor S.

What do customers dislike:

“Rossum may be improved by studying tips on how to learn Excel paperwork, and generally the repeated behaviors we educate Rossum are ignored. Rossum can be restricted to studying “straight” traces of information. If there was a option to tilt the grid to learn orders which might be misaligned, that might be appreciated.”

– Rossum Assessment, Steven S. 

7. Base64.ai: automated doc information extraction

Base64.ai is an ML-powered information extraction and automation device that generates editable stories and tables from giant paperwork. Base64.ai intelligently captures information and labels it internally to create newer paperwork. This simplifies enterprise workflows and hastens transactional processing between purchasers and distributors.

Base 64.ai additionally verifies and validates textual content earlier than transferring it into a special format. It ensures that the the worth and authenticity of the textual content are maintained.

What do customers like finest:

“The superior AI fashions have enhanced efficient adaptation to new doc format and information extraction from totally different kinds. It permits my crew to make well timed selections from dependable insights obtained from extracted information. I’ve been capable of implement many tasks throughout the set timelines attributable to correct information that I get hold of from totally different information sources.”

– Base64.ai Assessment, Ruth C.

What do customers dislike:

“There are downtime incidents which have disrupted information workflows, affecting the complete information pipeline.”

– Base64.ai Assessment, Andrew S. 

8. DocuClipper

DocuClipper summarizes textual content from PDF recordsdata and inserts it into WORD paperwork. It helps a number of file variants like .png, .jpg, or different picture recordsdata and reads inline textual content. A number one OCR device, DocuClipper is straightforward to make use of and likewise gives OCR tutorials for newbies to study extra.

DocuClipper may also scan and seize multi-page invoices and bodily textual content recordsdata containing essential banking or bank card information.

What do customers like finest:

“I used DocuClipper for changing my purchasers’ financial institution statements and bank card statements to Quickbooks On-line format recordsdata. It was very easy and correct, not like different software program that I’ve used for related functions. General, it’s a very intuitive, user-friendly software program. It’s extremely really useful if you’re working with PDF statements. I haven’t explored it totally, however to this point, it is nice.”

– DocuClipper Assessment, Javeria Z.

What do customers dislike:

“It might be nice to have a pay-as-you-go plan for smaller companies that do not want it constantly however nonetheless want it for infrequent tasks. I do not want it sufficient to warrant the price of the annual plan. I wanted DocuClipper for one mission and needed to pay the month-to-month price after which cancel the subscription. I do not want this system a lot, however after I do, it is available in very helpful and saves me a ton of time.”

– DocuClipper Assessment, Stephanie Ok. 

Comparability of the most effective free OCR software program

To get a have a look at which OCR device most closely fits your doc workflows, take a look at our comparability desk and consider your parameters.

Software program	G2 score	Free plan	Paid plan
FineReader PDF for Home windows and Mac	4.8/5	Free Trial	Customized
Laserfiche	4.7/5	Free Trial	Begins at $50 monthly
Nanonets	4.5/5	Free Trial	Begins at $0 monthly to $999 monthly
Ephesoft	4.5/5	Free Trial	Customized
Rossum	4.4/5	Free Plan	Customized
TextIn	4.4/5	Free Trial	Customized
Docuclipper	4.8/5	Free Plan	Begins at $39 monthly
Base64.ai	4.9/5	Free Trial	Customized

Free OCR software program: Incessantly requested questions (FAQs)

How precisely does free OCR software program acknowledge numerous fonts and handwritten textual content?

Free OCR software program makes use of machine studying and synthetic intelligence to enhance accuracy, even with handwritten textual content. Nevertheless, the accuracy varies based mostly on the standard of the enter picture and the sophistication of the OCR algorithm. Lok for OCR software program with excessive accuracy charges and strong preprocessing capabilities to deal with various information sorts.

How nicely does free OCR software program combine with different present doc administration methods?

Most fashionable free OCR software program is designed to combine seamlessly with common doc administration methods (DMS) and doc creation software program. This integration permits for the automated importing, processing, and organizing of paperwork. Earlier than buying, be sure that the OCR software program helps the APIs or connectors required by your DMS. Integration capabilities considerably improve workflow effectivity by automating doc processing and lowering guide information entry.

What are the highest listed OCR software program on G2?

The highest-listed OCR software program on G2 is Adobe Acrobat, FineReader PDF for Home windows and Mac, Rossum, and DocuClipper.    

Is free OCR software program protected to make use of? Does it compromise information privateness?

Free OCR software program is encrypted software program that permits entry through safe authorization. It authenticates customers through their genuine account and a one-time generated password that provides extra safety layers to your app. Additional, it prevents unauthorized customers from making modifications to your file by producing a password Unicode that locks sure paperwork.

Construct your digital ledgers

Free OCR packages create a easy transition from arduous copies to an digital output format, supplying you with the ability to regulate information in keeping with organizational requirements. They get rid of the trouble of paper payments and invoices and automate your information for easy processing. Whether or not you’re working with distributors, prospects, or a brand new associate, your transactional data needn’t be scattered into stacks of paper. 

 Find out how free PDF editors can allow you to transform, edit, and modify PDF docs from a non-editable to editable format and ease your work hassles. 

Edited by Aisha West