PDF OCR software converts your PDF files into searchable documents, saves you the time of having to retype text or re-create documents. The best PDF OCR software works with PDF documents and other electronic images.
#1. OmniPage 18
Publisher: Nuance Communications, Inc.
Version: 18
Price: $119.9
Overview: OmniPage 18 is the fastest and most precise way to convert paper, PDF files, and even digital camera pictures into electronic files you can edit, search, and share. In addition, OmniPage 18 ensures that your converted electronic documents look exactly like the original—complete with text, graphics, columns, and tables.
Pros: Automatic language detection eliminates the need for manual intervention.
Cons: This software doesn’t come with a warranty other than a 30-day money back guarantee.
The Verdict: OmniPage 18 Standard offers the best OCR performance and the largest selection of features.
#2. PDF Transformer 3.0
Publisher: ABBYY
Version: 3.0
Price: $79.00
Overview: PDF Transformer enables you to convert any PDF files into editable formats with the original layout and formatting retained. You can also create PDF directly from Microsoft Office applications with just one click, combine multiple files from different sources into one PDF and adjust PDF according to your needs.
Pros: PDF Transformer provides accurate OCR conversions for most documents.
Cons: This OCR software package does only average in recreating document formats.
The Verdict: PDF Transformer is an inexpensive package that uses cutting-edge technology.
#3. Acrobat Standard 9
Publisher: Adobe Systems Incorporated
Version: 9
Price: $20.00
Overview: In addition to create searchable PDFs, Acrobat Standard allows you to create forms that include fields so people can fill them out electronically. It allows you to combine multiple PDF files or to extract a portion of a document into another PDF file. It also doubles as OCR software that converts words from image files into text.
Pros: Acrobat Standard, in addition to other powerful features, offers OCR functions.
Cons: This OCR software only converts OCR results in searchable PDF format.
The Verdict: Although not as accurate, Acrobat Standard suits smaller OCR projects.
#4. PDF to TEXT
Publisher: Enolsoft Co., Ltd.
Version: 2.5.0
Price: $29.00
Overview: PDF to Text is specifically tailored for Mac users to convert both normal PDFs and scanned PDF files to text format to get a head start on new project, allows you to save PDF files as Text documents with no Adobe applications required. Besides, it also supports batch and partial conversion.
Pros: PDF to TEXT produces accurate results and converts password protected PDF files.
Cons: This PDF to TEXT OCR software loses tables and pictures while converting PDF to TEXT.
The Verdict: PDF to TEXT is a simple yet efficient tool to convert both native PDF and scanned PDF to text-based documents with OCR.
#5. FineReader 11 Professional Edition
Publisher: ABBYY
Version: 11
Price: $199.00
Overview: ABBYY FineReader 11 OCR software turns scans, PDFs and digital photographs into searchable and editable documents. Unmatched recognition accuracy and conversion capabilities virtually eliminate retyping and reformatting. Intuitive use and one-click automated tasks let you do more in fewer steps.
Pros: The comprehensive FineReader Professional comes with a number of features.
Cons: The OCR software couldn’t recognize half of the pages in our multi-page sample.
The Verdict: Software does well with one-page documents, but misses the buck in larger ones.
