• Filed to: Mac Tutorials
Optical Character Recognition (or OCR) refers to the ability to edit and convert scanned text or PDF files into editable and searchable text documents. As we know, the image-based PDF file cannot be edited, converted or done any changes, but if you get a powerful PDF OCR software. There may be numerous online PDF OCR for Mac through the Internet, however the vast majority of the OCR work can't function admirably. No worry! Here we pick up top 3 best PDF OCR software for Mac (macOS 10.15 Catalina),including PDFelement Pro.
Part 1. List of 3 Best OCR Mac Software
There is a wide choice of free OCR software available. Here we look at some of the leading examples.
Best 6 Free OCR Software for Mac 2018-2019 (Desktop & Offline) There are 2 types of free OCR solutions for Mac users, either online or offline. In this part, we list 6 top free OCR software for MacOS basing on text recognition accuracy and overall features. The best free OCR software for Mac #1 LEADTOOLS OCRApp. Compatibility: macOS 10.10 or later. Called OCR Scanner with LEADTOOLS SDK at the Mac App Store, OCRApp is an easy-to-use free OCR app to perform optical character recognition on scanned PDFs and images.
#1. PDFelement Pro for Mac (10.15 Catalina included)
PDFelement Pro is an application dedicated to OCR, which allows you to create fully searchable PDF, rich text file, HTML and plain text files from your scanned OCR documents. With support for over 20 languages and Applescript support for making batch file processing.
In addition to OCR, this software gives you the possibility of making scanned PDF editing and converting easier. You can freely modify the texts, images and pages, highlight and draw markup, add customized PDF watermark and signature, add password to PDF etc. With it, you can even easily create and convert between PDF and other popular file formats. This software is fully compatible with Mac OS X 10.7 or later, including the latest macOS 10.15 Catalina.
ABBYY FineReader. ABBYY is an OCR software for Windows 10 that can recognize. Cisdem PDF Converter OCR for Mac v.7.0.0 OCR PDF Converter comes with OCR technology to convert native and scanned PDF to Word, Text, Excel, PPT, ePub, HTML, Text, Rtfd, Pages, Keynote, and image documents. Free OCR Scanning v.3.1 FreeOCR is a totaly free Scanning and OCR program it very accurate and can OCR PDF files.
Why Choose This PDF editor:
- Come with advanced OCR technology and support multiple languages.
- Edit scanned PDF with built-in editing tools.
- Convert scanned PDF to Word, Excel, PPT, HTML, etc.
- Easily create and edit PDF Forms.
- Create PDF from existing PDF, images, Webpages, and others.
- Annotate or mark up PDF with text box or customized markup tools.
#2. Abbyy FineReader Pro for Mac
Abbyy FineReader Pro for Mac is another dedicated OCR application, with a clean user interface and easy to understand workflow process that makes obtaining your editable documents easy. This package offers the most recognized languages available at 180, and can export into PDF, Word documents, Excel and HTML. With the ability to batch process included with its Applescript compliance, FineReader offers a comprehensive OCR solution.
Part 2. How to OCR a PDF File on Mac (macOS Mojave Included)
Using PDFelement Pro for Mac to OCR your documents on Mac is simplicity itself. Follow the steps below to ocr scanned PDF file easily.
Step 1. Add PDF Document to the Program
Open PDF Editor Pro for Mac and then drag your PDF file to the program. Alternatively, you can also select the 'Open' or 'Open Recent' option. Then you are free to set the language. To do this, you can navigate to Preferences and hit the OCR tab to choose a language you prefer.
Step 2. Start the Process of PDF OCR
Now, Click the 'OCR' button under the 'Edit' tap. Then the OCR panel will appear on the right side of the program main interface. Here you can select page range and the OCR language. Then you can click on the 'Perform OCR' button to OCR the scanned PDF. To batch OCR multiple scanned PDF files, you can choose 'Batch Process'. And click on the 'OCR' > 'Add Files' button in the new window to import multiple scanned PDF files. After you have selected the OCR language, you can click on the “Perform OCR” to OCR multiple PDF files in one time.
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
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
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.
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.
Free Ocr Software For Mac Os X
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
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
Free Ocr Program Windows 10
- 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.