Convert scanned PDFs to searchable text using advanced Optical Character Recognition (OCR). 100+ language support, 95%+ accuracy. No signup, no watermarks - 100% free.
Advanced Optical Character Recognition
100+ languages supported
Convert scanned PDFs to searchable
95%+ accuracy text extraction
Preserve original document layout
Process multi-page documents
No signup required
Files processed securely
No watermarks on output
Batch OCR multiple files
Works on all devices
Fast cloud processing
Convert scanned paper documents, receipts, and contracts into searchable digital PDFs.
Extract text from image-based PDFs for editing, analysis, and reuse in other documents.
Make archived scanned documents searchable and quickly find information in old records.
Make scanned documents accessible for screen readers and comply with accessibility standards.
Convert scanned legal documents, contracts, and court filings to searchable format for e-discovery.
OCR old books, journals, and research papers to extract citations and quotes.
The most powerful free OCR tool online. Make any scanned document searchable with industry-leading accuracy.
Advanced OCR engine delivers industry-leading accuracy for clear scanned documents.
OCR text in English, Chinese, Arabic, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, and 100+ other languages.
Process multi-page documents in seconds with our optimized OCR engine.
Files are encrypted, processed in isolation, and automatically deleted after conversion.
Use on any device with a web browser - Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android.
After OCR, select, copy, and search text in your documents like native digital files.
Make scanned PDFs searchable in 4 simple steps
Click the upload area or drag and drop your scanned PDF file. We accept files up to 50MB with any number of pages. Scanned documents, photos of documents, and image-based PDFs all work.
Choose the primary language of your document for optimal OCR accuracy. We support 100+ languages including English, Chinese, Arabic, Hindi, Japanese, and more.
Click the OCR button to start processing. Our advanced engine analyzes each page, recognizes text with 95%+ accuracy, and creates an invisible searchable text layer.
Download your new searchable PDF. The document looks identical to the original, but now you can search (Ctrl+F), select text, and copy content. Perfect for archiving and accessibility.
See how Edesy OCR compares to Adobe Acrobat and other online OCR tools
| Feature | Edesy | Adobe | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free to use | |||
| No signup required | |||
| 100+ languages | |||
| Batch OCR | |||
| No watermarks | |||
| Preserves layout | |||
| High accuracy (95%+) | |||
| Mobile friendly |
More free tools to work with your PDFs
PDF OCR (Optical Character Recognition) is the technology that converts scanned images of text into machine-readable, searchable text. When you scan a paper document, the resulting PDF contains only images - you cannot search, select, or copy text. OCR analyzes these images, recognizes characters, and creates a hidden text layer that makes the PDF fully searchable while preserving its original appearance.
Searchable PDFs are essential for modern document management. With OCR, you can quickly find information in large archives, copy text for reuse, make documents accessible for screen readers, and prepare files for e-discovery in legal proceedings. Organizations that digitize paper records need OCR to make those documents useful and accessible.
Our OCR engine uses advanced pattern recognition and machine learning algorithms. First, the image is preprocessed to enhance contrast and correct skew. Then, the engine identifies text regions and segments individual characters. Each character is compared against trained models for the selected language. Finally, the recognized text is embedded as an invisible layer in the PDF, perfectly aligned with the original images.
Our OCR tool supports 100+ languages, including complex scripts like Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Hindi, and Thai. For documents in multiple languages, select the primary language for best results. Our engine handles mixed-language documents and can recognize Latin characters alongside non-Latin scripts.
OCR accuracy depends heavily on input quality. For best results: use scans at 300 DPI or higher, ensure good contrast between text and background, scan documents straight without skew, avoid documents with complex backgrounds or watermarks. Clean, high-quality scans typically achieve 95%+ accuracy.
Legal professionals use OCR to process discovery documents, make contracts searchable, and digitize case files. Our tool preserves document authenticity - the visual appearance remains unchanged while adding searchability. The resulting PDFs are suitable for court filings and legal archives.
Businesses use OCR to digitize invoices, receipts, contracts, and correspondence. Searchable PDFs integrate with document management systems, enabling full-text search across archives. This transforms paper-heavy processes into efficient digital workflows.
Researchers use OCR to extract text from historical documents, old journals, and books. Our tool handles various fonts and aged documents, making it possible to search and quote from sources that would otherwise require manual transcription.
Screen readers cannot interpret images of text. By adding a text layer through OCR, you make documents accessible to visually impaired users. This is essential for ADA compliance and inclusive document practices. Our OCR output maintains proper reading order for assistive technologies.
Your documents are processed with enterprise-grade security. Files are transmitted over HTTPS, processed in isolated containers, and automatically deleted after conversion. We never store your documents or the extracted text. Our servers are located in secure data centers with SOC 2 compliant practices.
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