OCR PDF (Scanned to Searchable)
Drop your scan or document photo, pick the document language, download the searchable file. This tool runs on our server. Your file is deleted when the job ends.
Drop files here
or choose from your computer
PDF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, TIF, TIFF
The file is sent to the server and deleted within 1 hourHow it works
- Choose the scanned PDF or photo.
- Pick the document language and the output format.
- Press Run OCR and download the file.
Why this tool
- Supports Turkish, English, German and French.
- Output as a searchable PDF, TXT or both.
- The page image stays the same. Text is added behind it.
- Also accepts JPG, PNG and TIFF photos.
- Free limits: 50 MB per file and 20 jobs per day.
A PDF from a scanner is really a stack of photos. You can read it, but for a computer the page holds no letters at all. Search fails, text cannot be copied and the file gets lost in an archive. Old contracts, invoices, records and lecture notes are usually in this state.
OCR turns the shapes on the page into letters. The tool processes each page and writes the recognized words behind the image as an invisible layer. The result is a searchable PDF: the page looks identical, but you can now type a word in the search box and select the text. If you only need the words, pick the TXT output, or take both.
The quality of the result depends on the source. A page scanned flat at 300 dpi without shadows gives high accuracy. Skewed, creased or tilted phone shots raise the error rate. Handwriting is not recognized. The document language also matters, and mixed documents work well with "Turkish + English".
This tool runs on our server, because the language packs are large and the work is heavy. Your file is deleted as soon as the job ends.
Frequently asked questions
Does my file go to a server?
Yes. The recognition runs on our server, because the language packs are large. The file travels over an encrypted connection and is deleted when the job ends, within 1 hour at the latest.
What is a searchable PDF?
The page image stays as it is, and an invisible text layer goes behind it. The document looks the same, but you can search it and copy from it.
How accurate is the recognition?
A flat, clear and straight scan gives high accuracy. Handwriting is not recognized. Skewed, shadowed or low resolution pages produce more errors.
Does it read accented letters?
Yes. Each language pack covers its own letters. For a document in two languages, pick the "Turkish + English" option.
What are the limits?
Free use allows 50 MB per file and 20 jobs per day. Pro allows 2 GB per file.
Do I need OCR for a PDF that already has text?
No. For a file with a text layer, "PDF to Text" is faster and exact. OCR is for pages that are only images.