OCR PDF Free Online — Extract Text from Scanned Documents
Turn scanned documents, photos of books, and image-based PDFs into searchable, selectable, copyable text — all free, no signup. PDFBro's OCR (Optical Character Recognition) tool extracts text from any image or scanned PDF directly in your browser, so your sensitive documents never leave your device. No software, no subscription, no limits.
Free Online Tool
OCR PDF
Extract text from scanned documents and images — browser-based OCR
How to OCR a PDF Online Free — 3 Steps
Upload your scanned PDF or image
Drag and drop a scanned PDF, photo of a document, screenshot, or any image containing text. Works with JPEG, PNG, and PDF files up to 100 MB.
Run OCR processing
Click Extract Text and our OCR engine recognizes characters from your scanned document. Works with printed text, typewriter documents, and clean handwritten text. Processing takes seconds for most files.
Download or copy extracted text
View the recognized text directly, copy it to clipboard, or download as a text file. The source document stays private — everything processes on your device.
Why Use PDFBro for OCR
Frequently Asked Questions
What is OCR and how does it work?
OCR (Optical Character Recognition) is technology that converts images of text — like scanned documents, photos of books, or screenshots — into machine-readable, searchable, and copyable text. PDFBro's OCR engine analyzes each character's shape, compares it against known letter patterns, and outputs editable text. It transforms a 'picture of text' into actual text you can search, copy, and edit.
How accurate is OCR on handwritten documents?
PDFBro's OCR works well on printed text (books, documents, forms) with 95-99% accuracy for clear scans. Handwriting accuracy varies significantly — neat, separated print handwriting may achieve 70-85% accuracy, while cursive or messy handwriting may be 40-60% accurate. For best results with handwritten documents, use clean, high-contrast scans at 300 DPI.
Does PDFBro OCR support multiple languages?
Yes. The OCR engine supports English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Hindi, and 50+ other languages. For multi-language documents, the engine auto-detects or allows manual language selection for improved accuracy.
Is my scanned document private during OCR processing?
Yes. PDFBro's OCR processes your document entirely in your browser using client-side technology. Your scanned PDF or image never leaves your device — no upload to servers, no storage, no third-party access. Sensitive documents like IDs, contracts, and medical records stay private.
Can I make a scanned PDF searchable with OCR?
Yes. Upload your scanned PDF, run OCR, and download a searchable version. The recognized text layer is added to the PDF, making it fully searchable in any PDF reader. This is essential for archiving scanned documents that you need to find later.
What file formats can I upload for OCR?
PDFBro accepts scanned PDFs, JPEG images, PNG images, and TIFF files. For best results, use high-resolution scans — 200-300 DPI provides the clearest character recognition. Low-resolution or blurry images will have reduced accuracy.