Free online OCR: image and PDF to text

Drop a photo, a screenshot, or a scanned PDF and get the text back in seconds - ready to copy or download. Works with English and 100+ other languages.

Image / PDF to text converter

Simple OCR for plain text, Premium for tables and handwriting

Works in your browser

Nothing to install. Upload a scanned image or PDF and get editable text right on the page.

AI-based recognition

On clean, high-contrast print, accuracy is often around 99% at the character level.

100+ languages

English and many more - handy when a page mixes two or three languages.

Editable text

Fix anything you need, then copy it or save it as a text file.

How to convert an image to text

1. Add your file

Drop an image (JPG, PNG, HEIC…) or a scanned PDF, and pick the language of the document.

2. Choose a mode and convert

Simple is fine for regular printed text. Go with Premium for tables, dense layouts, or handwriting. Then hit Convert.

3. Copy or download

The text shows up in an editable box. Give it a quick read, then copy it or download the file.

Privacy and how files are processed

To read the text, your file is sent to our servers and processed through an OCR API provider. We don't sell your documents, and uploads are deleted after a limited retention period (currently about 7 days).

Questions people usually ask

Short answers about pricing, formats, accuracy, handwriting, and what happens to your files.

What does OnlineOCR do?

It turns text locked inside a photo, screenshot, or scanned PDF into editable text you can copy or download. There's no desktop app - you upload the file in your browser and get the text back.

Is OnlineOCR free? Do I need to sign up?

Yes, with a daily allowance. You sign up with just your email, and you get 3 free credits every day. Simple OCR uses 1 credit per page, Premium uses 2. If you need more, you can buy extra credits - they don't expire.

Which file types can I upload, and how large can they be?

JPG, PNG, WEBP, HEIC, GIF, BMP, TIFF, and PDF all work. On a free account, files can be up to 5 MB. Once you've bought credits, the limit goes up to 200 MB. A clear scan at 200-300 DPI usually reads better than a blurry phone photo.

What's the difference between Simple OCR and Premium OCR?

Simple OCR is for straightforward printed text, read line by line. Premium is better when the page has tables or a busy layout, and it handles handwriting much more reliably. For a clean paragraph scan, Simple is usually enough.

Can it read handwriting?

Premium OCR reads handwriting in Latin-alphabet languages (English, French, Spanish, German and so on) reasonably well. Messy cursive, faint pencil, or non-Latin scripts are harder, so expect to proofread. Treat the result as a strong draft, not a finished copy.

How accurate is the recognition?

On clean, high-contrast printed text you'll often get around 99% character accuracy. Skewed photos, shadows, low resolution, or unusual fonts bring that number down. Always skim the output before you reuse it somewhere important.

Which languages are supported?

More than 100. You can pick up to three for one document, which helps when a page mixes languages - say, English and Spanish. English is checked by default, so change it if your document is mostly in something else.

What happens to my files after OCR?

To recognize the text, the file is sent to our servers and processed through an OCR API provider. We don't sell your documents. Uploads are kept for a limited time (currently about 7 days) under our privacy policy, then deleted.

How long does conversion take?

Most single-page images finish in a few seconds. Multi-page PDFs, Premium mode, or a busy queue can take longer. If nothing shows up after a minute or two, try a smaller file or a tighter crop of the page.

Can I OCR a password-protected PDF?

Yes, as long as you know the password. There's an optional PDF password field under the upload area - fill it in only when the file is locked, otherwise leave it blank.