Have some old documents that require digitization? Best OCR Software Traditionally, you need to manually type each and every word to convert them. But you no longer have to follow the old process thanks to some good and powerful OCR (Optical Character Recognition) software. In case you are wondering, here are some of the best OCR software for you to try.
How does OCR Work?
The way OCR in computer works, is much like how your brain process characters (letters, numbers, punctuation marks etc). When you read something, your eyes recognize the patterns of light and dark that make up the characters printed on the screen and your brain is matching these patterns with data it has already stored.
Jan 09, 2020 Different OCR Software is widely being used all around the world. Let’s have a look at the Top 10 Best OCR Software Windows/Mac 2020. So here we go! Also check- best excel password recovery software / best ip camera software. 1.ABBYY FineReader windows / mac. FineReader is an OCR Software that is used both by Windows and Mac OS. Apr 21, 2020 4 Best Free OCR Software of 2020. In simple words, OCR Software is a tool to convert your handwritten text, images into a digitalized form. Sometimes, We have a book or bill which was typed or printed many years ago and now you want it in a digital form without retyping it. Then, OCR Software can be very useful in that case. Nov 30, 2017 But, if you ask a software to convert handwritten note to editable text, then accuracy depends from software to software. So, let’s check out some of the best OCR Software available out there. Best OCR Software 1. OneNote is not just a note taking and organizing app.
Computers can do this too. They take one character at a time and match it with the vast library of characters stored in the software. Although OCR software has come a long way in past few decades, they are still not as accurate as humans.
If you feed them a computer printed document, like your unity bills or a screenshot of webpage, then it’s fairly easy for the software to convert it into editable document. But, if you ask a software to convert handwritten note to editable text, then accuracy depends from software to software. So, let’s check out some of the best OCR Software available out there.
Best OCR Software
1. OneNote
OneNote is not just a note taking and organizing app. It is very powerful at what it does and has a wide range of features to make things work. Of all the features, OCR functionality is one of the best.
To extract the text for a picture, all you have to do is right-click on it and select the option “Copy text from the picture“. If you are using OneNote UWP app then you have to right-click, select Picture and then select the option “Copy Text”. This action will scan the image and copies all the text in it to the clipboard. Once copied, you can paste it in whatever file you want.
However, one thing to keep mind is that when scanning and copying the text from a picture or PDF, OneNote will ignore any and all formatting and layout styles. It just copies simple and unformatted text from the picture or image.
The good thing about OneNote is that since it automatically scans the image in the background, it is also searchable within OneNote no matter what device you are using. So, if you only use the OCR functionality occasionally then OneNote serves the purpose pretty good.
Pricing: Free.
Platform: Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, and Web app.
2. Google Docs
Google Docs is a very popular and free service that allows you to quickly create Word documents, Excel sheets, Presentations, etc. The good thing about Google Docs is that you don’t have to signup for it separately. If you have a Gmail account, you already have access to Google Docs and Google Drive. Though Google Docs is not as powerful as Microsoft Office, it sure has a very good OCR support. In fact, just like OneNote, Google Docs makes it very easy to extract text from a picture. Just upload the picture to Google Drive, right-click on it and select the option “Open with > Google Docs.” The picture is instantly scanned, and a new Document will be created with the copied text.
When scanning text from a picture or PDF, Google Docs tries to keep the formatting as much as possible but it is not perfect. You might see some inconsistencies in formatting and just like OneNote, Google Docs ignores any and all document layout styles. So, if you are an avid Google user and only use the OCR functionality occasionally then Google Doc’s OCR feature is pretty good. You don’t need to install yet another software.
Bonus Tip: You can also use Google Keep to extract text from images and printouts. It uses the same technology as Google Drive but it’s much faster on mobile and web.
Pricing: Free.
Platform: Being a web app, Google Docs is platform independent. All you need is a browser to access Google Docs.
3. ABBYY FineReader
ABBYY FineReader is one of the most popular and feature-rich applications to accurately convert scanned files, documents, and PDFs. Unlike Google Docs or OneNote, ABBYY FineReader can keep the formatting and layout styles like heading, tables, footers, lists, graphs, charts, etc., intact while converting and copying the text from a picture, scanned document, or a PDF.
Out of the box, ABBYY FineReader can output scanned documents or pictures in a variety of formats like text, excel, word, doc, epub, etc. If you are someone who uses OCR feature extensively then ABBYY FineReader makes it easy by converting your documents automatically. All you have to do is configure ABBYY FineReader to monitor a folder. Once set, every time you add a new picture, scanned document, or a PDF, ABBYY will automatically convert and save the output according to your settings. Apart from that, you can also compare two documents to quickly find any differences between them.
Pricing: ABBYY FineReader comes in three different flavors called Standard, Corporate, and Enterprise which costs you a one-time fee of $84.5, $124.5, and $224.5 per user. Though there is no free version, there is a 30-day free trial to try the software before deciding to buy it.
Platform support: Windows, MacOS, Android and iOS
4. Boxoft Free OCR
If you are looking for a dedicated but free OCR software then Bpxoft Free OCR is for you. The good thing about Boxoft Free OCR is that it can directly integrate with your scanner hardware and convert documents and pictures as soon as they are scanned. There is no need for you to save the image, import it to Boxoft and then convert it to text, it’s just automated for you.
Other features of Boxoft Free OCR include the ability to extract text from a single or selected page with just a click, recognize characters in multiple languages, edit OCR text within the same interface, define page range while outputting, etc. As powerful as it is, Boxoft Free OCR cannot retain formatting or layout styles while converting an image to text. It just outputs as a plain text. Moreover, it doesn’t support PDF documents.
Nonetheless, if you are looking for a free and good OCR software then do give Boxoft Free OCR a try and see if it fits your needs.
Pricing: Free.
Platform support: Windows only.
5. Readiris Pro
Readiris Pro is yet another good software that makes it very easy to convert images or pictures to text with just a few clicks. Just like Boxoft Free OCR, Readiris Pro integrates with your scanner hardware to convert any scanned document automatically. Apart from converting scanned documents, Readiris Pro can also convert all your PDF documents as and when needed. The good thing about Readiris Pro is that while outputting, it allows you to choose between a multitude of formats like docx, pdf, xlsx, odt, epub, html, text, etc. Other features of the software include but not limited to support for multiple languages, ability to create indexed PDF files, cloud backup, ability to convert documents to audio, batch process documents, retain layouts and formatting of text, etc.
Pricing: To use Readiris Pro you need to pay $99 per license. To test the software before buying there is a 10-day free trial available, you can download it from here.
Platform support: Windows and MacOS.
Wrapping Up
If you only need OCR capabilities occasionally and don’t mind plain-text without any formatting then OneNote or Google Docs is good enough. If you are someone who does a lot of OCR stuff then do give ABBYY FineReader or Readiris Pro a try. If you are limited on budget then Boxoft Free OCR should do the trick.
Though, before you buy a paid OCR reader, first find some documents that are representative of the ones you want to scan and test it out.
That’s it for now. Comment below sharing your thoughts and experiences about using the above software for your OCR needs.
Read: The Best Ways to Password Protect PDF File
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If you're looking for an external webcam to enhance your streaming, chatting, or conference call, we have the solution. Whether you want the best webcam that money can buy or prefer a low-cost option, we've rounded up some of the best webcams you can find for your Mac.
Note: While our picks for best webcam remain the same, you can expect widespread shortages due to COVID-19. If you need a webcam right now, here's where you can check the latest in-stock items.
Best for Most: Logitech BRIO
Staff FavoriteThe Logitech BRIO is a plug-and-play external webcam that films in 4K, meaning you're going to look as crisp as possible while you're using it. It can display two different viewing angles — 65 or 78 degrees — so you can include as much or as little of your surroundings as you want.
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Logitech partnered with Skype to create the ideal video-conferencing webcam. Get full HD 1080p video calls with Logitech's Fluid Crystal Technology. The H.264 encoded compression that makes video calling so fast and smooth also makes for excellent video capture.
$220 at AmazonUniversal compatibility: TedGem 1080P Full HD Webcam
Just plug and play this universal 1080P full HD webcam suitable for your PC or Mac. No special drivers or software are needed. The 90-degree wide-angle lens means fewer dead angles. The .264 video compression technology, fast transmission, autofocus and light correction combine to give you clear, high-quality video.
$146 at AmazonVersatile: Tandberg PrecisionHD
While the Tanberg PrecisionHD only films in 720p, it does so at 30FPS, giving you a smooth-looking video at all times. It doesn't need any drivers to work, so it's truly plug-and-play. It really shines when it comes to the internal optics – the light correction is almost unparalleled. It even has an optical zoom, meaning the resolution is maintained no matter how close you get.
$79 at AmazonFor Gamers: Logitech C922x
The Logitech C922x records video in 1080p at 30FPS and is optimized for social gaming and entertainment sites like Twitch and YouTube. It has a pretty wide 78-degree viewing angle, autofocus, auto light correction, and no-drop audio.
Rugged: Logitech C615
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Recording in 1080p, this little webcam has a 360-degree swivel mount, making it easy to find the perfect spot that works best for your desktop set up. With a built-in microphone and easy access to all of Logitech's supportive software, the C615 is easy on the bank account and doesn't leave you wanting more.
$36 at AmazonAffordable: Logitech C270
Best for people who don't need anything fancy, the Logitech C270 has a built-in stereo microphone. It features noise cancellation to help deal with background noise, ensuring you always sound as clear as possible. It still records in HD, although it is only 720p.
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High Speed: Spedal Full HD Webcam
The Spedal Full HD Webcam is a super reliable and sharp webcam that's designed with a 7-layer lens coating and 100-degree wide-angle for versatile views. It has built-in dual digital noise-canceling microphones and records in 1536p HD.
$36 at AmazonWell Priced: Stopmotion Explosion USB 2.0 HD Pro Webcam
The Stopmotion Explosion USB 2.0 HD Pro Webcam is a Mac accessory with a full 1080p HD and a 1920 x 1080 high-resolution image for all of your video call and streaming needs. It's designed with an internal noise-canceling microphone and works by simply being plugged into a USB port.
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Sleek Design: Allinko 610 Webcam
The Allinko 610 Webcam is a sleek and stylish HD 1080p webcam that's perfect for streaming, recording, Skyping, and more. It's universal mounting clips also come with a tripod thread, while a noise-canceling microphone captures clear audio while erasing the noise commotion around you.
From $60 at AmazonGreat for Streaming: Logitech StreamCam
Capture full HD 1080P at 60fps in portrait or landscape mode. The USB-C connection is fast and reliable. Smart auto-focus and exposure utilize AI-enabled facial tracking for smooth and precise video.
From $265 at AmazonProfessional: Supertemblor Pro Stream Webcam
The Supertemblor Pro Stream Webcam is a rugged and professional webcam designed with an HDR sensor and facial enhancement technology for the clearest and sharpest images possible. It allows you to stream in 1080p HD and has a max resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.
$46 at AmazonFinding the perfect webcam for your Mac can make all the difference
The Logitech C920 is the best for most people, in our opinion. Its 78-degree angle means you can fit more than one person into the frame, and it records at 1080p resolution, which is as high as most people need.
All external webcams offer some great benefits over the built-in webcams that come with your Mac. They are more versatile in terms of placement. Depending on which one you get, it will do a much better job of exposing its video, so you don't end up as some dark blob. Webcams like the Supertemblor Pro Stream Webcam focus on delivering the clearest, brightest image possible, even in dim or backlit settings.
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