OCR PDF
Turn scans into PDFs with searchable text.
Processed on your device
- 1Choose the files
- 2Arrange and adjust
- 3Download
You need to sign in to use the tools. It's free.
8 free uses a month · Plus is unlimited
Turn a scanned PDF into a document where you can search, select and copy text. Recognition runs on your device and supports 10 languages, including English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Chinese, Japanese and Korean.
How to OCR a PDF in 3 steps
Open the scanned PDF.
Choose the document language and whether you want a searchable PDF or plain text.
Run the recognition and download the result.
Why use catScan
Private by design
This tool works inside your browser: the file is processed on your device and is never uploaded or stored.
Free to start
Sign in with Google and get 8 free uses per period, shared with the catScan app. 1 use = 1 downloaded file; if something fails, it doesn't count.
Nothing to install
It works in any modern browser on computer, tablet or phone. To scan paper with your camera, use the Android app.
Frequently asked questions
Does the PDF look different after OCR?
No. The searchable PDF looks the same as the original; an invisible text layer is added so you can search and copy.
Why does the first OCR take longer?
The first time, the browser downloads the language model (a few MB). After that it is reused and recognition starts faster.
Are my files stored?
No. This tool processes the file on your device, inside the browser: it is not uploaded to any server and nothing is stored.
Is it free?
Yes. Sign in with your Google account and you get 8 uses per period on the free plan (1 use = 1 downloaded file; if something fails, it doesn't count). catScan Plus, bought in the Android app, is unlimited on the web and in the app.
Does it work on my phone?
Yes. It works in any modern browser on Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac or Linux, with nothing to install. The catScan Android app also lets you scan documents with the camera.