In a business or academic setting, converting images to text has become an essential need for everyday document extraction. With OCR technology, you can easily convert scanned images into editable files to automate information retrieval. Moreover, this process saves time, reduces errors, enhances overall productivity, and allows users to avoid manual transcription.
Additionally, many OCR and text extraction apps are available to both Android and iOS users. These apps can provide advanced conversion features and file management for complex images. In this article, we’ll explore the best free apps to convert pictures to text with their highlighted key features, pros, and cons. Following that, we’ll learn how Afirstsoft PDF OCR can be your ultimate choice for this task.
Part 1. Top 5 Free Apps to Convert Pictures to Text
Learning about the best free apps to convert pictures to text is crucial, as you can choose which apps best suit your needs. In the following, we have gathered the top image-to-text converter apps for Android and iOS devices.
1. Text Fairy (Android)
Text Fairy is a free OCR text scanner that automatically detects text from an image and turns it into customizable text. You can extract text in more than 110 languages using this app tailored for diverse editing and sharing. Also, this app lets you crop, add filters, and select text columns before applying OCR and extracting content.
Key Features
- The text-to-speech feature allows the editable text to be read aloud in various languages.
- Manage your scanned files by editing, copying, pasting, and deleting the text as deemed necessary.
- You can preview the text settings and change the line spacing and text alignment.
Pros
- This app expertly cleans the image by automatically correcting the edges and lines.
- Users can also take a scan of an image from a camera and turn it into editable text.
Cons
- There are several long, unskippable ads that ruin the conversion experience for users.
2. CamScanner (Android & iOS)
If you are looking for the best free apps to convert pictures to text, then CamScanner is one of them. It has a portable scanner that seamlessly recognizes text and enables you to extract content. Moreover, students can quickly extract the image contents into various languages and proofread them for errors.
Key Features
- This app can help digitalize any paper document, like notes and business cards.
- With the advanced editing options, you can crop, add watermarks, and more for a customized look.
- CamScanner has markup tools, which you can use to add text, smart erase, and smudge over text.
Pros
- Protect sensitive data by setting a password to ensure secure sharing.
- You can sync your edited files across multiple platforms, like computers and tablets.
Cons
- Most of the advanced features can only be accessed through a premium subscription.
3. Simple Scan (Android & iOS)
Simple Scan is another one of the best free apps for converting pictures to text, as it converts any JPG and PDF file into editable text. It offers three OCR options to convert images into different languages with its fast recognition technology. Moreover, you can easily extract the text after OCR, copy it to the clipboard, and share it with others.
Key Features
- With the quick search feature, add tags to the text for better navigation.
- You can export the editable text into .TXT format or copy it to a clipboard.
- Simple Scan offers backup and restoration features that allow you to sync files across devices.
Pros
- There are a variety of image processing modes where you can manually adjust the image parameters.
- You can convert multiple images to text by selecting multiple pictures and files from your device.
Cons
- The image content turns into a scrambled text after performing OCR.
4. Text Scan (Android & iOS)
Users can benefit from this Text Scanner, known for its 99% accuracy in text extraction within 92 languages. Anyone can quickly turn a scanned image into an editable file, extract text from it, and use the TTS feature to read aloud the content. Moreover, you can share the extracted scanned image with others in a PDF or Text format file using security measures.
Key Features
- You can turn any handwritten text into an editable file using this app.
- This app allows you to multi-select scans and convert the selected image to PDF or editable files.
- With this app, users can edit and translate the recognized text into over 100 languages.
Pros
- This application is not bombarded by ads compared to other free scanner apps.
- You can modify the image by cropping, rotating, etc., before performing OCR.
Cons
- Sometimes, after the OCR, some text went missing from the result.
5. Scanius (iOS)
The ultimate and one of the best free apps to convert pictures to text is Scanius, which offers auto-crop and perspective correction features. With this app, you can transform scanned images into customizable text and extract text without hassle. Furthermore, the OCR makes it convenient to search, copy, and edit documents and images.
Key Features
- The Pro plan offers multiple customization options, like adjustments, formats, and parameter options.
- You can even scan and utilize signatures for business documents using this app.
- Scanius scanning feature detects edges, enhances image quality, and offers you high-resolution scans.
Pros
- The OCR can detect and transform handwritten and printed text into editable text.
- It has an intuitive file management system with easy-to-create folders that can be easily accessed.
Cons
- The app experiences random shutdowns and technical issues while using the OCR feature.
Part 2. How to Use Afirstsoft PDF to Convert Pictures to Text
When we talk about the alternatives to the best free apps to convert pictures to text, it’s the Afirstsoft PDF OCR feature that works on advanced text recognition technology. You can give yourself the best editing experience with this software’s innovative OCR technology. In addition, this feature carefully analyzes the light and dark elements of the scanned image and identifies its characters.
You can receive a completely edited document in over 20 languages, and it lets you manipulate the text however you want. Moreover, you can extract the text from the images with the organizing feature and save them as separate files. Users can also modify the text entirely by changing its formatting and adjustments. Now, let’s delve into the comprehensive steps on how to convert images into text using the AI-powered OCR feature:
Step 1. Install Afirstsoft PDF and Import an Image
After installing Afirstsoft PDF on your device, open its main interface and head to the “Tools” tab on the left side. From here, choose the “Create PDF” tool under the same section and import the scanned picture from the dialog window.
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Step 2. Access the OCR Options
Now, go to the top toolbar and choose the “OCR” button to access a new dialog box. Moving forward, choose a suitable scan option, page range, and language recognition for the conversion. When satisfied, click the “Perform OCR” button to initiate the conversion process.
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Step 3. Choose the Text Format from Convert Feature
When the image becomes editable, go to the “Convert” tab and expand the options to “More.” Now, from the drop-down menu, choose the “To Text” format.
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Step 4. Make Suitable Changes and Convert Images to Text
This will open the conversion settings, where you can pick the page range and output folder and add other files as well. Afterward, press the “Convert” button to finalize the image-to-text transformation procedure, which takes a few seconds to complete.
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Conclusion
In the end, using an OCR tool can significantly help you extract data and edit it according to your needs. For this purpose, we looked at the best free apps to convert pictures to text, each with its specific features, pros, and cons. One tool among these apps offers more advanced features, such as OCR and text extraction.
That tool is Afirstsoft PDF, which is an AI-powered PDF editor tool with a seamless image-to-text converter. Get access to Afirstsoft PDF and try these excellent features for yourself today on any device and platform.
