Free PDF tool

OCR PDF

Recognize text from scanned PDFs and images, then download a searchable PDF or extracted text file.

Free tool

Guests can use OCR. Logged-in users can save the output in file history.

Scanned PDF or imageSelect one PDF or image fileChoose files or drag and drop here

Recognition quality

FastBest for clear typed scans and shorter waiting times.BalancedRecommended for most forms, letters, and tender documents.AccurateHigher-resolution recognition for small or mixed-layout text.

Output

Searchable PDFKeep the scanned page image and add hidden selectable text.Text fileExtract detected words into a simple downloadable text file.Editable WordRebuild recognized text into an editable DOCX document.

Upload limit

Up to 100 MB per file. File and page counts depend on the selected tool and are shown before processing.

Private processing

Temporary uploads and guest outputs are scheduled for deletion within two hours. Account-history outputs remain until deleted by the user.

Enforced allowance

Free: 3 uses daily. Pro: 100 daily. Business: 500 shared daily uses for up to five users.

Relevant guide

How to make scanned PDFs searchable

Complete this task in three steps

1UploadChoose supported files or drag and drop them into the upload area.
2ReviewCheck previews and adjust the options available for this workflow.
3DownloadProcess the task, review the result, then download or continue to another tool.

OCR PDF for PDFs, tenders, and business files

Recognize text from scanned PDFs and image-based documents so they become easier to search, copy, and review.

Use OCR PDF for scanned certificates, forms, CSD reports, letters, and compliance files that need searchable text.

How to use OCR PDF online

1Upload a scanned PDF or image-based document.
2Choose the OCR output mode.
3Run text recognition on the document.
4Download the searchable PDF or extracted text.

Common ways to use OCR PDF

Make scanned certificates searchable

Extract text from image-only PDFs

Prepare documents before editing or conversion

Related PDF tools

Scanner Cleanup PDF to DOCX PDF to TXT Edit PDF Compress PDF

Frequently asked questions

What is OCR?

OCR means optical character recognition. It detects text in scanned or image-based documents.

Will OCR be perfect on every scan?

No. Scan quality, skewed pages, stamps, background images, and small text can affect recognition accuracy.

Should I use OCR before editing a scanned PDF?

Yes. OCR helps TenderPDF understand text areas before advanced editing or conversion workflows.