Make a scanned PDF searchable with OCR

Scanned pages are just pictures. OCR recognizes the text so you can search, select, copy and convert it, in 13 languages.

Free · no sign-up · no watermark

How to make a scanned PDF searchable with OCR

  1. 1

    Upload a scanned PDF

    Or scan pages with your camera.

  2. 2

    Choose the language

    13 languages are available.

  3. 3

    Run OCR

    The PDF gets a searchable text layer, and the page looks the same.

Why PDFTEK for OCR PDF

  • 13 OCR languages
  • Text becomes searchable and copyable
  • Page appearance unchanged
  • Then convert to Word or Excel

Price

Free without an account: 3 tasks a day (6 with a free account), files up to 20 MB.

See all plans →

OCR PDF: frequently asked questions

Which languages are supported?

13 languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian and Chinese.

Is it really free?

Yes. Free without an account: 3 tasks a day (6 with a free account), files up to 20 MB. No watermark is added. If you need more, a Day Pass is $1.99 for 24 hours and Pro is $5.99/month.

Do I need to install anything?

No. PDFTEK runs in your web browser on Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad and Android. Nothing to download or install.

Is it safe to upload my files?

Files are sent over HTTPS and stored in your private workspace, never shared or used to train AI. Files from sessions without an account are deleted automatically after 24 hours, and you can delete any file yourself at any time.

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