Document-scanning software, an indispensable tool in today’s digital era, is a platform that aids in transforming physical documents into digital files. Users can create editable, searchable, easily storable files through digitization—examples of such software range from the globally renowned Adobe Acrobat DC to user-friendly apps like iScanner. These software solutions primarily work through Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology. OCR extracts texts from scanned documents, making them searchable and editable. Whether you’re digitizing old paper documents, contracts, invoices, or images, document-scanning software expedites the process while preserving the document’s original quality.
What we coverWhen selecting a document-scanning software, there are several factors to consider. Here are five key elements to look for:
| Software | Best For | Key Features | Compatibility | Ratings | Recommendation |
| Adobe Acrobat DC | Overall experience, PDF editing | Editable PDFs, Advanced OCR, Integrations with Adobe products | Windows, macOS | 4.8/5 | Best Overall, Highest Rated, Most Popular |
| Abbyy FineReader | Comprehensive OCR and editing | Accurate OCR, Wide format support, Comprehensive editing tools | Windows, macOS | 4.5/5 | Best for Windows |
| Adobe Scan | iOS users | Automatic text recognition, Good editing capabilities, Adobe Cloud integration | Android, iOS | 4.7/5 | Best for iOS |
| Cam Scanner | Free use | High-quality scanning, Extensive editing tools, Cloud storage | Android, iOS | 4.6/5 | Best Free |
We’ve compiled a list of the best document-scanning software available, categorizing them into paid and free offerings.
Adobe Acrobat DC is a comprehensive document-scanning and management tool that redefines digital document handling.
Adobe Acrobat DC stands out as one of the top document-scanning software due to its robust features suite and unparalleled text recognition accuracy.
Its OCR technology effortlessly converts scanned documents into editable and searchable PDF files, while the software’s user-friendly interface ensures a seamless user experience. Users can edit text and images directly within the PDF, make comments, share documents securely, and even add e-signatures.
Adobe Acrobat DC is not just about scanning and editing but also includes advanced features for document management. You can create and distribute forms, collect and analyze responses in real time, and store and share files online with free Adobe Document Cloud storage.
Despite its slightly higher price, Adobe Acrobat DC proves to be a worthy investment for individuals and businesses that regularly work with PDFs and need an all-in-one tool for document management.
Adobe Acrobat DC is a great option if you’re looking for a comprehensive tool for scanning and managing, and editing your documents. It is particularly beneficial for businesses that deal with a high volume of documents, need to edit and share PDFs frequently, or require e-signature and form-handling capabilities.
Abbyy FineReader is an all-in-one OCR and PDF software application for efficient document digitization.
Abbyy FineReader is a top choice for professionals needing accurate Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and versatile PDF tools.
It stands out with its superior OCR technology, which can recognize text in more than 190 languages with impressive accuracy. This makes it perfect for diverse and international businesses.
Aside from its OCR capabilities, Abbyy FineReader provides robust PDF tools. Users can easily edit, review, protect, compare, and convert PDFs.
The software also supports automated conversion of documents into editable formats like Word, Excel, and more. Despite a somewhat steep learning curve, its rich feature set justifies the investment.
Abbyy FineReader is a strong choice for professionals and businesses requiring accurate OCR and sophisticated PDF tools. It’s particularly suitable for those who deal with diverse languages and need extensive PDF editing and collaboration capabilities.
ReadIris is a powerful document conversion software with extensive features for scanning and managing documents.
ReadIris Pro, currently in its 17 th iteration, is a well-rounded document-scanning software that allows you to scan and convert documents and lets you listen to your books and important documents thanks to its text-to-speech feature.
The software supports a wide range of formats, making it extremely versatile. With the advanced OCR technology, you can effortlessly convert any text from paper documents, images, or PDF files into editable and searchable digital files.
One of the unique features of ReadIris is its ability to convert text into an audio file. This feature is handy for visually impaired users or those who prefer to listen to text rather than read it.
The software also provides a multi-page editing feature and document compression, which proves to be a valuable tool for professionals dealing with large documents.
However, the interface might be a bit complicated for beginners, and its limited cloud storage integration might not appeal to everyone.
ReadIris is perfect for professionals who need to handle large documents, prefer an audio version of their text, or work with various document formats. Its text-to-speech feature makes it a great choice for visually impaired users.
Kofax OmniPage offers industry-leading OCR technology with superior accuracy, providing comprehensive scanning and document conversion capabilities.
Kofax OmniPage is known for its superior OCR technology, which ensures accurate text recognition and conversion. It caters to businesses of all sizes, thanks to its batch processing capabilities that handle large volumes of documents with ease.
The software supports a wide array of file formats, allowing users to convert documents into the format that best suits their needs.
Kofax OmniPage offers advanced features like form recognition and processing, making it an ideal solution for businesses dealing with data entry and form handling.
The document routing feature allows automated distribution of documents to various destinations like email, cloud storage, or network folders. However, the software only supports Windows, limiting its reach to Mac users. Also, the interface might be slightly challenging for beginners to navigate.
Kofax OmniPage is a great choice for businesses dealing with large volumes of documents, requiring data entry and form handling, or needing to distribute documents to multiple destinations automatically. However, it’s worth noting that it’s currently only compatible with Windows.
Cam Scanner is a mobile-based document-scanning application that excels in convenience and simplicity.
Cam Scanner proves that you don’t need an elaborate scanning setup to digitize documents – your smartphone is enough. This user-friendly app allows you to scan documents using your mobile device’s camera, automatically enhancing the image quality and converting it into a PDF or JPEG.
Despite its simplicity, Cam Scanner is quite versatile. It features OCR technology, which recognizes text in scanned images and allows for easy editing. However, the free version has its limitations and contains in-app advertisements, which some users may find disruptive.
Cam Scanner is ideal for users who need to scan documents on-the-go using their smartphones. Its user-friendly interface and OCR capabilities make it a versatile mobile scanning app. However, users who want a more ad-free and feature-rich experience may consider upgrading to the premium version.
PaperScan is an efficient and straightforward scanning software that supports a broad range of scanner devices.
PaperScan distinguishes itself from other scanning software with its broad support for different scanner devices. Regardless of the brand or model of your scanner, chances are, PaperScan can handle it. The software also offers robust post-processing tools that can help improve the quality of scanned documents.
What sets PaperScan apart is its support for annotations. Users can highlight, underline, or add notes to their scanned documents within the software.
While the free version of PaperScan is quite robust, it has limitations regarding the features available. Also, there is no mobile app, so users seeking on-the-go scanning must look elsewhere.
PaperScan is ideal for users with distinct scanner devices, as the software offers extensive compatibility. The post-processing and annotation tools make it a good fit for users who need to improve and interact with their scanned documents directly. However, if you need mobile scanning capabilities, you may need to consider other options.
CloudScan is a web-based scanning solution that facilitates remote document-scanning and sharing.
CloudScan is a unique entry on this list due to its web-based nature. The platform facilitates the scanning of documents from any location with an internet connection. Its compatibility with multiple scanners makes it versatile and accessible.
Users will appreciate CloudScan’s direct sharing features. Scanned documents can be instantly sent to cloud storage services like Google Drive and Dropbox.
However, CloudScan may lack the advanced editing tools found in standalone software, and its reliance on an internet connection can be a limitation in areas with poor connectivity.
CloudScan is an excellent choice for users who need to scan documents remotely or want an easy way to share scans to cloud services. However, it may not be suitable for users without reliable internet access or those needing advanced editing tools.
Adobe Scan is a mobile-focused scanning app offering robust editing capabilities and integration with Adobe’s other productivity tools.
Adobe Scan, part of the Adobe family, is a powerful, mobile-oriented scanning application. Its standout feature is its impressive optical character recognition (OCR) that automatically recognizes text in scanned documents, which can then be copied, edited, or exported to Adobe’s other productivity tools.
Adobe Scan provides reliable scanning and editing capabilities that live up to the Adobe name. This includes intuitive crop, rotate, and color adjustment tools. However, some users report occasional difficulties with complex layouts. Also, while the app itself is free, accessing some features may require an Adobe Cloud subscription.
Adobe Scan is a robust choice for mobile users who need high-quality scanning with excellent text recognition and editing tools. If you’re already using Adobe products, the seamless integration with Adobe Cloud will be a significant advantage. However, some features may be limited if you’re not ready to subscribe to Adobe Cloud.
iScanner is a feature-rich mobile scanning app offering a suite of editing and organization tools.
iScanner is a versatile mobile scanning application that packs a surprising amount of features. Users can ensure their scans look exactly how they want with a suite of scanning and editing tools. Its automatic edge detection, color correction, and text recognition capabilities always ensure quality scans.
iScanner’s ability to export in multiple formats, including PDF and TXT, gives users flexibility in how they use their scans. Plus, the document organization feature allows users to manage their scans efficiently. While iScanner offers a lot for free, some features require in-app purchases, and some users report occasional issues with the text recognition feature.
If you’re a mobile user looking for a scanning app that offers more than just the basics, iScanner is worth considering. With a suite of editing tools and the ability to export in various formats, it offers a versatile scanning solution. Be aware that to unlock all its features, some in-app purchases may be required.
After careful consideration and evaluation, the recommendations are as follows:
Best Overall: Adobe Acrobat DC
Best for Windows: Abbyy FineReader
Best for iOS: Adobe Scan
Best Free: Cam Scanner
Highest Rated: Adobe Acrobat DC
Most Popular: Adobe Acrobat DC
There are several free scanning software options for PC that you can consider. These include Cam Scanner, PaperScan, CloudScan, and Adobe Scan. Each software option offers unique features, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs.
Windows 10 comes with built-in tools like Windows Fax and Scan or Camera app that allow you to scan documents easily. Alternatively, you can use third-party document-scanning software, which often offer more advanced features and tools.
Adobe Acrobat offers a free trial period for the first seven days, during which you can scan documents at no cost. Once this trial period ends, you will need to purchase a subscription to continue using the scanning feature.
Yes, most document-scanning software can integrate with other software programs. This can include email clients, document management systems, and cloud storage services, among others. This integration can enhance the functionality and convenience of the scanning software.
