OCR PDF Online — Make Scans Searchable Free

Run OCR on scanned PDFs to add a searchable text layer. Find, copy, and select text in image-based documents — processed entirely in your browser.

Choose Files

or drop files here

Select Files
Single file only
100% Secure

Searchable PDF output

Add a text layer behind scanned pages so you can search and copy content.

Client-side OCR engine

Tesseract runs in your browser — scans never uploaded to our servers.

Secure — files never uploaded

Your files are processed locally in your browser — nothing is uploaded to our servers.

How to OCR a PDF online

Make a scanned PDF searchable in four steps.

  1. 1

    Upload scanned PDF

    Select an image-based or scanned document.

  2. 2

    Choose language

    Pick the OCR language for best accuracy.

  3. 3

    Run OCR

    Text recognition runs locally — may take longer for large files.

  4. 4

    Download

    Save the searchable PDF to your device.

Everything you need for PDF OCR

Searchable scans without sending documents to the cloud.

Start immediately — no fuss

Use OCR PDF directly in your browser. No sign-up, no software install.

Works on any device

Desktop, tablet, or phone on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android.

No watermarks on output

Download clean results on Free and Plus — no branding stamped on your files.

100% browser-based privacy

Your files are processed locally in your browser — nothing is uploaded to our servers.

Combine with other PDF tools

Chain tools together — merge, compress, convert, protect, and sign in one workflow.

Optional Premium upgrade

AstraPDF Plus removes file-size caps, fair-use limits, and ads — still 100% private in your browser.

When to OCR a PDF

Scanned contracts

Search and copy text from signed scans.

Archives

Make legacy document scans searchable.

Extract text

Pull plain text after OCR.

Compress scans

Reduce file size first.

OCR PDF FAQs

Common questions about ocr pdf with AstraPDF.

Need more power?

OCR unlimited documents

AstraPDF Plus removes file-size caps, fair-use limits, and ads — still 100% private in your browser.

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