Best OCR Scanner Reviews and Buyer’s Guide
Introduction
You have probably heard about OCR technology if you are conducting research to choose the best OCR scanner for your office. Optical character recognition is known as OCR.
An OCR-equipped scanner makes the process of transforming paper documents into digital ones simpler by ensuring high-quality document scanning. Because of the modern OCR software’s strength, speed, and accuracy, handheld OCR scanners are growing in popularity.
An OCR scanner turns the document into an editable format, such as Word, Excel, and PDFs, whereas a standard scanner can only scan the document as an image file.
For a quick and effective scanning procedure, the brands’ scanners use cutting-edge, patented OCR technologies. It is not the only item that has to be examined in an OCR scanner, though.
You need to make sure the scan quality is crisp and apparent, for starters. In order to scan many documents quickly, the scanner should, secondly, have a quick scanning speed. Finally, the size of your documents should be supported by the scanner.
In order to assist you in finding an OCR scanner that effectively serves its main purpose, we have outlined these features in more detail below.
Resolution:
OCR scanner resolution is expressed in dots per inch (dpi) (dots per inch). It decides how detailed and clear the scan will be. The scanner can display images at 300 dpi at the lowest resolution. For a clean image, we advise choosing a scanner with at least 600 dpi.
Speed:
While some OCR scanners just need a second to scan a page, some machines might take up to eight seconds. You can compromise on this if you don’t need to scan several documents at once. However, if you need to scan numerous papers, get a scanner that can scan at least 30 pages in a minute. Remember that the scanning speed varies for black-and-white and colorful pages as well as for photos.
Supported Page Size:
The largest page size an OCR scanner can handle depends on the scanning area. A3 is the largest page size that can be used. However, a supported page size of 8.5 x 35 inches would be sufficient if your demands are restricted to scanning ID cards, receipts, and ledgers.
This is not the end of your search for the finest OCR scanner. To make sure you receive the best value for your money, there are still a number of other extra features you should look at. The “Buying Guide” portion of this article includes a thorough summary of these features. But before, take a look at our hand-picked list of the Best OCR Scanners.
Best OCR Scanners of 2023
Doxie Go SE WiFi OCR Scanner
Xerox XTS-D Duplex Travel Scanner
IPEVO V4K Ultra HD OCR Scanner
Brother Wireless High-Speed Desktop Document Scanner
Xerox XD-COMBO Scanner
Epson WorkForce ES-500W Wireless Color Duplex Document Scanner
Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1500 Color Duplex Document Scanner
The trustworthy company Doxie creates ultra-portable scanners for daily use. The company’s scanners don’t need to be connected to a computer in order to be used independently.
With a resolution of up to 600 dpi, this portable option from Doxie can scan a piece of paper in 8 seconds. The scanner is portable and the size of a magazine when it is coiled up, so you may scan pages while on the go. A battery that powers it can perform up to 400 scans on a single charge. Furthermore, you may keep 4,000 pages before you need to sync.
With the help of the scanner’s award-winning ABBYY OCR technology, you can arrange and make multi-page PDF files that can be searched on your desktop. It offers Mac and PC programs that you can use to sync scans with your desktop by using either a USB cable or a WiFi connection. The scans can be saved once they’ve been synchronized to your desktop or cloud services. A one-year guarantee from the original purchase date is provided for the OCR scanner.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Optical scan resolution: | 600 dpi |
| Scanning speed: | 8 sec/page |
| OCR technology: | ABBYY OCR technology |
| Warranty: | 1-year warranty |
The Xerox Duplex Travel Scanner is the first OCR document scanner we have evaluated. Although some users may find this device to be a little slow, it offers a number of noteworthy benefits that the majority find appealing.
You may enjoy extremely accurate scanning with this device, even two-sided scanning if necessary. Although other more expensive devices give 500 scans per day, this Travel Scanner only performs 100 scans each day. Another benefit of this OCR scanner is that it has a simple power button and no other confusing controls.
You merely need to insert a page into the front of the machine to turn it on. The page exits the scanner at the back after passing through the scanning sensors. It will take some time if you need to scan more than one page.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Optical scan resolution: | 600 dpi |
| Scanning speed: | 7.5ppm |
One of the well-known manufacturers of office supplies, particularly document cameras and OCR scanners, is IPEVO.
When scanning books, documents, OCR text, live presentations, or QR codes, this V4K Ultra HD USB document 8 MP camera will produce photos with a resolution of 3264 x 2448 pixels. By securing any loose joints, you may fix the multi-jointed stand and utilize it for frequent, demanding tasks like catching materials from various heights and angles. But for heavy everyday use, the loose joints must be tightened.
It is built with a maximum shooting area of 13.46 by 10.04 inches, and it works well with a variety of Mac, PC, Windows, and Chromebook programs and software that let you utilize them in various ways.
You can stream at up to 30 FPS in Full HD or 15 FPS at a high resolution of 3264 X 2448 pixels thanks to the high quality at high frame rates. Excellent noise reduction and color reproduction are made possible by the Sony CMOS image sensor, and a quick focusing speed will minimize disruptions when moving between different materials.
Therefore, it is a fantastic alternative for capturing even in low-light settings like dimly lit conference rooms or schools. A one-year warranty is provided against any manufacturing flaws.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Camera: | 8MP resolution camera |
| Maximum scanning area: | 13.46 X 10.04 inches |
| Warranty: | 1-year warranty |
Users that use Apple products are very fond of the Brother ADS-2700W’s chic white body. An LCD screen that is particularly useful for machine control complements its elegant style.
Given that it just weighs 5,8 lbs., this OCR scanner might be your best option if you’re searching for something small and portable. This model is popular with students and office professionals since it supports long paper scans and features a wireless connection, fast speed, LCD control panel, and LCD control panel.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Optical scan resolution: | 600 dpi |
| Scanning speed: | 35 ppm |
| Interface: | USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi |
A person who has never heard of Xerox, one of the most reputable firms in the digital industry, is difficult to find. A robust device that combines the capabilities of a flatbed and a sheet-feed scanner with cutting-edge software is the Xerox Duplex Combo Scanner.
Before, you had to use a flatbed to scan delicate pages from books or magazines or separate text pages using a sheet-feed document scanner with an ADF. Now that you have chosen the Xerox Duplex Combo, your quest is done and you have a two-in-one scanner with OCR capabilities.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Optical scan resolution: | 600 dpi |
| Scanning speed: | 25 ppm |
| Interface: | USB |
Epson WorkForce Pro WF-M5799 is the greatest OCR scanner if monochrome printing is what you’re after. The requirements of small and medium-sized offices are completely met by this machine.
Although it is monochrome, this model is a very wise investment over the long term because of its exceptional quality and low maintenance expenses. The bulk of laser printers cost more to purchase than inkjet alternatives.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Optical scan resolution: | 600 dpi |
| Scanning speed: | 35 ppm |
| Interface: | USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi |
Consider the Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1500 when deciding between OCR handheld scanners for a home or a small workplace. You will value its performance’s accuracy and speed as well as how user-friendly the software is. The device has a 50-sheet ADF that can accommodate pages from the standard 11 inches to the long 118,1 inches.
You won’t have any trouble scanning even the longest document thanks to this unique function. Many people still choose this Fujitsu model even though it is possible to obtain a scanner with a greater variety of functions or more appealing pricing.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Optical scan resolution: | 600 dpi |
| Scanning speed: | 30 ppm |
| Interface: | USB, Wi-Fi |
How to Choose the Best OCR Scanner?
Consider the Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1500 when deciding between OCR handheld scanners for a home or a small workplace. You will value its performance’s accuracy and speed as well as how user-friendly the software is. The device has a 50-sheet ADF that can accommodate pages from the standard 11 inches to the long 118,1 inches.
You won’t have any trouble scanning even the longest document thanks to this unique function. Many people still choose this Fujitsu model even though it is possible to obtain a scanner with a greater variety of functions or more appealing pricing.
Data Capture or Text Input
Text input and data input are two categories into which all OCR portable scanners can be divided. The text input devices, which can scan big packs of documents, are typically used for scanning entire documents. When it comes to data input devices, they work well when formatting and scanning repetitious data on a page is required.
Advanced Scanning Functions
Modern OCR scanners come with the most cutting-edge features and technologies for a scanning procedure that is quick and effective. Flattening book curves, auto cropping, smart paging, merge sides, stamp mode, and multi-color mode are some of the most popular features.
By directly putting the scanned copies in cloud services like Google Drive, OneDrop, and Dropbox, some models can be used as a standalone device. The OCR scanners can read a variety of file types, including Word, Excel, PDF, and editable text.
Optical Resolution
An OCR scanner’s optical resolution is one of its key features. It indicates how many pixels a scanner can collect and is expressed in dots per inch (DPI). The rule of thumb is that the better the gadget, the higher the DPI value. You can usually set the preferred DPI on scanners, so keep that in mind. Pick the highest resolution option.
Built-in LED
The final scanned copy will not be clear if you scan a page in low light. No matter the lighting conditions, the built-in LED lights illuminate the page to ensure that you get clean scans with excellent clarity. An OCR scanner’s LED count varies from one model to the next. The LED’s power will also vary. The required illumination can be produced by two built-in LEDs.
Color Depth
The bit depth or color depth reveals how much data a scanner can fit into a single pixel. The ability to record color gradations will improve with increasing depth. Therefore, a great color depth indicates that a machine can correctly record and store enormous files. Although you should be aware that some versions offer a color depth of 48 bits, a 24-bit OCR document scanner ensures higher performance and is unquestionably perfect for business use.
Dynamic Range
Density range and optical density are additional names for dynamic range (OD). This function demonstrates how well a scanner records a range of tones. Numerous devices have a logarithmic scale from 0 to 4, where 0 denotes a great white and 4 denotes an impenetrable black. The density range, in general, displays the brightest and darkest records that your OCR scanner has ever recorded. Typical scanners might not have dynamic range ratings. However, we advise selecting the model with an OD rating of roughly 3.0.
Size and Design
OCR scanners are available in a variety of sizes. While some OCR scanners are the size of your PC display, some types are simply as portable as a magazine that has been rolled up. The ultra-portable scanners are simple to transport. The ultra-portable devices will be most helpful to marketers who frequently travel and need to scan advertisements, flyers, and brochures.
But it is advisable to stick with conventional-sized devices if you need an OCR scanner for your application. They are useful for printing documents because they can hold up to 2,000 sheets.
Scanning Speed
Another crucial aspect to take into account while selecting the best OCR scanner is scanning speed. The speed is crucial if you want to use a machine to scan bulky stacks of documents frequently. However, if you don’t intend to do so and will only sometimes perform one or two scans, this trait shouldn’t matter to you.
Connectivity Options
Both a wired USB connection and a wireless WiFi connection are included with the OCR scanners. In locations without WiFi, the USB connection works well for you.
Your OCR scanners can be utilized as separate devices thanks to the WiFi feature. You can simply save the scanned copies to cloud services or include them in emails without having to link them to your PC.
OS Compatibility
If you are using Windows OS, you won’t experience any OS compatibility issues. Because Windows OS is compatible with practically all OCR scanners. There are still enough models that are compatible with Mac OS despite the reduced number of possibilities. You don’t have to choose between Windows and Mac OS because many models are compatible with both.
Warranty
This isn’t rocket science, folks. Going with the OCR scanner that is supported by the longest warranty duration is the most obvious choice. The majority of models have a one-year warranty. If the warranty duration is not listed on the product page, you can directly contact the seller to confirm the warranty before choosing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free OCR software?
Easy Screen OCR, which uses a cloud-based engine with Google-powered recognition, is what we advise utilizing. However, make sure you can offer a dependable Internet connection to guarantee the efficient operation of this software.
Is there any free OCR software?
Yes. FreeOCR for Windows can open scanned PDF documents, TIFF images, and other popular image formats. It also functions with the majority of TWAIN scanners. The most recent Tesseract OCR engine powers this application (v.3.01)
Does Windows 10 come with OCR?
Yes. All native Windows 10 programs, such as the Photo Scan app, can make use of the preloaded OCR software.
Final Words
Making the transition from a paper-based document flow to a digital one is difficult, therefore choosing a scanner carefully is crucial. Modern scanners are highly advanced and come with cutting-edge software. Scanners now function better because of optical character recognition technology. An OCR scanner will not only provide you with a clear image of a document but will also enable editing, simplifying the digitization process.
But be cautious to get the office equipment that best suits your requirements. Pay close attention to a scanner’s features and characteristics and pick the right ones to make you comfortable using it.
