You've been working hard on physically scanning documents in the office and then forwarding them to other parties. Now it's time to use a document scanning software solution to increase efficiency and boost productivity. Automated document scanning software helps to reduce costs, including document retrieval expenses, recreating lost files, reduce risk, and achieve compliance.
Document scanning and indexing software provide an electronic version of the hardcopy records either upfront or as-needed basis. Documents are indexed, organized, and classified.
Best Document Scanning Software for PC
The following list of 11 Best Document Scanning Software will help you choose the best Document Management Software. Scanner software is available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android
The comparison table below compares OCR(Optical Content Recognition), Cloud Storage, Platform availability, Free versions, and Price.
Software Name | OCR Available | Cloud Storage | Free Version | Platform | Paid Version |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adobe Acrobat DC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android | $192 |
Readiris | Yes | Yes | No | Windows and Mac | $49 |
ABBYY FineReader | Yes | No | No | Windows and Mac | Windows - $199, Mac - $119 |
VueScan | Yes | No | Free with WaterMark | Windows and Mac | $49 |
ScanSpeeder | No | No | No | Windows 10,7,8.1,8 | $29.9 |
FileHold | Yes | Yes | Trial 30 Days | Windows | $18/month/user for 20 User |
PaperScan | Yes | No | Yes | Windows and Mac | $149 |
Alaris Capture Pro | No | No | Trial 30 Days | Windows and Mac | On Request |
NAPS2 | Yes | No | Yes | Windows and Mac | - |
CloudScan | No | Yes | No | Online | Subscription - $20 |
SimpleIndex | Yes | No | Trial 30 Days | Windows | Workstation - $500 |
1. Adobe Acrobat DC(Document Cloud)
Adobe Acrobat DC is easy to use and one of the best software available. With the Adobe Acrobat DC user can compress, decompress, edit, merge, split, review, and sign pdf. It is easier to work across computers and mobile devices. It is available on all platforms like Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android. Adobe Acrobat is integrated with adobe document cloud which provides cloud storage for sharing the document with workflow management and email management. Work with a team and collaborate with a single document or multiple documents in real-time across all platforms. Features like real-time activity notifications and on working mobile, a tablet makes adobe acrobat DC unique.
Pros
Work with a team and collaborate
Complete multi-device PDF solution
Available in 28 language
19+ operating system support
Technical support Available
Free Version Available (with limited features)
Collaborate in real-time on all platform
IAM(Identity and Access Management) on different levels
Cloud sharing with sharing enabled
Email workflow
Signature collection simple
Work on PDF on a mobile device
Cons
The minimum RAM requirement is 2GB
Application is too large more than 1GB
Complicated to customize the interface
OCR proofreading features not good
Frequent crashes and freezes
Pricing
Acrobat Pro DC - $192 annually(subscription-based)
2. Readiris
Readiris is more OCR focused. With Readiris, users can aggregate and split, edit, and annotate, protect and sign PDF. Readiris is a global solution to convert, edit and transform a paper document into a digital format of the user's choice. The software is user friendly and supports all file types like indexed PDF, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, JPG, Audio, and ePub. Readiris has a unique feature to export a document in all formats or many formats with one click. It supports 100+ OCR languages. Also, user can export text as an audio file, enabling to listen to books, image, and document.
Pros
High-speed OCR
Wide range of file format - PNG, TXT ,RTF,BMP,TIFF ,ODT, ePUB, GIF,JPEG and HTML
Supported Operating system - Windows 7, 8, 10
Possible to edit text embedded in an image using OCR
Annotate and comment on PDF
Good for collaboration
Security to protect, sign PDF
Software available in 26 languages
Supported OCR language - 100+
Scanned text can be shared with multiple users for sign and review
Best PDF/A solution
Batch processing of document
Export to Office formats
Cons
No keyboard shortcuts
Options like align, insert clipboard are missing
Most features are in a higher pricing model
Pricing
Readiris PDF 17 - $49
Readiris Pro 17 - $69
Readiris corporate 17 - $99
3. ABBYY FineReader
ABBY FineReader is one of the best software available. With ABBY FineReader users can create, edit and organize PDF. Scanning and editing documents are made easy. ABBY FineReader has compare feature which allows users to keep track of the changes made by the users. A feature like the Hot Folder tool makes ABBY FineReader unique. The software supports automatic indexing and classification of the document using AI. Also, OCR accuracy can improve up to 99.8% on Mac. Using Mac ABBY FineReader software enables users to save a document in PDF/A for long term archiving.
Pros
Create fillable PDF forms
Collaborate in real-time
Flexible licensing - per seat, concurrent, remote
OCR recognition language - 198
Compare feature
Documents can be automatically be scanned using Hot Folder Tool
Convert formats like Excel, Word can be converted into PDF format
Smooth search feature for OCR result
Automatic indexing and classification
The document scanning process is quick
Cons
No version control
No support to full-text indexing feature
Pricing
Standard version - $199
Corporate version - $299
Mac version - $119.9
4. VueScan
VueScan is a freeware software, it is focused on photographs and negatives. VueScan works on any scanner user may be using, VueScan reverse engineered 6500 scanners and included built drivers for working with any scanner. The scanner that doesn't work under an OS like Canon CanoScan LiDE 100 doesn't work on Windows 7 but VueScan is compatible with Scanner. Features like scan with Flatbed and Automatic Document Feeders make VueScan unique.
Pros
VueScan works on any scanner
Scan with Flatbed and Automatic Document Feeders(ADF)
Automatic color detection
Support small document size
Scan JPEG or TIFF
Scan multiple photos on the flatbed
Video support
Supported OS - Windows, Linux, and Mac
Cons
Complicated to understand
User interface not good
The sticky watermark at bottom of the page or document
Pricing
Free with WaterMark
Standard - $49.9
Professional - $ 99.9
5. ScanSpeeder
ScanSpeeder scans documents with the click of a few buttons. ScanSpeeder allows multiple documents to be scanned together on the flatbed scanner. The tool automatically separates images that are scanned together and can be saved as a different image file. Also, the tool allows restoring faded photos with one click.
Pros
Scan comment on the back of photo or document
Fast and easy
Scan multiple photos at once
Cost-effective
Auto separate photo from multiple photos while scanning
Scan slides and negatives
Direct scan from photo album
Auto fix images
Supports WIA and TWAIN drivers
Photo and document feeder support
Supported OS - Windows 10, 7, 8.1, 8 and vista
Cons
Error while scanning sometimes
Edge detection of the photo is not accurate
Pricing
Standard Edition - $29.95/year
Pro-Edition - $39.95/year
6. FileHold
FileHold is a Document Management software system used to Organize and archive documents. The software has excellent document scanning as well as text capture tool OCR. The scanned documents are indexed which can be searched and control documents from anywhere. Beneficial for a large corporate organization that has continuous document workflow.
Pros
View and Approve document anytime, anywhere with mobile FileHold
Electronic document workflow with enabled collaboration
Scalable
Client-server document management
Direct integration with Microsoft Office suite
Supported OS - Windows and Android
Detect data type using OCR
Support WIA and TWAIN drivers
IAM(Identity and Access Management) Support
Color customization
Cons
Data storage controlled by the third party
Complicated demo video and trial
Pricing
Free Trial - 30 Days
Express version - $1000/year up-to 5 user
Enterprise version - $18/month/user for more than 20 user
7. PaperScan Software
PaperScan is a powerful TWAIN and WIA scanning application. PaperScan has a wide range of output formats with post image processing like color adjustment, color space conversion, effect, filter, and crop. The software also has features like PDF encryption support, flatbed and document feeder support, and Duplex scanning which make PaperScan unique.
Pros
Output formats available - PDF/A, TIFF, JPEG, JPEG 2000, PNG and WEBP
PDF encryption
Flatbed and document feeder support
Duplex Scanning support
Perform a wide range of image adjustment/enhancement
Annotate with a sticky note
Rubber stamp support
300+ language support
Batch scanning support
Image printing
Single page scan format
Digital signature
Cons
Displays ads
Not possible to use with cloud
Pricing
Free Version - $0
Home Edition - $79
Professional Edition - $149(Single License)
Professional Edition - $599(Site License)
Professional Edition - On Request(Volume license)
8. Alaris Capture Pro
Alaris Capture Pro is one of the best tools for high volume scanning. The software comes with a smart GUI (Graphical user interface) with the capability to auto-scale GUI to fit many images on the screen. Alaris Capture Pro directly integrates with Microsoft SharePoint to share information, also it can scan a high volume of multiple documents simultaneously.
Pros
Smart GUI - auto-scale GUI to fit images
Data capture
Document indexing and sophisticated scanning
Scan up to 25,000 pages per day
High-speed document scanning
Barcode Reader
Document protection like encryption
Integrated with WIA and TWAIN drivers
Streamline Workflow
Cons
Single document scanning not possible
One-click scanning option not available
Rotate and crop feature not available
Pricing
Free Trial - 30 Days
Smart Touch Technology Price - On request
9. NAPS2
NAPS2 stands for "Not Another PDF scanner 2". NAPS2 is open-source software that is maintained by Ben Olden-Cooligan on GitHub repositories. NAPS2 allows scanning documents to PDF format and other file types. Features like support to command-line interface for scripting makes NAPS2 unique. Also, the software enables the custom ordering of pages and custom image-processing features.
Pros
Developers can collaborate on GitHub to improve technology
Scan with a single click
IAM support
Email workflow
Output formats available - PDF, TIFF, JPEG, and PNG
Compatible with WIA and TWAIN drivers
Automatic document feeder
Rotate, crop, and rearrange scanned image
Supported OCR languages - 100+
Software available in 40 Languages
Supports Command-line interface
MSI installer and application-level configuration
Open Source
Cons
Simple interface for Corporate companies
Only available in Windows
Pricing
Free And Open Source
10. CloudScan
CloudScan is online software that doesn't require any installation on the computer the user-friendly website makes scanning of documents simple. CloudScan can be used directly from any modern browser. The online Software can scan documents inside a web browser without having to install anything also it works with any TWAIN. Features like online scanning make CloudScan unique.
Pros
Scan Document or picture to PDF, PDF/A, TIFF
Improve image quality during scanning
Work with TWAIN drivers
Scan directly inside a web browser
Export to Google Doc or Microsoft SharePoint
drag and drop feature
Easy color configuration
No setup Required
User-friendly website
Easy to understand Settings
Cons
Features are Basic
Expensive and pricing tier not modeled right
Pricing
Subscription based - $20 monthly
Site License - $990
Organization license - $1990
11. SimpleIndex
SimpleIndex is an affordable and simple document scanning Software. SimpleIndex manages multiple document processes in a single workflow the software also has good performance in handling large files.
Pros
Streamlined interface
Barcode recognition
Dynamic OCR
OCR recognition language - 100+
OMR(Optical Mark Recognition) to mark checkboxes
TWAIN drivers Scanning
Supports new image format - PCX, TGA, WMF, EMF, PSD, WBMP, TLA, and PCD
Batch document scanning
Disaster Recovery
Cons
Expensive for small business
Supported OS - Windows only
Pricing
30 Days Free Trial with full working features
Workstation version - $500
Concurrent version - $1250
Conclusion
These scanning and editiing software can work like magic. So, go for a free trial for any of these software