Top 5 PDF Editor with OCR Feature for Windows & Mac 2026

Over the years, the PDF editor has become an important application. Yet, PDF editing can be tricky when it comes to using PDF files online. Hence, here we enlist the top PDF editors with OCR features.

Once you go through the list, you will be able to determine the best and most effective options for PDF editors with OCR features that meet your business needs.

Q1. How do I choose between Adobe Acrobat and ABBYY FineReader?

If you need top OCR and wide language support, ABBYY FineReader is strong. It excels in text recognition and layout retention on complex scans. If you want a broader PDF toolset with editing, signing, form creation, and cloud tie-ins, Adobe Acrobat serves wider tasks. Both are powerful, but your workflow decides value.

Q2. Can I use these tools on both Windows and Mac?

Most here support both platforms. Nitro Pro is Windows only, so Mac users must pick among PDFelement, Acrobat, ABBYY, and Foxit. Check system requirements and features on your version. Desktop performance and feature sets may differ by OS.

Q3. Do these editors cost a lot?

Costs vary. Adobe Acrobat and ABBYY FineReader often come as subscription or one-time with higher price tags. Nitro, PDFelement, and Foxit offer tiered plans that can be cheaper. You get what you pay for in OCR strength and extra features. Evaluate trial versions first.

What is OCR, and how is it beneficial in the context of PDF Editing?

Optical Character Recognition, abbreviated as OC,R is a widespread technology used to read the text inside images. This means OCR technology helps convert virtually any kind of scanned document or image with text into machine-readable text data.

Using it, a hard copy of any document is changed into a machine-readable text document. Once a scanned paper passes through OCR processing, the text becomes editable by PDF, word processors, Google Docs, etc.

When it comes to digitizing old newspapers, indexing documents for search engines, supporting the blind and visually impaired, etc, OCR technology proves to be immensely beneficial. 

Top 5 PDF Editors with OCR (Windows & Mac 2026)

Choosing a PDF editor with strong OCR (optical character recognition) makes a big difference when you must edit scanned documents or extract text from images. OCR lets you turn a photo or scan into editable and searchable text.

In 2026, tools for Windows and Mac have matured. Some balance ease of use with powerful tools. Others are built for heavy professional work. The table below compares five leading editors so you can pick the right one for your needs.

Best PDF Editor for Windows & Mac in 2026

1. PDFelement

System Compatibility: macOS, Windows, iOS, & Android

Price: Multiple types (Subscription and Lifetime, start with $29/ quarter)

Trial Version: limited functionality

PDFelement is one of the best solutions with a variety of PDF editing features like conversion, editing, OCR, annotation, digital signatures, and form processing. Using this popular PDF editing software, you can easily edit any PDF file and can step above the competition. Its automatic form recognition feature enables you to edit and create an editable form with just one click.

Moreover, using the Optical Character Recognition technology offered by PDFelement, users can easily read and edit text inside images like scanned photos and documents. If you need search the scanned image in PDF, you may also need this advanced feature.

Features:

• All-in-one PDF Editor
• Accurate text recognition on images, edit with one click
• Supports 20+ languages
• Converts standard PDF file format to longer archiving PDF
  format

Pros

• Clear and intuitive user interface
• OCR technology that allows editing and extracting PDF and
  batch processing
• Varied set of PDF editing features
• Helps convert documents

Cons

• Free limited functionality trial version

2. Adobe Acrobat

System Compatibility: macOS & Windows

Price: Acrobat Standard DC: starts at $14.99

Trial Version: limited functionality

Undoubtedly, Adobe Acrobat has set the ground for PDF editing, and it is popularly used. This top PDF editing tool for Windows is amazing, but when it comes to large businesses, it isn’t the tool you would want to use. Unlike PDFelement Pro, Adobe Acrobat DC is best for only individual and small businesses. Using it you can convert, annotate, edit scanned PDFs via OCR technology, and do a lot more. 

Features:

• Best PDF with top-notch features
• User-friendly PDF editor
• Offers OCR Technology to edit scanned documents
• Converts a standard PDF file format to a longer archiving PDF
  format

Pros

• Best PDF with top-notch features
• Simple and easy-to-use PDF editor
• Offers OCR Technology to edit scanned documents
• Allows to save work on the cloud

Cons

• Expensive, not pocket-friendly
• Suitable for small businesses and individuals

3. ABBYY FineReader PDF

System Compatibility: macOS, Windows, iOS, & Android

Price: $199 one-time payment & $299 for corporate

Trial Version: limited functionality

Second, on our list of top PDF editors with OCR is ABBYY FineReader. This smart PDF solution is empowered by AI-based OCR technology, and it helps convert, edit, share, and collaborate with all kinds of documents. Using it you can digitize paper documents, deploy one PDF solution for complete organization, compare documents in different formats, and do a lot more.

Features:

• Edit all kinds of PDF, including scanned documents
• Export document comparison in a PDF and as Word document
  in the track-changes mode
• Digitize paper documents and scans with OCR
• Create, convert, collaborate, edit, and organize PDFs

Pros

• User-friendly interface
• OCR technology to edit scanned documents
• Convert, merge, and edit PDF
• Advanced document comparison features

Cons

• Limited functionality trial version  
• Can’t view the history of document changes

4. Nitro Pro

System Compatibility: Windows

Price: $159

Trial Version: limited functionality

Using this PDF editor, you can convert Word, PowerPoint, and Excel files to editable PDFs, create PDFs from virtually any document, image, or file type. Nonetheless, you can also request secure, legally binding electronic signatures, send, track, and confirm electronic signatures with real-time notifications. This tool also lets create searchable and editable PDFs from scans with OCR.

Features:

• Password-protect PDFs
• Highlight, underline, and cross out text with annotations
• Customizable home tab
• Build, fill PDF forms and detect scanned images using automatic deskskew

Pros

• Simple to use
• Best PDF editor for beginners
• Split, combine, edit, or markup PDF files
• Pocket friendly

Cons

• Limited options to create PDF in the trial version
• Works only with Windows

5. Foxit PhantomPDF Editor

System Compatibility: macOS & Windows

Price: starts at $ 16.99

Trial Version: limited functionality

Crete, edit, sort pages, add headers/footers, watermarks, and export PDF. Also, convert paper into digitized, editabl,e and searchable PDFs. Collaborate with other users and let the complete team participate. PhantomPDF provides powerful PDF capabilities that allow authors to update their documents themselves. You can also use it to merge PDF documents or split them. Not only this, but you can also edit scanned PDFs and convert existing scans to PDF.

Features:

• OCR based PDF Editor
• Easily convert PDF to HTML and to text
• Convert webpages to PDF
• Redact, encrypt, and sign PDF

Pros

• Does not take much disk space
• Quick and fast PDF editor
• User friendly
• Offers good PDF editing tools

Cons

• Cannot be installed on multiple PCs
• A plethora of features that confuse the beginner

Conclusion

Choosing a PDF editor with OCR in 2026 affects speed and accuracy. Adobe Acrobat suits enterprises and advanced users. It offers deep tools and strong OCR for complex layouts. Cloud support is reliable. ABBYY FineReader PDF focuses on precision. It supports many languages and delivers excellent recognition, though the interface feels technical. PDFelement works well for daily editing. It is easy to use and handles OCR smoothly. Foxit PhantomPDF Editor stays fast and clean. Nitro Pro serves Windows users and fits office workflows.

Think about your actual needs. Simple scans need simple tools. PDFelement and Foxit handle them well. Heavy files and complex forms need stronger engines. Acrobat and ABBYY suit those tasks. Nitro Pro sits in between and works well for teams. Pick the tool that matches your platform and workflow.

FAQs

Q1 Why choose a PDF editor with OCR?

OCR turns images and scanned pages into text you can edit and search. Without OCR you can view a scan but not change or extract the text. That limits work on contracts, books, and forms.

Q2 Does OCR affect the layout of my documents?

Yes, but quality varies. High-end tools keep columns, tables, and spacing close to the original. Lower-end tools may shift text or lose table lines. Pick a tool that matches your layout needs.

Q3 Is OCR accurate on handwritten text?

Handwritten OCR is less reliable than typed text. Most editors here handle printed fonts well. Handwriting may require extra correction. Some tools offer better handwriting support, but results still vary.