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OCR Software Comparison Guide
There are several OCR software solutions available to
convert scanned images to text, Word, HTML or searchable PDF. The
differences between them can often be obscure, leaving many to wonder why some
OCR software cost about $100 while others cost $500.
The main features that differentiate OCR software are:
  
- Character recognition accuracy
- Page layout reconstruction accuracy
- Multi-engine voting technology
- Support for languages
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Support for searchable PDF output
- Speed
- User interface
We have tested the latest versions of
FineReader,
OmniPage,
ReadIRIS,
TextBridge and
SimpleOCR and have determined that
ABBYY FineReader 9
is the best overall value for business users, while
ReadIRIS is the best OCR software for under $150. The key deciding
factors were:
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User interface design
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Page layout reconstruction capabilities
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Extensive language support
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Stability of the engine when processing large documents
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Helpful (and free!) technical support staff
Though other testing labs have ranked OmniPage's overall
accuracy slightly higher, we find the difference is pretty negligible. All
modern OCR software have very good accuracy, so we recommend going with the one
that has particular special features like IRIS's
Arabic and Hebrew and
Asian Language versions.
Because of the infinite combinations of document types,
OCR engines and settings, it may be possible that one engine may perform better
with your particular documents than another. For this reason,
ScanStore provides demo downloads for
all its
OCR software
with your ScanStore User Account.
Because of this variability and the subjectivity of user interface preferences,
we recommend using the demos to see which performs best with your documents.
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OCR software |
ABBYY FineReader 9 Professional - FineReader Professional is
a highly accurate and easy to use OCR software that includes host of
features including digital camera OCR, intelligent document layouts,
image enhancement, barcode recognition and command line integration.
FineReader 9 is our pick for OCR software because its document layout
retention will save you much time in reformatting documents you convert
for editing.
ABBYY FineReader 9 Corporate - FineReader Corporate Edition
offers unique concurrent licensing that makes it possible for many users
who need occasional use of OCR to share a small pool of active licenses.
With accuracy comparable to OmniPage, superior technical support
services and a user interface that many users find preferable, we think
FineReader Corporate is the best choice of OCR software for business. |
IRIS ReadIRIS Pro 12 - Affordable OCR software for business
 and
home users. ReadIRIS Pro provides a extremely accurate OCR
recognition rate at a low cost, but still has some of the advanced
features that higher priced professional OCR software includes.
IRIS ReadIRIS Corporate 12 - Adds support for files over 50
pages, business card recognition, as well as automatic processing of hot
folders.
Nuance OmniPage Pro 17 - OmniPage is widely considered the
fastest, most accurate and fully featured OCR software. OmniPage
17 Professional has a unique new feature that lets you convert any type
of document to searchable PDF or Word.
OmniPage does not have a downloadable
demo. Nuance also does not provide free technical support after the
first call. For these reasons we recommend the ABBYY and IRIS
products instead.
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Apple Macintosh OCR software |
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Nuance OmniPage X for MAC - OmniPage OCR software for Macintosh
users. This version does not use the latest OmniPage engine, but
provides good accuracy nonetheless. Once again, Nuance does not
make a demo download available. |
IRIS ReadIRIS Pro 11 for MAC - Affordable OCR software for
Macintosh users using the latest version of the IRIS OCR engine.
IRIS ReadIRIS Corporate 11 for MAC - Adds support for files over
50 pages, business card recognition, as well as automatic processing of
hot folders. |
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Server-Based OCR software |
ABBYY Recognition Server - Innovative server-based OCR software
 for
performing centralized enterprise-wide OCR processing. Processor license
allows anyone on the network to submit files for OCR. Complex XML job
specifications can be submitted to control output. Support available for
Arabic and Asian languages. |
IRISDocument Server - IRISDocument Server is a lower cost solution compared to
 recognition
server, but lacks some of the more advanced features and has slightly lower
accuracy.Several versions are available with varying
monthly page processing limitations, letting you scale your solution to meet
your budget requirements.
Asian,
Arabic and
Hebrew language packs are also available. |
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Chinese, Japanese, Korean & Thai OCR software |
Arabic, Farsi & Hebrew OCR software |
ABBYY FineReader 9 Professional - FineReader Professional 9
now includes Chinese, Japanese and Thai languages in their base
package. No special version or add-on is required.
ABBYY FineReader 9 Corporate - FineReader Corporate 9 also
includes Chinese, Japanese and Thai character recognition.
IRIS ReadIRIS Pro 11 Asian
OCR software with support for Japanese, Traditional Chinese,
Simplified Chinese and Korean characters.
IRIS ReadIRIS Corporate 11 Asian
Adds the ability to recognize files over 50 pages, business cards
and monitor a hot folder to automatically process images in the
background.
IRISDocument Server Asian Language Pack
Enables Chinese, Japanese and Korean character recognition in a
server-based solution.
ABBYY Recognition Server
Add 30% to the cost of the Recognition Server license to add
Chinese, Japanese & Korean (CJK) language support. Thai
character recognition language pack is also available, but is sold
separately from CJK. |
IRIS ReadIRIS Pro 11 Middle East
OCR software
with support for Arabic, Farsi and Hebrew character recognition.
IRIS ReadIRIS Corporate 11 Middle East
Adds the ability to recognize files over 50 pages, business cards
and monitor a hot folder to automatically process images in the
background.
IRISDocument Arabic Language Pack
Enables Arabic and Farsi character recognition in a server-based
OCR software.
ABBYY FineReader 9 Professional - FineReader
Professional 9 supports Hebrew OCR, but does not include Arabic
or Farsi support.
ABBYY FineReader 9 Corporate - FineReader Corporate
9 also includes Hebrew character recognition.
ABBYY Recognition Server
Add 30% to the cost of the Recognition Server license to add Hebrew
language character recognition support. |
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Personal OCR software |
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 Nuance
TextBridge - The classic TextBridge engine is still available as
an affordable alternative to high priced engines. It gives you an
ultra-low cost, yet still accurate OCR software with out all the extra
features. Allows you to output to web pages, Word documents and
more while retaining the layout of the page, but does not include PDF
output.
**NOT Compatible with Windows Vista** |
SimpleOCR - Our own freeware
OCR application provides acceptable accuracy for those who just need to
convert a few pages and can't justify the cost of commercial OCR
software. Developers can use the
command-line and
SDK versions to integrate SimpleOCR with their custom applications. |
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