OwlOCR app icon

OwlOCR

Copy text from screenshots, images and PDFs on a Mac

MacFree to start

The verdict

Text in a screenshot, image, scan or PDF becomes text you can copy with OwlOCR, which uses Apple's on-device text recognition. It can also export searchable PDFs and text files. Pro adds batch OCR for multipage PDFs, Finder quick actions on several files and an optional local AI mode for harder pages. Recognition runs on your Mac rather than a server.

The Useful TechResearched and written with AI under our rulesUpdated 14 Oct 2026

Get it if

You pull text out of screenshots, scans or PDFs and want it done on your Mac without uploading anything.

Skip it if

You OCR a page once in a while. The free Core tier is enough, and Pro is for batches of PDFs.

Screenshots 4

What it helps you do

  • Copy text out of any screenshot
  • Turn a scanned PDF into a searchable one
  • Batch OCR a stack of PDFs from Finder
  • Read hard pages with a local AI model

Plans and prices

  • Core

    Free

    Free, on-device text recognition for screenshots, images and single pages

  • Pro, yearly

    $19.99

    $19.99 a year

  • Pro, lifetime

    $49.99

    $49.99 once, for the version you buy

What changed

  1. Version 7.23.1

    Optional crash and error reporting is now available in Settings > Diagnostics. · Reporting is off by default. Enable Share crash and error reports and restart OwlOCR to help diagnose unexpected failures. · Disabling reporting stops new uploads immediately. · Technical error reports omit document text, file inputs, account details, and diagnostic logs.

  2. Added to The Useful Apps

Written up in The Useful Tech

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The details

Runs on
Mac
Requires
macOS 13.3 or later
Version
7.23.1
Size
209 MB
Made by
JonLuca De Caro
No account
Works without signing up

Developer's websiteSpot a wrong price or fact?