ABBYY FineReader PDF review

ABBYY FineReader PDF is the heavyweight desktop option on this list. ABBYY describes it as a PDF application powered by AI-based OCR for workflows that mix digital and scanned documents, and the Windows version adds editing that lets you rewrite paragraphs and change table content almost like a Word file. Conversion tools let you correct recognition areas, check OCR results and improve image quality before export, and a one-click tool extracts text and tables from any PDF. Office features include document comparison, Bates numbering, redaction, metadata removal, passwords and digital signatures. Plans come as Standard and Corporate for Windows and a separate FineReader PDF for Mac, billed for 1 or 3 years, with monthly billing on the Windows plans. Corporate adds Hot Folder automation, which carries a monthly page limit that resets every 30 days. The pricing page showed EUR from our location, so the USD price is pending. We compared documented features and published prices.

Who it is for

office users who convert large volumes of scanned PDFs

Price

See vendor pricing (USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• AI-based OCR for scanned documents and document images
• Edit PDFs, including rewriting paragraphs and table content
• Compare two versions of a document to find differences
• Redaction, metadata removal, passwords and digital signatures
• Hot Folder for automated batch processing

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Separate apps for Windows and Mac, plus FineReader for iOS
• Strength: Free trial available to download
• Strength: 1-year and 3-year plans with volume discounts
• Weakness: Prices showed in EUR from our location, so the USD price is pending
• Weakness: Hot Folder automation has a monthly page limit that resets every 30 days
• Weakness: Mac version sold yearly or for 3 years, with no monthly plan

Key facts

• Platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS
• Plans: Standard, Corporate, Mac
• Billing: 1-year or 3-year, monthly on Windows
• Free trial: Yes

Where it ranks

ABBYY FineReader PDF is No. 6 in our Best OCR Apps verdict.