Soda PDF OCR alternative for a quick online scan
Pick FastOCR if you want a quick browser OCR with a text layer in any script. Pick Soda PDF if you batch-process on a Windows desktop or edit PDFs.
Drop your file here
PDF, PNG, JPG, WebP, BMP, HEIC
PDF up to 1 GB · images up to 20 MB
Tips for a clear photo
- Lay the page flat.
- Use even light, with no shadows.
- Turn off the flash to avoid glare.
- Fill the frame with the page.
Where FastOCR wins
Nothing to install, no sign-up for images
Images need no sign-up: 3 a day as a guest, unlimited with a free account.
Searchable PDFs that copy correctly in any script
In our tests the text layer copied correctly in 16 of 16 scripts. Arabic, Urdu and Hebrew paste in the right order.
Columns read in order
On pages with columns, the text comes out column by column instead of line across the whole page.
Where Soda PDF wins
Desktop batches
Soda says batch processing is available only in its desktop version.
Editing and storage
Paid plans add editing and cloud storage.
- No install
- Both run online. Soda also has a Windows desktop app for offline use.
- Searchable PDF
- FastOCR makes a searchable PDF. PDFs use your page quota (50 free pages a month). Soda lists "OCR Search" on its Pro and Team plans.
- Works in the browser
- Both work in the browser.
FastOCR and Soda PDF, side by side
Soda PDF facts checked on October 21, 2026. Each links to the page it came from.
| Feature | FastOCR | Soda PDF |
|---|---|---|
| Free OCR | Images 3/day as a guest, unlimited with an account; 50 PDF pages a month | OCR page states a 3 MB file limit and 2 files a day (source) |
| Batch | Several files per upload | Desktop version only (source) |
| File handling | Uploaded for processing; see the privacy policy | Deleted from its servers within 24 hours (source) |
Questions about Soda PDF
Is Soda PDF OCR free?
Its OCR page states a free allowance of 3 MB files and 2 files a day. Another Soda page lists OCR under paid features, so test with a small file first.
Does Soda PDF read multiple languages?
Its OCR page says it can detect different languages in the same document. It does not list them.
Keep reading
Last updated October 21, 2026. Competitor details come from their own pages, linked above, and can change. What published research says about OCR accuracy.