Free OCR to Word
Local OCR or online OCR: what should you consider?
Choose a workflow based on your documents and requirements.
Where the document is processed
A local recognition workflow processes the document on your PC. An online service normally requires a file upload. Check the service’s own privacy and retention terms before sending a document.
Connection and installation
English recognition in Free OCR to Word works locally after setup. Setup may need to download a missing Microsoft runtime. A web service avoids a desktop installation but relies on its own availability and connection requirements.
Check the actual result
Local processing does not automatically mean more accurate recognition. Try a representative page and compare words, paragraphs and any required formatting.