Searchable PDF: OCR that respects your document
To make a scanned PDF searchable in NoCatchPDF, open the tool, pick the file and the text languages, and download the copy with the invisible text layer — the look is unchanged, but the content becomes findable and selectable. OCR runs in your browser (the ~15 MB model downloads once) and the document never leaves the device.
Make my PDF searchable now →How it works
- Open the tool. Click the button below to open the searchable PDF tool.
- Pick the scanned PDF. Drop the file into the window — it stays in your browser.
- Choose the languages. Portuguese and/or English. On first use the OCR model (~15 MB) is downloaded and kept in the browser.
- Download the searchable copy. Each page gets the recognized text as an invisible layer. Review the result: quality depends on the scan.
Why is it free and unlimited?
Because processing happens in your browser, not on our servers. We don't pay for expensive infrastructure to process your files — so we don't need to charge you, make you sign up, or cap your usage. No catch: that's literally what the name means.
FAQ
What changes in the file?
Visually, nothing: the recognized text is written with zero opacity over the image. From then on you can search, select and copy the text.
Is the OCR perfect?
No. Skewed, noisy or handwritten scans reduce accuracy. Review the result, especially for important documents.
Does it work offline?
After the first run, yes: the OCR model is cached in the browser and recognition is 100% local.