OnDevice OCR Pro
For individuals
- 100% local processing
- Multilingual (13 languages)
- Batch processing
- Folder watching (hotfolder)
- Apple Shortcuts
- Image enhancement
- Intelligent Orientation
OnDevice OCR Pro
OnDevice OCR Pro
Make your documents searchable. Privately, on your Mac.
Professional OCR for documents and PDFs.
Everything stays on your device.
Requires macOS 14.6 or later.
- 100% offline
- Built for GDPR workflows
- One-time purchase
- Developed in Germany
Features
Everything you need to digitize your documents.
Enterprise-grade text recognition, powered by Apple’s latest Vision technology.
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Batch Processing
Process hundreds of pages in a single run.
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Folder Monitoring
Set up a hot folder and OCR new files automatically in the background.Read the Hot Folder guide
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Multilingual
Recognizes text in 13 languages, including English, German, French, Spanish and more.
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Intelligent Orientation
Automatically corrects rotated pages based on the text direction.
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Privacy
All processing stays on your Mac — designed for GDPR-conscious workflows.
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Intelligent Filter
Identifies digital PDFs, such as invoices, and skips them if you want.
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Text Extraction
Save only a document’s text, useful for books and other long documents.
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AI-Ready
You can let AI agents such as Claude Cowork, Codex and OpenClaw run OCR workflows for you.
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Image Enhancement
Improves the readability of your documents during processing.
Made for lawyers & doctors · archiving invoices & receipts · students & researchers.
Privacy by design
Your documents never leave your Mac.
Designed for GDPR-conscious workflows. OnDevice OCR Pro processes documents locally on your Mac. The app does not upload your files, OCR text, filenames, or usage analytics to our servers. No account. No tracking. No cloud OCR.
A safe choice for sensitive legal, medical and financial documents. Built and maintained in Germany.
Which version suits me?
Pro and Business at a glance
OnDevice OCR Business coming soon
For companies and law firms
Everything in Pro, plus
- Up to 5 watched folders, network shares included
- PDF/A-2b output for long-term archiving
- Processing log for each file
- Document separation via QR sheet
- Settings export for additional Macs
You will receive a confirmation email first. After that, exactly one email once the version is available – unsubscribe at any time. Privacy notice
Download and try it for free.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
We couldn't find a matching question. Please contact us: support@ondeviceocr.com
Technical Details
How does OCR work exactly?
A neural network that has been trained on real documents can recognize each letter in a document. The app then places those letters as an invisible, searchable text layer onto your PDF while keeping the original page exactly as it looks.
Which file types are supported?
The app supports PDF files and the most common image formats, including JPEG, PNG, TIFF and HEIC/HEIF. You can drop in single files as well as whole folders.
Which languages can be recognized?
OnDevice OCR Pro accurately recognizes text in 13 languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Japanese (Yokogaki), Korean, Turkish and Vietnamese.
What is Batch Processing?
Batch processing means handling many files at once: drop in hundreds of pages and OnDevice OCR Pro processes them all in a single run.
Is handwriting recognition supported?
No. OnDevice OCR Pro is designed for printed and typed text. Handwriting is not supported as of yet.
Features
What is the “Intelligent Filter” and what is it good for?
OnDevice OCR Pro can distinguish between actual scans without a text layer and digital PDFs, such as invoices received by email. Digital PDFs are already searchable and do not need to be processed with OCR again. If your folders contain both actual scans and digital PDF files, OnDevice OCR Pro only processes files that are not yet searchable.
What does Intelligent Orientation do?
Intelligent Orientation detects the text direction on each page and automatically corrects pages that are rotated or upside down. It does not force landscape documents into portrait; pages are only corrected when the text direction indicates the page orientation is wrong.
Can it re-apply OCR to documents that are already searchable?
Yes. If you have documents that have bad existing OCR, you can let OnDevice OCR Pro rescan those documents and apply a new OCR layer.
Are there ways to automate the OCR process?
Yes, you can automate your workflow with OnDevice OCR Pro using either the Hot Folder or the Agentic Integration feature.
1) Hot Folder: The Hot Folder monitors a specific folder — for example, your scanner's network folder — and then automatically processes each new document in the background. The step-by-step guide shows how to automate OCR on a Mac.
2) AI agents: With the new Agentic Integration feature, you can instruct AI agents such as Claude Cowork, ChatGPT (Codex), or OpenClaw to process documents with OnDevice OCR Pro without opening the app.
Neither feature requires the main app to be open.
Pricing
How much does OnDevice OCR Pro cost?
Prices may vary by country, currency, and App Store taxes. To see the current price, open OnDevice OCR Pro in the Mac App Store using the button above and check the In-App Purchases section. The Lifetime version price will be shown there for your region. You can download the app for free and test all its features with a watermark.
Is there a subscription?
No. OnDevice OCR Pro is a one-time purchase and you can use it forever.
System Requirements
Does it run on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs?
Yes, OnDevice OCR Pro is a universal app and runs natively on both Apple Silicon (M1 and later) and Intel Macs.
Which macOS version is required?
macOS 14.6 (Sonoma) or later. Currently, all essential features are available in every supported version.
Privacy & Trust
Does it work offline?
Yes. OnDevice OCR Pro works fully offline — no internet connection is needed and nothing is ever sent to a server.
Is there any data being collected?
No. True to its name, OnDevice OCR Pro does not collect any user data whatsoever. No personal information ever leaves your Mac.
Does OnDevice OCR Pro comply with GDPR rules?
OnDevice OCR Pro is built for GDPR-compliant workflows: everything runs locally and no data is collected, so there is nothing that could leave your Mac in the first place.
This statement applies to OnDevice OCR Pro itself. If you connect external AI agents or automation tools, you are responsible for configuring their file access and data handling. OnDevice OCR Pro does not upload documents to AI services; it only provides the local integration interface.
Direct Purchase Version
Purchase & License
What is the difference between the App Store version and the direct purchase version?
At this time, there is no difference between the two apps. In the long term, it is theoretically possible that certain features—which cannot be implemented in the App Store version due to Apple's sandbox—will be available exclusively in the direct purchase version.
How do I get the license key?
You will receive the license key via email after your purchase. Please also check your spam folder; if you don't receive anything, please contact support@ondeviceocr.com.
How do I enter the key in the app?
Simply drag the license file into the app window, double-click to open it, or select it via the "Activate License" menu item.
I lost my key—how do I get it back?
Send an email to support@ondeviceocr.com with your proof of purchase.
On how many Macs can I use the license? What about a new Mac?
You may install the app on all of your Macs.
I've already made a purchase in the App Store—do I need the direct purchase? And vice versa?
If you purchased the app from the App Store, the direct purchase version will recognize your purchase and automatically activate the Pro version. The direct purchase only unlocks the direct purchase version. However, you can download it for free from our website at any time.
Can I switch from purchasing through the App Store to a direct purchase (or vice versa)?
If you purchased the app from the App Store, you can also use the direct purchase version.
Payment & Taxes
Who is Paddle, and why is it listed on my statement?
Paddle is the payment processor through which the purchase is technically processed.
What payment methods are available?
Credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other local payment methods depending on the country.
Will I receive an invoice? Can I provide my tax ID number?
Yes. For direct purchases, our payment service provider Paddle processes the transaction and sends you the invoice via email after payment.
For buyers in the U.S.: Whether sales tax applies depends on your state; you’ll see the final amount before making your purchase. Exemption is only possible in advance: To request it, send your tax exemption certificate to Paddle Support.
For buyers within the EU: VAT will be shown on the invoice. As a business customer, you can enter your VAT ID number during checkout—in which case VAT will not be charged. If you forgot to do so at the time of purchase, please contact Paddle Support or us: The invoice will then be corrected, and the tax will be refunded if it does not apply in your case.
For buyers in all other countries: Tax rules vary from country to country. Paddle automatically calculates the tax at checkout based on your location—so you’ll see the final amount before you buy. As a business customer, you can enter your tax ID during checkout; depending on your country, this may exempt you from tax, or the tax will remain on the invoice and you can claim a refund through your tax authority.
Request an invoice again, or add invoice details or a tax ID: all of this can be done through Paddle’s customer portal at paddle.net (English). Background information on taxes, invoices, and refunds can be found in Paddle’s frequently asked questions for buyers (English).
Why is the final price different?
The final price may vary slightly depending on taxes in the respective country.
Updates & the Future
Are updates included?
Yes—the one-time purchase includes all future updates to OnDevice OCR Pro as long as the app continues to be developed. No subscription, no recurring costs.
Does the direct purchase version receive the same updates as the App Store version?
Yes, they receive the same updates as the App Store version. In the long term, it’s theoretically possible that certain features—which can’t be implemented in the App Store version due to Apple’s sandbox—will be available exclusively in the direct-purchase version.
Does the license work without an internet connection? Does the app need to "check in"?
No, the app does not require an internet connection to run or to be activated.
Returns
What if the app doesn't work for me?
You may cancel the purchase agreement within 14 days of purchase and receive a refund.
Make your documents searchable — today.
Requires macOS 14.6 or later.