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No. 6 of 29 ·Photo Scanning Software

NAPS2

Windows · Mac · Linux

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Freedom report

Three barsScore 6.4

  • Free tierA free tier is on its own pricing page
  • Open codeNo open-source code on record
  • Runs widely3 of 6 device platforms
  • DocumentedPlans, terms and facts published

NAPS2 is free, open-source scanning software for Windows, macOS and Linux. It scans documents and saves them as PDF, TIFF, JPEG or PNG using WIA or TWAIN drivers. Scanning options include flatbed scanners and automatic document feeders, including duplex scanning. Afterward, users can reorder, interleave, rotate, crop and deskew pages, as well as adjust brightness and contrast. OCR can make scanned documents searchable, supports more than 100 languages and can be applied to imported PDFs. NAPS2 can share scanners on a local network using ESCL, with compatible Android and iPhone clients. Sharing works only while NAPS2 is running on the server; running it as a service is not currently supported. Other capabilities include sending email through Gmail and Outlook, an optional command-line interface for scripted scanning, and a .NET scanning library for developers. OCR results cannot be saved directly to a text file, but recognized text can be copied from a saved PDF using a PDF viewer.

Who it is for

It suits individuals and businesses looking for free scanning software, including users who need OCR, batch scanning or scripted workflows. Developers can also use its .NET scanning library.

What is good

  • Free for individuals and businesses, with no ads or restrictions.
  • Supports flatbed and duplex feeder scanning.
  • OCR supports more than 100 languages.
  • Exports to PDF, TIFF, JPEG and PNG.
  • Offers a command-line interface and .NET library.

What to know first

  • Scanner sharing requires NAPS2 to run on the server.
  • Service-based scanner sharing is not supported.
  • OCR text cannot be saved directly to a text file.

Verdict

NAPS2 combines document scanning, page adjustments and searchable OCR across Windows, macOS and Linux, with no ads or restrictions. Note that network sharing depends on the server app staying open, and OCR text must be copied from a PDF rather than exported directly to a text file.

NAPS2 plans and pricing

All plans
Free Free Free for individuals and businesses · no ads or restrictions naps2.com · 29 Sept 2026

Compared on photo scanning software

Free plan
Yes
Scanner support
Yes
Batch scanning
Yes
Searchable PDF
Yes
Export formats
PDF, TIFF, JPEG, PNG

Best NAPS2 alternatives

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Two bars FilmLab Free tier No. 1$5/mo6.7 Two bars Nostalgia Free tier No. 2$6.67/mo6.6 Two bars Brother iPrint&Scan Free tier No. 3Free6.5 Two bars Google Photos Free tier No. 4$1.99/mo6.5 Two bars MyHeritage Mobile App Free tier No. 5Free6.5 One bar GNOME Document Scanner Free tier No. 7Free6.3