ScanMole

Free plan APILinux

What ScanMole is

ScanMole turns office and archival paperwork into searchable PDFs on Linux. It offers a command-line scanning engine and a GTK4/libadwaita desktop frontend, with batch duplex scanning, blank-page removal, OCR, automatic page sizing, deskewing and PDF/A output by default. It detects page sizes, crops pages and can straighten skewed scans. The CLI includes filename templates, defined exit codes and a versioned JSON event protocol for frontends or other integrations. It works with scanners supported by SANE, including driverless eSCL devices through sane-airscan; the project lists tested models from Brother, Canon, Epson and ScanSnap. ScanMole is free and licensed under GNU GPL version 3.0 or later. It requires Python 3.12 or later and relies on distribution-provided tools including SANE, img2pdf, ocrmypdf and Tesseract. Installation is documented for Debian 13 or later, Ubuntu 24.04 or later and Fedora. The tool is aimed at everyday paperwork, not photo or image scanning. On the tested ScanSnap iX100, duplex requests scan only the front side and produce a warning.

Who it suits

ScanMole suits Linux users digitizing office or archival paperwork, including people who want to use a desktop interface or automate scanning through the CLI. It is not aimed at photo or image scanning.

What it does well

Creates searchable PDFs with OCR.
Supports batch duplex scanning and blank-page removal.
Produces PDF/A output by default.
CLI offers filename templates and a versioned JSON event protocol.
Works with SANE-supported scanners, including driverless eSCL devices.

What to know first

Requires Python 3.12 or later.
Installation support starts at Debian 13 and Ubuntu 24.04.
ScanSnap iX100 duplex requests scan only the front side.

Limits

ScanMole requires Python 3.12 or later. On the tested ScanSnap iX100, duplex requests scan only the front side and produce a warning.

Getting started

Use a Linux system with Python 3.12 or later.
Follow the installation instructions for Debian 13+, Ubuntu 24.04+, or Fedora.
Install the CLI alone for server or scripting use, or use the GTK4/libadwaita desktop frontend.
Connect a scanner supported by SANE; driverless eSCL devices can use sane-airscan.
Run a scan and use OCR to produce searchable PDF or PDF/A output.

Verdict

ScanMole combines desktop and command-line scanning for Linux paperwork workflows, with OCR and PDF/A output. Check its Linux and Python requirements, and note the documented duplex limitation on the tested ScanSnap iX100.

Questions

Is ScanMole free?

Yes. It is listed as free and licensed under GNU GPL version 3.0 or later.

Which platforms does it support?

ScanMole supports Linux, with installation support documented for Debian 13 or later and Ubuntu 24.04 or later, plus Fedora instructions.

Does ScanMole create searchable PDFs?

Yes. It supports OCR and searchable PDF output, and PDF/A is the default output.

Which scanners work with ScanMole?

It works with scanners supported by SANE, including driverless eSCL devices through sane-airscan. The project lists tested devices from Brother, Canon, Epson, and ScanSnap.

Does it have a command-line interface?

Yes. It includes a CLI scanning engine and a GTK4/libadwaita desktop frontend; the CLI can be installed alone for server or scripting use.

What is the ScanSnap iX100 limitation?

On the tested ScanSnap iX100, duplex requests scan only the front side and produce a warning.

Facts from ScanMole's own pages

Automation: The CLI provides defined exit codes, filename templates, and a versioned JSON event protocol. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
CLI and GUI: It includes a command-line scanning engine and a GTK4/libadwaita desktop frontend. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
Dependencies: ScanMole requires Python 3.12 or later and relies on distribution-provided tools including SANE, img2pdf, ocrmypdf and Tesseract. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
Installation requirements: ScanMole requires Python 3.12 or later and documents supported installation on Debian 13+, Ubuntu 24.04+, and Fedora. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
Integrations: The documented scanning and OCR toolchain includes SANE, img2pdf, ocrmypdf, and Tesseract. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
Intended use: The project is aimed at everyday office and archival paperwork rather than photo or image scanning. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
Intended users: The CLI can be installed alone for server or scripting use, while the GUI is intended for desktop use. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
Interfaces: ScanMole is available as a command-line scanning engine and a GTK4/libadwaita desktop frontend. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
Known device limitation: On the tested ScanSnap iX100, duplex requests scan only the front side and produce a warning. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
License: The project states that it is licensed under GNU GPL version 3.0 or later. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
Linux requirements: The project supports Debian 13 or later and Ubuntu 24.04 or later, and lists Fedora installation instructions. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
Maker: The repository says ScanMole was created and is maintained by foundata; its copyright notice names foundata GmbH. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
Page handling: It detects page sizes, crops pages, and can straighten skewed scans. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
Purpose: ScanMole scans office and archival paperwork into searchable PDFs and is designed for documents rather than photo or image scanning. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
Scanner compatibility: It works with scanners supported by SANE, including driverless eSCL devices through sane-airscan. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
Scanner support: ScanMole works with scanners supported by SANE, including driverless eSCL devices through sane-airscan. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
Scanning features: Its defaults support duplex batch scanning, blank-page removal, OCR text, and PDF/A output. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
Support: The project directs users to its contributing guide to report scanner problems and device quirks. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
Verified devices: The project lists tested devices from Brother, Canon, Epson and ScanSnap, including feeder and flatbed models. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026

Where ScanMole stands on Freedom251

Document Scanning Software#11 of 26