The Best Open Source Microsoft Lens AlternativesTop Document Scanners and other similar apps like Microsoft Lens

The best open source alternative to Microsoft Lens is GImageReader. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Microsoft Lens and 15 is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to Microsoft Lens are Crow Translate, OpenScan, Open Note Scanner and NormCap.

Microsoft Lens alternatives are mainly Document Scanners but may also be Screenshot Capture Tools or Image Scanners. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Microsoft Lens.

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Android + Scan to PDF

Microsoft Lens

Free • Proprietary
Document Scanner

Microsoft Lens trims, enhances, and makes pictures of whiteboards and docs readable. You can use Office Lens to convert...

More about Microsoft Lens

Microsoft Lens alternatives page was last updated

GImageReader
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Screenshot Capture Tool
Windows
Linux
71 GImageReader alternatives
gImageReader is a simple Gtk/Qt front-end to the Tesseract OCR Engine.
- - GImageReader is the most popular Linux alternative to Microsoft Lens.
- - GImageReader is the most popular Open Source alternative to Microsoft Lens.
Suggest and vote on features
GImageReader Features
1. OCRExtract the text from a screen capture or file and paste it into another document for edits.
2. Annotate ScreenshotEdit and annotate a screenshot with various editing tools and options.
Image to text
PDF OCR
Opinions about GImageReader as a Alternative to Microsoft Lens
This alternative is disputed. GImageReader is still a legitimate Microsoft Lens alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.
Crow Translate
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Translator
Windows
Linux
Flathub
59 Crow Translate alternatives
Crow Translate is a simple and lightweight translator programmed in C++ / Qt that allows to translate and speak text using Google, Yandex and Bing translate API.
Suggest and vote on features
Crow Translate Features
1. OCRExtract the text from a screen capture or file and paste it into another document for edits.
2. Ad-freeCrow Translate doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
3. No TrackingCrow Translate will not track you or use your personal data.
4. Works OfflineCrow Translate can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
5. Privacy focusedCrow Translate is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
Online translation
Real-time translation
Sits in the System Tray
Desktop Application
OpenScan
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Document Scanner
Image Scanner
Android
101 OpenScan alternatives
OpenScan is an open source app that enables users to scan hardcopies of documents or notes and convert it to PDF or JPEG files. Its motto is "No ads. No data collection. We respect your privacy.".
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OpenScan Features
1. Privacy focusedOpenScan is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
2. Ad-freeOpenScan doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
3. Sign PDF filesOpenScan support signing a PDF document digitally on a touch screen etc.
4. Built-in viewerOpenScan shows you a quick preview of an image, page or file in supported formats.
5. Works OfflineOpenScan can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
6. Fill PDF FormsOpenScan supports forms in PDF files.
7. Mobile ScannerOpenScan can use your mobile camera to quickly scan documents and photos.
8. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in OpenScan without registration.
Photo scan
Scanner
Discontinued
Not under active development.https://github.com/ethereal-developers/OpenScan#psa
Open Note Scanner
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Document Scanner
Android
Android Tablet
F-Droid
43 Open Note Scanner alternatives
This little application provides a way on scanning handwritten notes and printed documents.
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Open Note Scanner Features
1. Mobile ScannerOpen Note Scanner can use your mobile camera to quickly scan documents and photos.
Scanner
Scan to PDF
Smart auto-align
Content Templates
Discontinued
Not updated in 3 years. Google Play store says not compatible with current OS, and if you download from F-Droid it asks you to direct download another app to use it, which is not on Google Play or F-Droid.

Comments about Open Note Scanner as a Alternative to Microsoft Lens
This alternative is disputed. Open Note Scanner is still a legitimate Microsoft Lens alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.
Guest
Doesn't crash, easy install, easy to use, free, no ads.
Positive comment •
-1
NormCap
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Screenshot Capture Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
48 NormCap alternatives
OCR powered screen-capture tool to capture information instead of images.
Suggest and vote on features
NormCap Features
1. OCRExtract the text from a screen capture or file and paste it into another document for edits.
2. Support for Multiple MonitorsNormCap supports the use of multiple displays.
3. PortableNormCap can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Cross-Platform
Screenshot OCR
High-dpi support
Image to text
Capture2text
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Screenshot Capture Tool
Windows
47 Capture2text alternatives
Capture2Text enables users to quickly OCR a portion of the screen using a keyboard shortcut.
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Capture2text Features
1. OCRExtract the text from a screen capture or file and paste it into another document for edits.
2. PortableCapture2text can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Built-in Screen Capture
Global hotkey
Screenshot OCR
dpScreenOCR
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Document Scanner
Screenshot Capture Tool
Windows
Linux
BSD
38 dpScreenOCR alternatives
Program to recognize text on screen.
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dpScreenOCR Features
1. OCRExtract the text from a screen capture or file and paste it into another document for edits.
2. LightweightdpScreenOCR consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
3. Works OfflinedpScreenOCR can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
Screenshot OCR
Text Grab
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Screenshot Capture Tool
Windows
53 Text Grab alternatives
Text Grab is a minimal optical character recognition (OCR) utility for Windows 10/11 which makes all visible text available to be copied.
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Text Grab Features
1. OCRExtract the text from a screen capture or file and paste it into another document for edits.
Screenshot OCR
PDF Doc Scan
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Document Scanner
Image Scanner
Android
F-Droid
61 PDF Doc Scan alternatives
Main point of this app is to scan or select existing PDF documents simply using intent or chooser. Other apps require payment to access their api/sdk or simply don't have a possible way to do it. So they rely on switching between an app ,file chooser and a scanner.
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PDF Doc Scan Features
1. Ad-freePDF Doc Scan doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
2. Mobile ScannerPDF Doc Scan can use your mobile camera to quickly scan documents and photos.
3. Built-in viewerPDF Doc Scan shows you a quick preview of an image, page or file in supported formats.
Scanner
Text Fairy
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Open Source
Document Scanner
Android
Android Tablet
43 Text Fairy alternatives
Convert your phone into a mobile text scanner.

• Free • Extract text from images. • Edit, share, or export as PDF • Works offline to protect your privacy. • Reads text out loud. (Text-to-speech, TTS) • Recognizes printed text from more than 110 languages. • Scan documents with t.
Suggest and vote on features
Text Fairy Features
1. Mobile ScannerText Fairy can use your mobile camera to quickly scan documents and photos.
2. Works OfflineText Fairy can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
3. OCRExtract the text from a screen capture or file and paste it into another document for edits.
4. Text to SpeechText Fairy allows you to transform written text into spoken text.
Scan to PDF
Multiple languages
Screenshot OCR
Frog - Extract Text
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Linux
Flathub
Flatpak
elementary OS
42 Frog - Extract Text alternatives
Quickly extract text from almost any source: youtube, screencasts, PDFs, webpages, photos, etc. Grab the image and get the text.
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Frog - Extract Text Features
1. Dark ModeFrog - Extract Text supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
2. LightweightFrog - Extract Text consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
Docus
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Document Scanner
Android
39 Docus alternatives
The app that allows scanning and organizing documents. Including export in PDF and sharing with others. Completely free.
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Docus Features
1. Mobile ScannerDocus can use your mobile camera to quickly scan documents and photos.
Scanner
Scan to PDF
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