# Extract text from images and scanned PDFs with OCR

**Use case:** 

Extract text, line by line with confidence, from image or PDF links. Each row has the page, the recognized text, per-line confidence and the method used. Replace the URL with your own images or PDFs.

## Input

```json
{
  "urls": [
    "https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/11/pg11.cover.medium.jpg"
  ],
  "languages": [
    "eng"
  ],
  "outputMode": "lines",
  "maxPagesPerPdf": 20,
  "forceOcr": false,
  "onlyNew": false,
  "monitorId": "default",
  "datasetMaxItems": 1000
}
```

## Output

```json
{
  "sourceUrl": {
    "label": "Source URL",
    "format": "link"
  },
  "page": {
    "label": "Page",
    "format": "number"
  },
  "text": {
    "label": "Text",
    "format": "text"
  },
  "meanConfidence": {
    "label": "Mean confidence",
    "format": "number"
  },
  "method": {
    "label": "Method",
    "format": "text"
  },
  "width": {
    "label": "Width",
    "format": "number"
  },
  "height": {
    "label": "Height",
    "format": "number"
  }
}
```

## How it works

### 1. Sign up on Apify or log in

The Image to Text OCR - Scanned PDF OCR, $2/1k Pages, Per Line Actor is ready to run with the inputs already set for "Extract text from images and scanned PDFs with OCR". [Sign up or log in](https://console.apify.com/create-task-from-example/OUAkJcIM2bXTUjFQP) and you'll land in Apify Console with a copy of this exact task.

### 2. Start the "Extract text from images and scanned PDFs with OCR" task

The Image to Text OCR - Scanned PDF OCR, $2/1k Pages, Per Line Actor will start running based on the input automatically. You can also change all the input fields, like image and pdf urls, OCR languages, and more, to match your specific use case.

### 3. Receive the "Extract text from images and scanned PDFs with OCR" output

Monitor the progress in real time. You will be notified as soon as your dataset is complete and ready for review. Each result includes data such as source url, page, text, and more.

### 4. Integrate into your workflow

The final output is delivered in JSON, CSV, or Excel format, ready to be plugged into your workflow. You can also [run the "Extract text from images and scanned PDFs with OCR" task via API](https://apify.com/martin10291/image-pdf-ocr.md).

## FAQ

### How much does a run cost?

You pay per result: $0.002 per result on the Free plan (about $2.00 per 1,000). Paid Apify plans get lower tiered prices.

### What can I change in the input?

Edit urls, languages, outputMode, maxPagesPerPdf and forceOcr.

### Can I run it on a schedule and get only new items?

Yes. Add this task to an Apify Schedule and use onlyNew: later runs return only what was not reported before. The first run returns everything. Keep the same Monitor ID for each watch list.

## About this Actor

This example demonstrates how to use [Image to Text OCR - Scanned PDF OCR, $2/1k Pages, Per Line](https://apify.com/martin10291/image-pdf-ocr.md) with a specific input configuration. Visit the [Actor detail page](https://apify.com/martin10291/image-pdf-ocr.md) to learn more, explore other use cases, and run it yourself.


## How to integrate an Actor?

This Task's input is already configured above. Use it as-is rather than inventing a new one.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For full API examples (JavaScript, Python, CLI, MCP, OpenAPI), see this Task's Actor page: https://apify.com/martin10291/image-pdf-ocr.md

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).