ABBYY Screenshot Reader review
A Windows OCR tool for turning screen content into editable files.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
ABBYY Screenshot Reader is a Windows desktop application for capturing selected areas of the screen and converting visible text or tables into editable content. It is aimed at individuals and organizations that regularly reuse information from images, webpages, presentations, PDFs, and other on-screen sources. The workflow centers on selecting part of the screen, recognizing its contents, and copying or exporting the result instead of retyping it manually. It can also save captured screenshots as JPEG, PNG, or BMP images.
The published offering is a single paid plan named Screenshot Reader. It includes screen-area capture, OCR for text and tables, and exports to editable document formats. A 15-day full-function trial is available, while the license is perpetual. Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel are the clearest ecosystem fits, and recognized content can also be copied to the clipboard or inserted into documents. Export options cover DOC, XLS, TXT, RTF, CSV, and ODT, giving the product useful flexibility for document and spreadsheet work.
Its strongest distinction is recognition breadth: ABBYY Screenshot Reader supports more than 180 recognition languages and can extract tables into editable spreadsheet content. That makes it a practical choice for repeated OCR tasks across varied source types, especially when screen capture is the starting point. It is less suitable for teams seeking a broader automation platform, AI features, or support beyond Windows desktop use. Choose it when high-volume capture and OCR are the priority; consider another tool when cross-platform access or wider workflow capabilities matter more.
ABBYY Screenshot Reader pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Recognizes text and tables from screen areas, images, webpages, and PDFs
- Supports more than 180 recognition languages
- Exports content to DOC, XLS, TXT, RTF, CSV, and ODT
- Where it doesn't
- Windows-only desktop application
- No free plan
- Focused on screen capture and OCR rather than broader workflows
ABBYY Screenshot Reader fact sheet, pricing and score →
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