Is Tesseract still the best open-source OCR ?

Tristan Thommen

Last update:

April 17, 2025

5 minutes

Among the many solutions available on the market, Tesseract is often cited as one of the best open source OCR software. But is it still the best solution in 2025? We'll analyze its performance, pros, cons, and open-source OCR alternatives.

Tesseract is a top open-source OCR, but is it still best in 2025? Let’s review its pros, cons, and alternatives.

Picture of Google Tesseract OCR 2025, with the question “Best open source software?”, document icons, a loupe and a computer displaying code.

OCR (Optical Character Recognition) enables the extraction of text from images or scanned documents, making data management and analysis easier. T

To select the most suitable data extraction solution, it's crucial to assess the key features of the various tools available.

In this article, we will focus on Tesseract, exploring its strengths and limitations, and comparing it with alternative open-source solutions to help you choose the best OCR tool for your needs. What is Tesseract OCR?

What exactly is Tesseract OCR ?

Tesseract OCR is an OCR engine capable of detecting and extracting text from images, transforming them into actionable digital content.

Originally developed in the 1980s by Hewlett-Packard, the project gained new momentum when it was taken over by Google, which now handles its development and maintenance.

This free open-source solution, offered under the Apache 2.0 license, is a valuable resource for developers and businesses seeking to maximize efficiency while keeping costs under control. Moreover, thanks to its open-source nature, Tesseract can be used, modified, and distributed freely, offering maximum flexibility. This openness also allows for continuous improvements, with numerous contributions from the global developer community regularly enhancing the software with new features and performance upgrades.

The advantages of Tesseract OCR

Let's now examine some of the key advantages that Tesseract offers for optical character recognition.

Advantages	Description
Free and Open-Source	Free and open-source software.
Multilingual Support	Supports over 100 languages. (a relevant choice for multilingual or international projects)
Good Accuracy	Tesseract provides satisfactory results for common cases like extracting text from clear printed documents, making it suitable for various uses, from digitizing old documents to automating data entry.
Easy Integration	Compatible with several programming languages like Python, C++, Java, and C#.
Customization	Users can adjust various settings to tailor Tesseract to their specific needs.
Active Community	Benefits from frequent contributions and regular updates from developers using the software.
Flexible Formats	Supports various image formats.
Mobile and Cloud Adaptability	Can be used on mobile devices and cloud services.
Easy Automation	Ideal for automating text extraction.

The disadvantages of Tesseract OCR

Tesseract has some limitations that should be considered when evaluating its performance for various tasks.

Disadvantages	Description
Preprocessing Dependency	Requires careful preprocessing of images to achieve optimal results. This can reduce productivity and increase OCR processing time.
Slow for Large Volumes	Slower to process thousands of documents compared to other modern solutions.
Complex Customization	Adjusting settings and customization require a deep understanding of the tool, which can be time-consuming.
Lack of Context Understanding	Does not understand the context of the text, limiting data extraction in complex documents where meaning is important.
Works Only with Images	Works only with images, not with PDF files or other formats.
Custom Training is Difficult	Training custom models is complex and requires technical expertise.
Image Quality is Crucial	The accuracy of Tesseract depends heavily on the quality of the image and the fonts used. Blurry images or faded text can reduce extraction accuracy.
Handwriting Recognition	Performs less well with handwritten text, as it is primarily designed for printed text.
Complex User Interface	Lacks a graphical interface, and its use relies mainly on the command line, which can be difficult for non-technical users.
Language and Fonts	Performance can fluctuate with less common languages and fonts.
Complex Layouts	Struggles with documents that have complex layouts, such as multiple columns or tables.

Existing open-source OCR alternatives

Tesseract remains one of the most popular and robust open-source OCR solutions in 2025, particularly for standard text extraction applications.

However, while it performs well for simple and common tasks, its limitations with complex layouts, handwritten text recognition, and reliance on image preprocessing may lead some users to explore other alternatives.

Among the open-source OCR solutions available, several stand out for their unique features and performance, which either complement or, in some cases, surpass Tesseract for specific applications.

For example, CuneiForm excels in recognizing text from old or non-standardized documents. Meanwhile, Mistral stands out for its ability to process complex structured documents, catering to more specialized needs.

Few open-source OCR tools offer a demo version accessible directly online, as most require downloading and configuration beforehand, which can be a barrier for users wanting to test the solution quickly. However, three tools distinguish themselves by offering online demo versions, allowing users to evaluate them without installation:

New AI-based OCR solutions are bringing major advancements. With deep learning and computer vision, they better understand document structure and effectively recognize handwritten or printed text, even in complex conditions. Their integration of natural language processing allows them to extract information with precision. They also stand out for their speed, adaptability, and automated pre- and post-processing features. For complex projects or large data volumes, these technologies offer a more efficient alternative.

Thus, while Tesseract remains a relevant choice for standard needs and limited budgets, AI-based solutions are ideal for higher demands. The choice will depend on the specific priorities and needs of each user.

To go further, check out our selection of the top 10 open-source OCR software in 2025. You'll find tools that address a variety of needs and help you choose the most suitable solution for your projects.

Tristan Thommen

Co-founder at Koncile – Turn any document into structured data with LLMs – tristan@koncile.ai

Tristan Thommen designs and deploys the core technologies that transform unstructured documents into actionable data. He combines AI, OCR, and business logic to make life easier for operational teams.