You pause a video to copy a sentence. Open a screenshot with a useful quote. Find a scanned PDF that won’t let you select its text.
A Mac OCR app turns those words into text you can use. Choosing one becomes easier when you consider what happens after you copy.
TextSniper suits focused text capture. OwlOCR offers document processing tools. Cracker connects screen text capture with translation and language learning.
Published by Cracker. This comparison uses the apps’ officially documented features.
A quick comparison
Scroll the table sideways to compare.
| What matters | TextSniper | OwlOCR | CrackerCopy → Translate → Learn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Copying text from the screen | OCR for images, scans, and PDFs | Capturing, translating, and understanding screen text |
| Free core OCR | Paid license model | Yes | Yes |
| Standout tools | Text to speech, QR and barcode recognition | Searchable PDFs; batch processing and CLI in Pro | Translation and explanations of vocabulary, grammar, and nuance |
| Working with past text | Additive Clipboard combines captures | Document review and export workflows | Pro keeps searchable text history for reuse |
| Pricing | $7.99 for one Mac | Free Core; Pro $19.99/year or $49.99 for the purchased version | Free core features; Pro $3/month, $15/year or $20 lifetime |
Prices checked October 30, 2026. Taxes and sales channels may affect the final price. TextSniper’s price follows its official license selector.
TextSniper pricing · OwlOCR licensing · Cracker pricing
TextSniper: A focused tool for copying screen text
TextSniper follows a straightforward workflow: press a shortcut, select an area, and paste the recognized text. Text to speech and QR or barcode recognition add useful options.
StrengthIt makes sense when your main task is extracting text, with an inexpensive one-time license.
TradeoffIf you regularly want translations or explanations after capture, consider how you will handle those next steps.
OwlOCR: A good fit for document-heavy work
OwlOCR handles images, scans, and PDFs alongside screen captures. Core includes basic OCR and searchable PDF export. OwlOCR Core features
Pro adds batch and multipage processing, post-processing rules, a command-line interface, and optional local AI OCR for difficult material.
StrengthIts tools suit larger document jobs and repeatable processing workflows.
TradeoffThose advanced tools are most relevant when you process files in volume. For short passages you want to translate while reading, a different workflow may be more useful.
Cracker: Copy a sentence, then understand it
Cracker starts with a familiar action. Press ⌥C, drag over text on your screen, and paste it wherever you need it.
You can then translate the same captured text or open a language study explanation without capturing it again.
That matters when a translation leaves you with questions. Why does a Japanese message use that expression? What does a phrase in an English article imply? How does the sentence fit together?
Cracker’s study tools explain meaning, vocabulary, grammar, nuance, and examples. You can save the explanation to your notes for later.
Start with free capture, translation, and study tools
Cracker’s core features are free, with no app-imposed usage count for text capture, translation, or study.
AI translation and explanations use your connected Claude or ChatGPT account. Your provider’s subscription requirements and usage limits still apply. You do not need to enter an API key.
Apple’s on-device translation is another option when you want to translate without connecting an AI account.
Keep text recognition local
Screen capture and OCR run on your Mac. Copying text does not require uploading a screenshot to an online OCR service.
When you choose AI translation or study, the relevant text is sent to your selected AI provider. Apple translation runs on-device after the required language packs are installed.
Return to useful captures
Cracker Pro keeps your text history so you can search for a previous result, copy it again, or return to its translation and study tools. Image history follows the retention setting you choose.
StrengthCracker brings capture, translation, and language explanations into one reading workflow.
TradeoffAI explanations require a supported external account. If your main job is converting batches of PDFs or producing searchable documents, OwlOCR is a better fit.
Which Mac OCR app should you choose?
- TextSniper if you mainly want to extract text and paste it elsewhere.
- OwlOCR if you work with scans, multipage PDFs, and batches of files.
- Cracker if copying text is often the beginning of understanding something: a sentence in a video, an unfamiliar phrase, or a passage in another language.
With Cracker, the text you capture can become a translation, an explanation, or a note worth keeping.
Try it with one sentence on your screen.
Copy, translate, and understand. The core features are free.
Download freemacOS 14 or later · Apple Silicon · IntelFrequently asked questions
Can I copy text from an image on Mac for free?
Yes. Cracker includes free screen OCR. Install the app, grant screen recording permission, and press ⌥C to select the text you want to copy.
Is Cracker a free TextSniper alternative?
For capturing screen text and copying it to the clipboard, Cracker is a free option. It also offers translation and language study tools. TextSniper has its own strengths, including text to speech and QR or barcode recognition.
Does Cracker work offline?
Screen OCR works offline. AI translation and study require an internet connection. Apple’s on-device translation requires macOS 15 or later and the appropriate language packs.