Our verdict: NAPS2 is the simplest free way to turn paper into searchable PDFs on Windows. It works with almost any WIA or TWAIN scanner, handles document feeders and duplex, and adds OCR. It is a scanning tool, not a PDF editor.
About NAPS2
NAPS2 (Not Another PDF Scanner) is free and open-source scanning software under the GNU GPL v2. It talks to scanners from Canon, Brother, HP, Epson, Fujitsu and others through WIA or TWAIN drivers, so you can pick whichever works better for your device, and set DPI, page size and bit depth.
Scanned pages can be reordered by drag and drop, rotated, deskewed, cropped or adjusted for brightness and contrast before you save them as PDF, TIFF, JPEG or PNG. OCR makes PDFs searchable in over 100 languages. NAPS2 can also share a scanner with other computers on the local network and has a command-line interface for automation.
What it does well
- WIA and TWAIN. Choose the driver that works best with your scanner, including flatbed, ADF and duplex scanning.
- OCR in 100+ languages. Adds a searchable text layer to scanned PDFs.
- Page tools. Reorder, rotate, deskew, crop and interleave pages for manual duplex scanning.
- Network scanner sharing. Use a scanner connected to another computer on your local network.
- Command line and MSI. CLI for scripted scanning and an MSI installer for group policy deployment.
Who it is for
Good fit
Home and office users who want to scan documents to searchable PDFs without the scanner maker's bundled software.
Look elsewhere
People who need to edit text or fill forms in existing PDFs.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free and open source, no ads
- Works with most scanners via WIA or TWAIN
- OCR for searchable PDFs
- Portable and MSI versions available
Cons
- No PDF editing beyond page order and basic image fixes
- Plain interface with many options in nested dialogs
How to install NAPS2
Download the Windows x64 installer from the official download page; an MSI and a portable ZIP are also offered. On first start, create a profile for your scanner and try both WIA and TWAIN if one of them misbehaves. OCR language packs are downloaded from inside the app when you first enable OCR.
Questions about NAPS2
Is NAPS2 free?
Yes. NAPS2 is free and open source under the GNU GPL v2 with no paid edition.
Does NAPS2 work with my scanner?
It works with scanners that have WIA or TWAIN drivers, which covers most devices from Canon, Brother, HP, Epson and Fujitsu.
Can NAPS2 make searchable PDFs?
Yes. Turn on OCR and NAPS2 adds a text layer to the PDF in over 100 languages.
