# TextGrabber scan and translate — user reviews > 51 indexed App Store user reviews of TextGrabber scan and translate by ABBYY USA Software House Inc, rated 4.54/5 from 5,535 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/textgrabber-scan-and-translate/id438475005/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/textgrabber-scan-and-translate/id438475005.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 4,387 · 4★ 522 · 3★ 195 · 2★ 92 · 1★ 339 ## What do users think of TextGrabber scan and translate? Overall sentiment: neutral **Pros** - 🚀 Efficient text recognition - 👍 Easy to use - 💡 Saves time - 🚀 Accurate OCR - 👍 Intuitive interface **Cons** - 🐛 Inconsistent performance - 🔒 Privacy concerns - 💰 Expensive subscription - 🐛 Unreliable language detection - 🐛 Formatting issues **Commonly reported bugs** - Fails to detect text in some images - Crashes when trying to export text - Incorrect character recognition (e.g. 'l' to '/') **Most requested features** - Ability to copy/share full text scans - Support for more languages - Option to disable ads/in-app purchases - Improved image correction for curved/distorted text ## Newest reviews (11 of 51) ### 5/5 — Great Text Recognition app *2019-10-07, version 6.13* If you want a great application to capture text, whether it’s from a book, a document, or an article in a magazine, etc. this is the go-to app I would recommend. It’s not perfect - some text is incorrectly recognized, however, that is usually the fault of the lighting of the document being scanned. If you evenly light the image that you’re scanning before doing a scan you’ll have great results, although a couple of words may be incorrectly recognized. Minor effort is required to edit them before saving the documents or emailing them. My only gripe is that when combining multiple scanned pages, they are combined in a non-intuitive order. It would be nice if you could somehow number each page that was scanned in the order that you want them combined. Maybe this could be fixed in a future release! **Developer response:** Thank you for your feedback. We sincerely want to fix the situation that you encounter in the application. Please specify the situation in more details and write us a letter to mobile_support@abbyy.com. Have a nice day, **ABBYY Support Team** | support.abbyy.com ### 5/5 — Works very well! *2019-09-28, version 6.13* I’ve used this app for a long while and I’ve been quiet about it, because it WORKS! Even when I give it a grainy pic. Recently took the iOS13 upgrade and was kindly asked to rate it. Sorry for waiting so long but rest assured I have recommended the app to many of my colleagues and friends over the years, primarily in the technical field. Hopefully they will add to the accolades and review it ALLSTARS as well. Keep up the good works. Btw: When a file export or save fails in other apps. I say “screw it” I got TextGrabber and they get the NOStars. **Developer response:** Thanks a lot for your feedback and rating us high! We will do everything in our power to deliver an even better customer experience. Have a nice day, **ABBYY Support Team** | support.abbyy.com ### 5/5 — Yayay! Time saver!! *2019-07-19, version 6.12.2* Love it, it’s great. If it’s a good picture it always gets the text right. Even if it’s a bad picture, blurry, skewed, edited I. Some weird way. It’ll get the just of the Text and only leave you with a few spots to fill in. 10/10 would recommend ### 5/5 — The best OCR app  App Store has to offer! *2019-06-26, version 6.12.2* Top notch OCR app, that has been on my device(s) for nearly 10 years. Nothing I have used compares to this apps accuracy, simplicity, and overall function. Download this app, and never have to install another "OCR" app again. ### 5/5 — Most used accessory app *2019-02-23, version 6.12.1* For years, TextGrabber has been my most-often-used app other than email, browser, texting, camera, etc. Virtually all my notes are courtesy TextGrabber, and I can't imagine living productively without TextGrabber. ### 5/5 — Very Useful App *2018-11-29, version 6.2* I give this app 5 stars because I’m a study of The Bible, it helps me by saving me a lot of typing. I take a screenshot of the Sermon PDF transcript and use this app to copy to my notepad on my iPhone and then transport the PDF to my iPad to see on a bigger screen. ### 5/5 — Extremely useful *2018-10-16, version 6.10* It would be great if we could merge the text from history or share it as a whole i said. Now sharing capabilities is great. And accuracy is quite high. Thank you very much indeed. ### 5/5 — Finally *2018-10-08, version 6.10* So many scanner apps promise test digitalization or OCR, yet when it comes to it, a simple extracting of a telephone number from the bank transaction (charge description) becomes more work and steps than one would care to perform or remember. This app takes care of that and even remembers the results, without the need to bother with saving files. Ability to specify this app as a target for sharing in the helper menu is a key feature, not to minimize how well the app is made to handle all various OCR situations and text translation to/from 100 languages, even language detection, which is major, when you really need it, like to translate a message in a global chat. Best app. **Developer response:** Thanks a lot! We're glad that you like the app. Have a nice day :) Regards, ABBYY Mobile ### 4/5 — Very bad usability *2018-10-07, version 6.10* The OCR technology is good. But software is more than technology, snd this is where this software falls short. It is difficult to get it to work. For instance, how do you export a whole scan to evernote? Who even knows? It exports a random excerpt? And why is translation always offered as the most prominent next step? And once you figure out how it is supposed to work they change it around so you have to relearn it. ABBYY desperately needs design help. **Developer response:** Thanks a lot for a review, we'll consider your notes for future development plans. Stay tuned! Regards, ABBYY Mobile ### 5/5 — Great + one suggestion *2018-08-20, version 6.8.6* Very handy. Text recognition is good/excellent My suggestion: It doesn't correct parallax of a scanned page. If you take the picture of a book there will be a distortion due to the page curve. It seems this causes issues with the OCR. Since we know that a lign should be straight, the software should be able to correct the parallax and correct distortion at the beginning and end of the lines. This, I assume, would improve the OCR of the scanned page. Anyway, great app **Developer response:** Thank you for your feedback and suggestion! We have forwarded it to our research and development department. Have a nice day! ABBYY Support Team https://support.abbyy.com/ ### 3/5 — More subscription options please *2018-06-09, version 6.8.3* App works fine despite occasional flaws of garbage characters possibly due to small text or insufficient lighting condition. However I do hope the developer will add more subscription options such as annually or lifetime in a more affordable deal for those who'd like to keep it on continual basis. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Inferior to OCR built into photos, spamware *2023-03-14* Baffled by the positive reviews here. The OCR in Text Grabber is barely adequate, and changes to the privacy policy are suspicious. First, just take a photo with your phone on iOS 16 and tap the icon bottom left to capture OCR text more reliably than this app. Second, this would still be an okay app as an alternative to iOS native OCR… if it weren’t so privacy invasive. The app doesn’t need it to run, but will beg for your email, permission to send data to third party advertising partners, permission to access all photos (which also provides the geolocation history of every photo you took). Hard pass. ### 1/5 — Load of ads, can't copy text *2022-02-07, version 6.13.17* What a load of crap. I think I bought this years ago on iOS (I can't tell, since the appstore doesn't show prices once purchased). I used to be able to at LEAST copy text but their "..." and copy icon (That's documented on their website!) only brings up some STUPID "please pay us $9.99 every month" screen. I loved Abbyy on the PC but the stupid subscription app stuff has to stop! ### 1/5 — Blown away by the good reviews! *2021-09-28, version 6.13.14* Horrible. Tried several trials with and without graphics in the background, and either didn't even detect the language, in which it didn't even try to attempt OCR. Or on the rare occasion would try but would totally foul up the sentences and words. Best stick to the free Google Translate app which works brilliant in comparison to this one with real time video translate, or pictures that have already been taken in your Photos app as well. It easily picks up Cyrillic and other languages. ABBY just gouges. Good luck to the developer. Perhaps use some of the better open source OCR software available and add useful features that other apps don't already have. **Developer response:** Please try different OCR mode - Real Time or Photo. The app can recognize only the printed text. It is necessary to have good lighting and try to keep your hands still while you take pictures! More advice find here bit.ly/tg-advice. If you are still not satisfied with the app, please contact us at mobile_support@abbyy.com. Regards, **ABBYY Customer Support** **ABBYY Help Center:** Search Knowledge Base | Submit request | Discuss in community | University ### 1/5 — Can’t even use the app. *2020-01-24, version 6.13.5* I used up my 3 free tries doesn’t let me purchase one month. I deleted and redownloaded it get 3 more free tries still can’t buy premium. Says it’s not in correct format or something. Finally found a app to make my work easier but I have to delete and redownoald every 3 tries to even use it? Ruins the convenience for me. If only they had an option to pay them for this service. Back to looking for more apps. ### 1/5 — Not what I was looking for... *2018-10-04, version 6.10* All I want is an app that will convert text from an existing photo into digital text that I can format the way I wish, without a scanner, multiple languages, etc. I want something simple and unsophisticated. This app is anything but. It is complicated, no home screen, forces you to select languages, but does not allow you to select English only. Can someone out there suggest an app that more closely corresponds to the simple app that I desire? ### 2/5 — Barely even works *2020-03-26, version 6.13.9* Every time I scanned a pic, the app would keep on saying stuff like “Unknown Language.” I tried at least 10 times, and all 10 of them failed! Though, I like your attempt, and that’s why it’s not 1 star. I changed my brightness and everything, and it would still not work! I tried both ways, and none of them actually worked. The closest translation I got was when I scanned it regularly. But 5 trys later, I have to pay for it! Yay. ### 2/5 — Only the Fox Wants Monthly Access to the Chickenhouse *2020-02-23, version 6.13.7* Where is the $2.99 or $3.99 option for this app? Only a THIEF wants monthly payments. That’s what the government does to people. That’s the kind of racket that made the mafia so successful. That’s what credit card companies do to people. That’s what ANY credit driven, money hungry business tries to do. And that’s what the corporate fox is always trying to do to customer’s henhouse - CREATE A BUSINESS MODEL THAT DEMANDS MONTHLY PAYMENTS INTO PERPETUITY. 1 Timothy 6:9-10 KJV 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root [rhiza - the TAPROOT ... the well established root system] of all evil [kakos]: WHICH WHILE SOME COVETED AFTER, they have erred from the faith, AND PIERCED THEMSELVES THROUGH WITH MANY SORROWS. ### 2/5 — Needs work and improvements *2018-01-19, version 6.5* Such high ratings for an app that constantly either not doing what it’s suppose to. OCR feature need work more text recognition...I could really do without all those symbol @&$”#%*€£¥> when it’s done scanning. It is annoying, very annoying. The paid finish product is very disappointing. Also, I’d like the developer to include Lao and Thai language in the translation feature. If I had known that Thai and Lao language translation was not included, I would not had bought it because it’s practically useless to me. How do I request for a refund in that regard? Edit: I just check again, there is no Thai or Lao language option for the translation feature? If there is it certainly isn’t on mine. How do I get it? **Developer response:** Dear Sam Winston Hawk, thank you for your review. Full text translation includes Lao and Thai languages. Please, check again list of translation languages! As for OCR quality, we are constantly working on it, stay tuned. In any case you can request a refund via Apple support. Best regards, ABBYY Mobile ### 3/5 — It’s nice but overkill for some users *2022-05-18, version 6.13.18* It’s pretty disappointing that if you want to use it as a simple text to speech app and just use it as a translator occasionally... you can’t. It will never just read the text in it’s original language. It will give you an error message that it must be translated into another language. I got this because I already read a lot and wanted to give myself a break. But alas, it won’t read English to English, etc. **Developer response:** Thank you for your feedback. We would be glad to make your routine with the application better. Please specify the issue in more detail and write us a letter to mobile_support@abbyy.com. ABBYY Customer Support ### 3/5 — Who knows what the rent actually is? *2022-04-10, version 6.13.18* I had a very simple thing to scan but not even translate and it worked great. There was a little glitch with the letter "u" (which nowhere spells the word "you" unless you want your [please, don't grunt "ur"]writing to appear to be regressing toward primitive humanity) but that's common with photo to text apps. I have no idea what the rent actually is … I don't know why developers think we enjoy being screwed by them and not even being clear what it will cost. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Great application!! *2022-08-31, version 6.13.20* I love this app I have been using it for several years now. It really save me a lot of time whenever I have to write something up. I highly recommend it. ### 5/5 — Love to Use! *2022-06-12, version 6.13.19* I love how easy this app makes it to have text that I would need to type in and instead it types it for me! Very easy go use and it’s my go to for capturing text. Thanks for making my copying and pasting life easier. ### 5/5 — Works *2022-01-18, version 6.13.17* Would be helpful if after taking a screenshot and sending straight from that screen to textgrabber didn’t require a tap on the photos album from within textgrabber to show up. ### 5/5 — Amazing ! *2021-12-29, version 6.13.17* TextGrabber is amazing. I can aim it at a page and capture the text instantly with near perfect OCR. I can then send the text in a message to share the document or keep it for my use in writing. ### 5/5 — Great app, but recently… *2021-11-08, version 6.13.15* Love this app. But there are a couple of things… 1. About two weeks ago, the feature of scanning an image directly from Photo quit working. Now I must go to the app first, get rid of the startup screen which informs me that I can go to Photo and share, and pull the image into the app that way. 2. Would be nice to have Spanish from Latin America language, not just Spanish from Spain. **Developer response:** Thank you for your feedback. We sincerely want to fix the situation that you encounter in the application. Please specify the situation in more detail and write us an email to mobile_support@abbyy.com. Have a nice day, **ABBYY Customer Support** **ABBYY Help Center:** Search Knowledge Base | Submit request | Discuss in community | University ### 5/5 — Great App and easy to use *2021-01-10, version 6.13.11* I use this app almost every single day to extract text from screen shot. I need to complain that the discount offer I saw on screen can not come through every time I clicked on. ### 5/5 — Intuitive, accurate, simple *2021-01-09, version 6.13.11* I had hundreds of screen caps of texts that needed transcribing. Absolutely thrilled with the functionality and ease of use of this app. Definitely worth the small sub fee. To the devs - thanks for saving me from a ton of work! ### 5/5 — Best and simplest app for text recognition *2020-02-21, version 6.13.7* I’ve tried quite a few text recognition apps and I must say TextGrabber is the best. It’s so simple and elegant and gets 99% of the things right. The remaining 1%? Did you hold the page just wrong, or with a bend on the book page? Or perhaps with just enough low light? I’ve made all those mistakes and when I fix them, the app gives me a 100% perfect OCR. ### 5/5 — Have only used for taking print from books *2020-01-27, version 6.13.5* I need it to take notes from books, not translate, and it works very well for that. Don't try to do the whole page at once... thirds or half work best. It's fast, requires a few corrections, but I'm studying so am willing to re-read and correct. Very satisfied. Months later: Now it's been "improved" and nothing works! Absolutely frustrating! **Developer response:** Please specify your request in more detail and write us a letter to mobile_support@abbyy.com. **ABBYY Support Team** | support.abbyy.com ### 5/5 — So far so good *2019-12-16, version 6.13.3* I’m testing the app and it’s pretty accurate for recognizing English, which I really need it at this moment. However, there are a few things that doesn’t accurately. First, the app couldn’t recognize the words lie on the distortion of the photo during the photo taking process. Second, online translation into Vietnamse which has 20% vocabulary that could not be translated, and the translation is pretty wild (not smooth translation). Please take a look into those points. But in general, I am much appreciated how it works right now. **Developer response:** Thank you for the positive feedback! Please try different OCR mode - Real Time or Photo. App can recognize only printed text. It is necessary to have good lightening and try to keep your hands still while you take pictures! More advice find here bit.ly/tg-advice. If you are still not satisfied with the app, please contact us at mobile_support@abbyy.com. Regards, **ABBYY Support Team** | support.abbyy.com --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*