01
Select only what matters
Draw a capture around a paragraph, receipt, slide, error message, or any other text visible on your display.
Screenshot OCR for macOS
Copy text from any screenshot on your Mac
When text is trapped in a video, image, presentation, or app, select that part of the screen and run OCR. OwlOCR uses Apple Vision on-device, then gives you recognized text to copy, check, and edit.
Requires macOS 13.3+. Core is free. Direct-download Pro is $19.99/year or $49.99 lifetime; purchase in app.
Why OwlOCR
Skip the retyping when text is visible but not selectable
Screen OCR turns a region you can see into text you can actually use.
02
Copy and clean up the result
Move recognized text to the clipboard or review it in OwlOCR before using it in another app.
03
Recognize text on-device
Apple Vision processes the capture locally on your Mac rather than sending the screenshot to an online OCR service.
Workflow
Capture screen text in three steps
Grant macOS permission once, then keep OCR close by for the moments when copy and paste cannot help.
- 1
Allow Screen Recording
macOS requires Screen Recording permission before OwlOCR can capture an area of your display.
- 2
Select a screen region
Start a single screen capture and drag around the exact text you want to recognize.
- 3
Use the recognized text
Copy the result, edit it, or keep working in OwlOCR without manually retyping the source.
Core and Pro
Start with one capture, expand when the work repeats
The free path covers quick screen lookups; Pro is designed for larger and more automated capture sessions.
Core for single screenshots
The free Core tier suits a single screenshot or the current page, making it a useful starting point for occasional OCR.
Pro for 3 or more captures
Pro adds multi-screenshot capture for sessions with 3 or more screenshots, plus OCR All and batch workflows.
More ways to handle hard or repeated jobs
Pro also includes optional local OCR AI for difficult input and a CLI for OCR workflows you want to automate.
OwlOCR Core
Free
A fit for single screenshots and OCR on the current page, using on-device Apple Vision recognition.
Download Core free →OwlOCR Pro
$19.99/year or $49.99 lifetime
Direct-download Pro adds OCR All, batch workflows, optional local OCR AI, the CLI, and multi-screenshot capture for 3 or more captures. Purchase in app.
Review Pro pricing →FAQ
Questions about screenshot ocr for macos
How do I copy text from a screenshot on a Mac?
Start a single screen capture in OwlOCR, select the region containing the text, and copy or edit the recognized result.
Why does screenshot OCR need Screen Recording permission?
macOS requires Screen Recording permission for apps that capture visible screen content. OwlOCR needs that permission for its screen capture workflow.
Is screenshot OCR free?
OwlOCR Core is free and suitable for single screenshots. Pro adds multi-screenshot capture for 3 or more captures, OCR All, batch workflows, local OCR AI, and the CLI.
Are my screenshots processed online?
Apple Vision OCR processing happens on-device. Pro also offers an optional OCR AI model that runs locally on your Mac.
Which macOS version does OwlOCR require?
OwlOCR requires macOS 13.3 or newer.
How much does OwlOCR Pro cost?
Direct-download Pro is $19.99 per year or $49.99 for a lifetime license. Purchase Pro in the app.
Copy the text your Mac will not let you select
Download OwlOCR Core for free and try it with one screenshot. If screen OCR becomes a regular workflow, purchase Pro in the app for multi-capture, local AI, batch, and CLI tools.