The short version
- Choose Acrobat Pro if you also edit PDFs, fill and sign forms, or need to work offline on your own computer.
- Choose GetSearchablePDF if you mainly need scanned documents to be searchable, convert them in batches, or don't want another subscription.
How they compare
- Price: Adobe lists Acrobat Pro at US$19.99 a month on an annual plan, billed monthly (October 2026). GetSearchablePDF is paid per page, starting with free pages.
- Setup: Acrobat Pro is desktop software to install and keep updated. GetSearchablePDF runs in the browser, and also inside ChatGPT and Claude.
- Batches: GetSearchablePDF takes up to 50 files per upload and returns them as a ZIP. Acrobat's batch tools work through Actions on the desktop.
- Editing: Acrobat lets you edit text after OCR. GetSearchablePDF only adds a text layer and leaves the page untouched.
- Where files go: Acrobat desktop can OCR on your own computer. GetSearchablePDF processes files on its servers and deletes them within an hour.
Adobe's prices and plans change, so check adobe.com for the current details.
When paying per page makes sense
If you convert a few hundred pages a month or less, a per-page price usually costs less than a yearly software subscription. After that, monthly plans start at $9 for 250 pages, or you can buy a one-off pack of 250 pages for $14.99 or 1,000 pages for $39.99. Pack pages never expire. With a pack, there's no subscription at all.
If you convert thousands of pages every month and also need editing, a full PDF suite may be the better fit.
Try it on your own files
Every account starts with 10 free pages to try it, valid for 7 days, with no credit card. Upload the same scans you'd run through Acrobat and compare the results side by side.
- Create an account. It comes with 10 free pages to try it, valid for 7 days, with no credit card.
- Drop in PDFs, JPGs or PNGs, up to 50 files at a time.
- Most files are ready in 10 to 30 seconds. Download each searchable PDF, or all of them as a ZIP.
Questions
- Is GetSearchablePDF a PDF editor?
- No. It makes scanned PDFs and images searchable and leaves the page as it is. For editing text, you need an editor such as Acrobat.
- Is the OCR as accurate as Acrobat's?
- It uses enterprise-grade OCR that reads printed text in 100+ languages, as well as handwriting. The best test is your own documents, which the free pages let you do.
- Do I need a subscription?
- No. You can buy one-off page packs that never expire, or choose a monthly plan if you convert regularly.