The Readiris Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Readiris in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Readiris
The Insider’s Guide
OCR, scanning and PDF editing software sold as a perpetual license
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among PDF editors, read from Readiris’s own pages.
Made by IRIS · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Readiris’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Readiris’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 31 of the 45 other PDF editors we grade
Readiris PDF is desktop software for Windows and Mac that scans paper to searchable PDFs with OCR, edits and annotates PDFs, fills forms, merges and splits pages, and converts to and from Office formats in batches. It is sold as a one-time license in Essential and Elite editions, with a downloadable free trial.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Readiris, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It installs and runs on your computer; scanner setup may add steps.
- 1
Best for scanning paper to searchable PDFs
Redaction, form design and e-signatures need Elite, and what a later version costs is not stated.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $79 one-time (crossed-out price $129).
- 3
You can try it first
Free trial available to download; its limits are not stated on the page
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
Windows and macOS.
- 5
Scan and OCR
Scans paper into searchable PDFs, with OCR in 138 languages and driverless network scanning through eSCL and WIA, plus TWAIN.
- 6
Edit and organize PDFs
Merge, split, rotate and delete pages, compress files, and add markups, annotations and highlights.
- 7
Forms
Fills interactive forms in Essential; Elite adds designing forms with labels, text fields, check boxes and combo boxes.
- 8
A 2.8 GPA, above 31 of 45
That is against the other PDF editors we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of Readiris you could make: forms. What surrounds it you could not. The 3 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
Readiris at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $79 one-time (crossed-out price $129)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Free trial available to download; its limits are not stated on the page
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows
- Made by
- IRIS
- Category
- PDF Editors
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for scanning paper to searchable PDFs
Readiris is Windows and Mac desktop software that scans, runs OCR and edits PDFs, at $79 one-time for Essential and $149 for Elite. Redaction, form design and e-signatures need Elite, and what a later version costs is not stated.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | $79 one-time is under a year of the $7.99 middle subscription for PDF editors ($95.88). Elite at $149 is under two years. |
| Free plan and trial | C | A free trial can be downloaded, but its limits are not stated on the page. |
| Features | B | Scan and OCR, edit, annotate, fill forms, batch convert to Office. Form design, redaction, multiple e-signatures and PDF/A need Elite. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record. It installs and runs on your computer; scanner setup may add steps. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Windows 10/11 and macOS 11 or later, desktop only: no web or mobile edition. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Readiris is for
- Fits if you scan paper and need searchable PDFs on Windows or Mac
- Works for people who would rather pay once
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want a web or phone version, as it is desktop only
- Tight if you need redaction, form design or PDF/A, which are Elite at $149
- Watch out: version 27 is a version-specific license and the cost of upgrading later is not stated
- Watch out: each price is shown beside a crossed-out higher one with no end date
- Watch out: the trial's limits are not stated
Good to know
Good for
- People digitizing paper documents who want OCR and PDF editing in one desktop app
- Buyers who prefer a one-time purchase over a subscription
- Offices that scan from network scanners and multifunction printers
Worth knowing
- It is desktop software for Windows 10 or 11 (64 bit) and macOS 11 and later; there is no web or mobile edition.
- Form design, redaction, multiple e-signatures, PDF/A and cloud sharing need the Elite edition.
- The store shows each price beside a crossed-out higher one with no end date.
- Version 27 is a version-specific license; the page does not say what upgrading to a later version costs.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$79 one-time
To start
Readiris is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $79 one-time (crossed-out price $129).
A free trial can be downloaded, but its limits are not stated on the page.
Readiris PDF 27 Essential
$79
one-time, perpetual license
Scan and OCR, PDF editing, annotation, forms, Office export, batch conversion; shown as $129 crossed out, no end date.
Readiris PDF 27 Elite
$149
one-time, perpetual license
Essential plus form design, multiple e-signatures, redaction, PDF/A, auto-naming, barcode extraction, cloud sharing; $189 crossed out.
Trying it first
Free trial available to download; its limits are not stated on the page
Read from irislink.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: macOS and Windows
OCR, scanning and PDF editing software sold as a perpetual license. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, forms, pDF editing.
Scan and OCR, edit, annotate, fill forms, batch convert to Office.
- Scan and OCR
- Scans paper into searchable PDFs, with OCR in 138 languages and driverless network scanning through eSCL and WIA, plus TWAIN.
- Edit and organize PDFs
- Merge, split, rotate and delete pages, compress files, and add markups, annotations and highlights.
- Forms
- Fills interactive forms in Essential; Elite adds designing forms with labels, text fields, check boxes and combo boxes.
- Batch conversion
- Converts files to and from PDF, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint, many at a time, and exports to PNG and JPG.
- Elite security and automation
- Elite adds protection, multiple e-signatures, redaction, PDF/A archiving, smart page separation and automatic naming.
- Cloud sharing
- Elite shares documents to Dropbox, OneDrive and SharePoint.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
What it works with
- Dropbox
- OneDrive
- SharePoint
Readiris is made by IRIS.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
31/45
Other PDF editors it is graded above
Readiris's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 31 of the 45 other PDF editors we grade, and level with 7.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 31 of 45) and worst on platforms and integrations (C, above 5).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 46 PDF editors we grade, cut by the letter each got. Readiris’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 31 of 45
- CFree plan and trialAbove 7 of 45
- BFeaturesAbove 27 of 45
- BEase of useAbove 11 of 45
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 5 of 45
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
The plain part of Readiris you could make: forms. What surrounds it you could not. The 3 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.8 is higher than 31 of the 45 other PDF editors we grade. It costs $79, paid once.
What you could make
- Forms: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Editing the text inside a PDF without breaking its layout.
- A real app for macOS and Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Readiris’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
ABBYY FineReader PDF, Able2Extract, PDFelement, Foxit PDF Editor and Nitro PDF Pro
The 5 tools Readiris is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
ABBYY FineReader PDF
Free trial · from $69/yr
PDF editor built around OCR, for Windows and Mac.
- Only ABBYY FineReader PDF lists an iOS app.
- Readiris can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Readiris also covers forms.
- 1.8GPA
Able2Extract
Free trial · from $49.95
Desktop PDF converter and editor, sold as a lifetime license.
- Only Able2Extract lists a Linux app.
- Readiris also covers forms.
- Able2Extract also covers documents.
- 2.8GPA
PDFelement
Free trial · from $11.99
Wondershare's PDF editor, by subscription or a one-time license.
- Only PDFelement lists a web app.
- Only PDFelement lists iOS and Android apps.
- 2.8GPA
Foxit PDF Editor
Free trial · from $129.99/yr
PDF editor for Windows, Mac and web, yearly or as a one-time license.
- Only Foxit PDF Editor lists a web app.
- Only Foxit PDF Editor lists iOS and Android apps.
- Foxit PDF Editor also covers documents.
- 2.2GPA
Nitro PDF Pro
Free trial · from $15/mo
Desktop PDF editor for Windows and Mac with AI tools, billed yearly.
- Only Nitro PDF Pro lists a web app.
- Only Nitro PDF Pro lists an iOS app.
- Readiris can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Readiris free?
No, Readiris is a paid product, but you can try it first. Free trial available to download; its limits are not stated on the page.
How much does Readiris cost?
Readiris lists 2 plans. Readiris PDF 27 Essential: $79 one-time, perpetual license.
What platforms does Readiris work on?
Readiris is available on Windows and macOS.
Does Readiris have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Readiris is listed for Windows and macOS.
Does Readiris have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Readiris is listed for Windows and macOS.
Is Readiris open source?
Readiris is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
What does Readiris integrate with?
Readiris's listing names Dropbox, OneDrive and SharePoint. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Readiris?
Readiris is made by IRIS.
What are the alternatives to Readiris?
The closest alternatives to Readiris in our directory are ABBYY FineReader PDF, Able2Extract, PDFelement, Foxit PDF Editor and Nitro PDF Pro.
How does Readiris compare with other PDF editors?
Readiris's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 31 of the 45 other PDF editors we grade, and level with 7.
Could I make my own version of Readiris?
The plain part of Readiris you could make: forms. What surrounds it you could not.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Readiris’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Readiris's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by IRIS. Prices change, so check irislink.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Readiris, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/readiris
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Readiris: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/readiris
Know someone choosing between PDF editors?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/readiris/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded PDF editors after Readiris, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- PDF Editors Insider's GuideEvery one of the 46 PDF editors we grade, compared
- PDFgear Insider's GuideFree PDF editor for desktop, mobile and web with an AI copilot3.4 GPA
- Stirling PDF Insider's GuideOpen-source PDF editor you can run on your own machine or server3.2 GPA
- Online2PDF Insider's GuideFree browser tool to convert, merge, edit, compress and unlock PDFs3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Readiris’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Readiris is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by IRIS. Prices and plans change: check irislink.com before you buy.