ON-DEVICE OCR · ANDROID GUIDE
ML Kit or PP-OCRv5?
Private Text Scanner includes two local recognition paths. ML Kit is the fast default. PP-OCRv5 is a larger option for printed pages that need another pass. Neither removes the need to review important text.
THE PRACTICAL DIFFERENCE
One model favors speed. The other adds a second local pass.
Google describes ML Kit Text Recognition v2 as an on-device API for Chinese, Devanagari, Japanese, Korean, and Latin scripts. It is designed to run in real time on many devices, and Google notes that focus, resolution, and text size strongly affect results.
PaddleOCR documents PP-OCRv5 mobile models as the deployment choice for phones and real-time use. Its multilingual recognition family covers many languages, but a larger local pipeline takes more storage and can take longer on a phone.
These are different OCR systems, not a universal first- and second-place ranking. A clear receipt may finish faster and read well with ML Kit. A dense printed page that loses lines can be worth retrying with PP-OCRv5. Blur, glare, handwriting, tiny text, and complex tables can reduce accuracy in either path.
QUICK RECOMMENDATION
Start fast. Retry difficult print. Review the result.
Choose ML Kit for speed
Use it for clear receipts, short notes, signs, and routine pages when a quick result matters most.
Try PP-OCRv5 for dense print
Use it when a page has small text, mixed layouts, or missed lines and you can wait longer for recognition.
Correct the final text
OCR is an editable draft. Review names, totals, dates, tables, and legal wording before relying on the result.
Keep the source image
The original page remains available beside recognized text so you can verify uncertain characters later.
FREE AND PRO
The model choice is part of a clear product boundary.
The free daily path uses ML Kit. After the free allowance is used, a completed optional rewarded ad grants an additional PP-OCRv5 scan. Lifetime Pro keeps PP-OCRv5 available without scan limits, removes ads, and unlocks searchable PDF export.
Pro is a one-time Google Play purchase, not a subscription. The price shown in Google Play depends on the user's region.
LOCAL PROCESSING
Your document is not sent to an OCR cloud service.
Both recognition paths process document images and OCR content on the device. The app stores scans, editable text, titles, tags, and notes locally unless you choose to export or share them.
Google Play installation and billing, optional rewarded ads, and user-initiated sharing can use the network. Pro removes ads.
Read the full privacy policy
Compare the result on your own documents.
Scan, edit, search, and export without a cloud OCR account.
Get Private Text Scanner