TextSniper enables optical character recognition (OCR) for extracting text from any visible screen content. The app captures text from YouTube videos, PDFs, images, presentations, webpages, and video tutorials using a keyboard shortcut (CMD+Shift+2). ($7.99-$11.99, one-time)
The menu bar utility operates without cluttering the dock, providing instant copy-to-clipboard functionality. Users can extract text from non-selectable sources including screenshots, scanned documents, and video frames. The app includes QR code and barcode scanning capabilities, plus text-to-speech for accessibility needs.
Language support varies by macOS version. Catalina provides English only, while Big Sur and Monterey add Spanish, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Chinese (Simplified/Traditional). Ventura adds Japanese, Korean, Ukrainian, and Russian. All text processing occurs on-device using macOS’s built-in OCR frameworks.
The app offers customizable keyboard shortcuts and integrates naturally into existing workflows. Pricing includes a license for 1 Mac ($7.99), 3 Macs ($9.99), or unlimited devices ($11.99 via Mac App Store). A 7-day free trial is available with a money-back guarantee.
System requirements: macOS Catalina or newer. Compatible with M1 and Intel Macs. App is notarized by Apple for security verification.
Limitations: Recognition accuracy decreases with symbol-heavy content like source code. Language support depends on macOS version, limiting multilingual workflows on older systems.
Alternatives: macOS built-in text recognition (macOS Monterey+), Adobe Acrobat OCR, Google Lens.
Suitable for users who frequently extract text from videos, presentations, or non-editable documents. Particularly useful for foreign language learners, content creators, researchers, and users with accessibility needs like dyslexia support.
