Easily Scan and Translate Documents with AI

Turn your physical papers and image-based files into editable content you can use in any language. Smartcat's AI agents automate the entire process to scan and translate documents online, helping you scale global content effortlessly.

Global teams at 1,000+ companies rely on Smartcat, including 20% of the Fortune 500. They handle everything from legal files to technical manuals—the kind of complex content that needs to be perfect in every language.

How to Scan and Translate a Document in 5 Steps

Upload your files

Simply drag and drop your scanned document into Smartcat. Our platform accepts over 80 file types, including PDFs, JPEGs, and PNGs. It's the first step to translate a scanned document.

Choose languages

Run AI-enhanced translation

Review your files and invite collaborators

Download your files

Upload your files

Simply drag and drop your scanned document into Smartcat. Our platform accepts over 80 file types, including PDFs, JPEGs, and PNGs. It's the first step to translate a scanned document.

Ready to try our document scan and translate feature?

A Complete Toolkit to Scan, Translate, and Localize

Smartcat is more than just a site to scan and translate a document. Our AI Agents handle the entire workflow—from extracting text to translating and localizing—so your scanned documents are ready for any market in minutes. We support over 80 file types.

The Smartest Way to Scan Document and Translate

9.6/10

for ease of setup

9.3/10

ease of use

1,000+

global corporate clients

20%

of the Fortune 500

See How It Works for Your Team

Transform Your Document Workflow

99%

quality & consistency

AI Agents plus human review ensure your scanned documents translate with exceptional quality every time.


4x

faster turnaround time

From scan to final translation in days, not weeks. Accelerate your entire content localization process.


10x

more content for the same budget

Translate more training materials, marketing assets, and technical manuals without increasing your budget.


Here's What Happens When Teams Use Smartcat

70%

Cost savings

for Stanley Black & Decker, while increasing quality

31 hours

Of work time saved monthly

for Babbel’s marketing and L&D departments

400%

Faster translation turnaround time

achieved by Smith+Nephew after switching to Smartcat

Ready to Scan and Translate Your First Document?

Stop wondering, 'can I scan a document and get it translated?' With Smartcat, absolutely—and it's easier than you think. Our AI handles over 80 file types, turning a tedious task into something that helps your business grow.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I scan a document and translate it?

Yes, you absolutely can scan and translate a document. With Smartcat, our platform uses built-in Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to automatically read the text from your scan. You can then instantly translate it into over 280 languages. It’s the perfect software to scan and translate a document seamlessly.

How accurate is the translation for a scanned document?

Smartcat's AI achieves over 95% translation accuracy on the first pass. For perfect quality, you can have a human expert review the file. Our AI Agents learn from every edit, so the quality of your translations improves over time.

How to scan and translate a document with its original formatting?

When you use Smartcat to translate a scanned document, our technology works to preserve the original layout and formatting. After the document scan and translate process is complete, you can download the file in its new language, looking just like the original.

What is the best software that scans documents and translates them?

Smartcat is a leading choice for software to scan and translate a document. Unlike basic tools, Smartcat's AI Agents learn from every correction and edit. They get smarter with each project. They also handle OCR, translation, and formatting in one seamless workflow, which is a critical feature for business use.

Can I translate scanned documents online for free?

Yes, you can start with Smartcat's free trial to translate a scanned document online. Sign up in seconds, upload your file, and see how our AI translation works. It’s a great way to experience the platform's power firsthand.

How does Smartcat handle translating scanned documents compared to basic AI tools?

While basic AI tools may require you to manually copy and paste text, Smartcat offers a fully integrated solution. Our platform automatically extracts text using OCR, leverages translation memories for consistency, and allows for collaborative review. These are critical features for business use that basic tools cannot provide for translating scanned documents.

How do I translate a document that has been scanned to my computer?

It's simple. First, make sure the file is saved on your computer. Then, sign into Smartcat and create a new project. You can drag and drop the scanned file directly into the project space. From there, you just choose your languages and click the translate button. This is how to translate a document scanned to my documents.

Can I scan documents to translate into multiple languages at once?

Yes. Smartcat is designed for scale. You can upload one scanned document and select as many target languages as you need. The platform will generate translations for all selected languages in a single, efficient project, saving you valuable time.

Sources

  1. Statista Market Insights. "Language translation NLP – Worldwide.." Statista, March 2025. https://www.statista.com/outlook/tmo/artificial-intelligence/natural-language-processing/language-translation-nlp/worldwide.

  2. Statista Research Department. "Number of employees in interpreting and translating services in the United States from 2011 to 2022.." Statista, 2023. https://www.statista.com/statistics/320340/number-of-employees-in-interpreting-and-translating-services-us/.

  3. Statista Research Department. "Market size of translation services in the United States from 2015 to 2022.." Statista, 2023. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1280441/translation-services-market-size-usa/.

  4. Liu, Z., Wu, C., & Xu, X. (2025). The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Sustainable Development and Industrial Transformation. Asia Pacific Economic and Management Review, 2(2).https://doi.org/10.62177/apemr.v2i2.185