iLovePDF cannot forward an invoice to your ERP. That is exactly the problem.
Online OCR tools are handy for individual files. But as soon as you want to build document processing into a real process, you hit their limits. No API. No validation. No integration. No SLA. We compare Klippa, iLovePDF, Adobe Acrobat OCR and Smallpdf with what you actually need.
Yes, show me what can be improved →
Online OCR tools are accessible and handy for incidental use — but they are not designed for automated document flows, bulk processing or GDPR-safe integrations. Professionele OCR-software offers a fundamentally different starting point: processing as a process step, not as a standalone action.
Why this comparison is relevant for your organization
When you look at OCR-software, you quickly come across familiar names: Klippa, iLovePDF, Adobe Acrobat and Smallpdf. All four are easily accessible, have a recognizable interface and work well for individual conversions. But there is a fundamental difference once you want to build document processing into a larger process.
Bij intelligente documentverwerking it is not just about recognition — it is about what happens next. Is the data automatically validated? Does it go to the right system? Is there reporting for uncertain cases? That is where EasyData OCR differs from the alternatives.
What you will find in this comparison: an objective assessment on 16 criteria relevant for organizations that want to automate document processing. From accuracy and GDPR compliance to API integration, bulk volume and support.
More background can be found on the pillar page: OCR Software — overzicht, uitleg en toepassingen.
Want to know which tool fits your situation?
Our specialists are happy to think along — even if you are still in the orientation phase.
Yes, I want a no-obligation consultation →Vergelijkingstabel: EasyData OCR vs. Klippa, iLovePDF, Adobe en Smallpdf
Hover over a row for an explanation of each criterion. The table is built from the perspective of organizations that want to set up document processing structurally — not as a one-time action.
| Criterium | EasyData OCR | Klippa | iLovePDF | Adobe Acrobat OCR | Smallpdf |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulkverwerking Processing large volumes of documents without manual intervention. Essential if you receive dozens or hundreds of documents daily. |
✓ Volledig geautomatiseerd | △ Beperkt via API | ✗ Handmatig uploaden | △ Via Acrobat Pro batch | ✗ Per bestand |
| AVG-compliance (data in EU) Documents often contain personal data. GDPR requires you to know where data is stored and who has access. With cloud tools outside the EU, as data controller you are obligated to take additional measures. |
✓ NL/EU servers, FG001914 | △ EU servers, no own registration | △ EU/Spanje, beperkte AVG-info | △ Adobe VS, EU DPA beschikbaar | △ Zwitserland, GDPR-claim |
| Integration with own systems Connection with your ERP, DMS, case management system or workflow environment. Without integration someone must manually transfer data — which negates the time savings of OCR. |
✓ API + Business Connector | ✓ API beschikbaar | ✗ No API, manual | △ Beperkte API opties | ✗ No integration |
| Handschriftherkenning (HTR) Recognition of handwritten text is technically more complex than printed text. Relevant for healthcare files, forms, archives and historical documents. |
✓ HTR for archives and healthcare | △ Beperkt, formulierspecifiek | ✗ Not supported | △ Basis handschrift | ✗ Not supported |
| Document image enhancement Pre-processing of poor scan quality: straightening, denoising, contrast improvement. This significantly increases recognition accuracy with aged paper and low resolution. |
✓ Geïntegreerd | △ Beperkt | ✗ Not available | △ Beperkt | ✗ Not available |
| Documentclassificatie Automatically recognizing what type of document it is — invoice, contract, identity document, purchase order — without manually indicating this. Essential for mixed document flows. |
✓ AI-gebaseerde classificatie | ✓ Beschikbaar | ✗ Not available | ✗ Not available | ✗ Not available |
| Data validatie Automatically checking whether recognized values are correct — VAT numbers, date formats, amounts. Errors are flagged for human verification via a Human-in-the-Loop workflow. |
✓ Inclusief Human-in-the-Loop | △ Beperkte validatieregels | ✗ No validation | ✗ No validation | ✗ No validation |
| On-premise installatie mogelijk Processing on your own servers, without documents leaving the organization. Required by some government agencies, healthcare institutions and companies with strict information policies. |
✓ On-premise beschikbaar | ✗ Alleen cloud | ✗ Alleen cloud | △ Beperkt via desktop | ✗ Alleen cloud |
| Meerdere talen Recognition of text in multiple languages in the same document. Relevant for international organizations and translation agencies. |
✓ 190+ talen (ABBYY engine) | ✓ Meerdere talen | △ Beperkt taalaanbod | ✓ Uitgebreid taalaanbod | △ Beperkt taalaanbod |
| Technische tekeningen / tabellen Recognition of complex layouts with technical specifications, tables and images. Relevant for engineering, production and government. |
✓ Inclusief tabelherkenning | △ Limited for complex layouts | ✗ Basisconversie only | △ Reasonable for standard tables | ✗ Basisconversie only |
| UBL / e-invoicing output Conversion of scanned invoices to structured UBL XML for Peppol and e-invoicing. Mandatory for government suppliers by 2026. |
✓ go2UBL / Peppol-ready | △ Invoice extraction, no UBL | ✗ No structured output | ✗ No UBL output | ✗ No UBL output |
| RPA-integratie Connection with Robotic Process Automation for fully automated workflows where multiple systems collaborate without human intervention. |
✓ Native RPA-ondersteuning | △ Via webhook/API | ✗ No RPA integration | △ Beperkt via Acrobat API | ✗ No RPA integration |
| Nederlandse ondersteuning Support in local language, with knowledge of local legislation and the specific needs of government agencies and healthcare institutions. |
✓ Nederlandstalig, Apeldoorn | △ NL sales, internationale support | ✗ Engelstalige support | ✗ Internationale support | ✗ Engelstalige support |
| SLA / uptime garantie Agreements on availability and response times during disruptions. Essential if document processing is a critical part of your business processes. |
✓ Maatwerk SLA beschikbaar | △ Standard SLA enterprise plan | ✗ No SLA | △ Standaard Adobe SLA | ✗ No SLA |
| Implementatiebegeleiding Professional support for setting up, testing and optimizing the OCR solution in your environment. Prevents you from having to reinvent the wheel. |
✓ Volledig ontzorgd | △ Technische documentatie | ✗ Self-service | △ Acrobat documentatie | ✗ Self-service |
| Pricing model at high volume With hundreds or thousands of documents per month, the cost per document with online tools quickly becomes high. EasyData works with volume-based agreements that scale with your growth. |
✓ Volumebaseerd, schaalbaar | △ Per extraction, can add up | △ Abonnement, schaal beperkt | △ Acrobat licentie per gebruiker | △ Abonnement, schaal beperkt |
| ✓ = present / complete | △ = partial / limited | ✗ = not present. Hover over a row for explanation. Information based on publicly available documentation, consulted March 2026. | |||||
Table not telling you enough? Let us assess your situation.
We map out your document flow and give you concrete advice — even if you are still exploring.
Yes, I want an analysis of my situation →Per tool: what can you expect?
Each tool has its own strength area. The question is always: does that strength area fit your document flow?
Klippa
Good for: invoice extraction SMEKlippa offers strong structured data extraction for invoices and receipts via API. Classification is good, but on-premise is not possible and with complex document flows with validation rules you quickly hit limits. No support for handwriting or technical drawings. Also compare with factuurverwerking via EasyData.
iLovePDF
Good for: individual conversionsiLovePDF is een browser-tool voor het omzetten, samenvoegen en splitsen van PDF’s. OCR is een bijproduct, geen kernfunctie. Er is geen API voor procesintegratie, geen classificatie en geen datavalidatie. Uitstekend voor eenmalig gebruik; niet geschikt voor geautomatiseerde documentverwerking. Zie ook: PDF to XML conversion.
Adobe Acrobat OCR
Good for: individual knowledge workersAdobe Acrobat OCR is solid and broadly usable, but aimed at the individual user who wants to make a document searchable. The tool does not integrate with external systems and does not scale to process level. The cost per user is high for large teams. More about how OCR works can be found in our knowledge center.
Smallpdf
Good for: simple tasksSmallpdf is an accessible tool for simple PDF tasks: compress, convert, OCR. It lacks all advanced features for process automation: no API for document workflows, no classification, no validation. Ideal as a standalone helper tool; not as a foundation for documentautomatisering.
When do you choose EasyData OCR?
EasyData is not a tool you quickly try out for a single conversion. It is a platform that builds document processing into your business processes. That makes it the right choice in specific situations.
You process more than 100 documents per month
As volume increases, costs and error margins with manual work increase. EasyData scales along without extra manual actions.
You want data directly in your ERP or case management system
Via de OCR API en Business Connector sluit EasyData aan op gangbare ERP’s, DMS’en en zaaksystemen zonder maatwerkontwikkeling.
You work in healthcare or government
Strict GDPR requirements, NIS2 and information security require more than a generic cloud tool. OCR for healthcare en Financial Search for municipalities are specifically designed for these sectors.
Your documents contain handwriting or are old
Via HTR-technologie en document image enhancement EasyData also reliably recognizes difficult to read documents.
You need to process e-invoices (UBL/Peppol)
De go2UBL oplossing converts scanned invoices directly to UBL XML for Peppol — mandatory for government suppliers.
You want to process data on your own servers
On-premise documentverwerking ensures sensitive documents never leave your organization — no cloud, no external parties.
Do you recognize one of the above situations?
Then it is worthwhile to discuss the possibilities. No sales pitch, but an honest conversation.
Yes, I schedule a no-obligation consultation →What does implementation of EasyData OCR look like?
No lengthy, risky IT project. EasyData works modularly: you start with the components that deliver immediate value and build out to fully automated document flows. Our approach in four steps:
Analyse & intake
We map out your document flows, volumes and systems. Based on this we create a customized proposal — including ROI indication via our ROI-rekentool.
Proof of Concept
Before we scale up, we prove the functionality in your own environment. You see with your own eyes how recognition and integration functions on your documents. More about the POC-aanpak.
Implementatie & integratie
Setup of the OCR pipeline, connection with your systems via OCR API of Business Connector, and setup of validation rules and Human-in-the-Loop workflows.
Beheer & optimalisatie
Ongoing management, monitoring and optimization based on recognition results. With SLA-afspraken about availability and response times.
More about OCR software and document processing
Lees meer op aanverwante pagina’s in ons kenniscentrum:
OCR Software — overzicht en uitleg | How does OCR work? | OCR software vergelijking 2026 | ABBYY OCR | ABBYY FineReader | ABBYY Vantage | OCR-snelheid | OCR API
Intelligente documentverwerking | Documentclassificatie | Data capture | Data valideren | Factuurherkenning | Factuurverwerking | Handschriftherkenning
Ready to take the step toward automated document processing?
Discuss your situation without obligation with one of our specialists. We think along, even if you are still exploring.
Veelgestelde vragen
Online tools are suitable for incidental conversions of individual files. EasyData OCR is designed for automated bulk processing, where documents are automatically read, recognized, validated and forwarded to your systems. You do not upload manually; the process runs in the background. Read more about intelligente documentverwerking.
Yes. EasyData processes document data exclusively on European servers. No documents are shared with external AI services or third parties. EasyData is GDPR-registered (FG001914) and working on ISO 27001-certificering. More about our GDPR policy on the page klantdata is veilig.
Ja, via HTR (Handwritten Text Recognition) EasyData supports recognition of handwritten text. This is particularly relevant for archives, healthcare files and historical documents. Also see our page about HTR for archives en handschrift digitaliseren.
Online tools have low entry costs but scale poorly with volume. EasyData works with transparent, volume-based pricing without surprises. When processing hundreds or thousands of documents per month, the total cost per document at EasyData is significantly lower. View our prijsmodel for an indication or use the data-entry calculator.
Ja. Dankzij geïntegreerde document image enhancement EasyData automatically improves scan quality before recognition. This significantly increases accuracy with skewed scans, low resolution and aged paper.
Yes. EasyData offers a OCR API and directly connectable platform. Integrations with ERP, DMS, case management systems and RPA environments are a standard part of implementation. The Business Connector ensures connection to legacy systemen.
