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Paperwork

Free, open-source desktop app that scans paper documents and makes them searchable with OCR.

Open sourceDocument management systems

Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Linux, Windows

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Is Paperwork free?

Yes, free and open source

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About Paperwork

Paperwork is a personal document manager for people who want their bills, letters and receipts on the computer instead of in a drawer. You scan pages straight from the app or import existing PDFs and images, and it runs OCR so every document can be found by typing a few words. Documents can carry coloured labels, and Paperwork learns from past choices to suggest labels for new scans automatically. It also detects page orientation and offers basic page editing. Everything lives in one ordinary folder using JPEG, hOCR and PDF files, so backups are simple and the folder can be synced between computers with tools like Nextcloud or Syncthing. Paperwork is free software from the OpenPaper.work project and runs on Linux and Windows. It is a single-user desktop app, so it has no web interface, sharing or multi-user permissions.

Best for: Home users who want to scan and search their paperwork on one desktop without running a server.

Pros and cons

What works

  • No server needed; it's a normal desktop app
  • Stores files in open formats in one folder, easy to back up
  • Learns to apply labels to new documents automatically

Why people leave

  • No macOS version
  • Single-user, with no web access or sharing
  • Fewer automation features than server-based tools like Paperless-ngx

Paperwork vs Docspell and Mayan EDMS

From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.

AttributePaperworkDocspellMayan EDMS
PricingOpen sourceOpen sourceOpen source
Verified price———
Free planFree appFree appFree app
Open sourceYesYesYes
Self-hostableNoYesYes
PlatformsLinux, WindowsWeb, Self-hosted, AndroidWeb, Self-hosted

Top Paperwork alternatives

See all 2
  1. 1Docspell logo
    Docspell

    Self-hosted, analyses text to fill in metadata and can import from mailboxes.

    64.8
  2. 2Ma
    Mayan EDMS

    Heavier server system with versioning, workflows and fine-grained permissions for teams.

    61.8

Why people left Paperwork

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

No switching stories yet. If you moved away from Paperwork, review the app you switched to and tell us why.

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Paperwork: common questions

What is Paperwork?

Paperwork: Free, open-source desktop app that scans paper documents and makes them searchable with OCR. Best for home users who want to scan and search their paperwork on one desktop without running a server. Available for Linux and Windows.

Is Paperwork free?

Yes. Paperwork is free, open-source software.

Is Paperwork open source?

Yes.

What platforms does Paperwork run on?

Paperwork is available for Linux and Windows.

What are the best alternatives to Paperwork?

The highest-ranked Paperwork alternatives right now are Docspell and Mayan EDMS. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

Paperwork vs Docspell: what's the difference?

Both Paperwork and Docspell are free and open source. Only Paperwork runs on Linux and Windows. Only Docspell runs on Web and Android.

See all 2 Paperwork alternatives