Is the invoice scanner free?

Yes. The scanner is free to use with no sign-up, and no invoice data is stored.

Does it handle scanned or handwritten invoices?

This free version reads text-layer PDFs and text files directly in your browser — try uploading one, or drop a scan and it will tell you it needs full OCR. The typed and handwritten samples above show what MetaViewer's full AI capture (OCR plus ICR for handwriting) looks like on paper and scanned invoices.

Does this connect to Microsoft Dynamics or Acumatica?

The free scanner is standalone. Paid AP automation solutions, like MetaViewer, push captured data straight into Dynamics GP, Business Central, D365 Finance, and Acumatica through MetaConnect.

What is the difference between 2-way and 3-way matching?

2-way matching compares an invoice to its purchase order. 3-way matching adds the receiving record, confirming goods arrived before the invoice is paid.

Free tool

Free Automated Invoice Scanning Tool

Upload a PDF or text invoice and this tool reads it in your browser. Vendor, invoice number, dates, PO number, line items, and totals — in seconds.

Try it now Data extraction tool

No signup. Nothing you upload is stored.

Live in your browser

Real parsing

Text-layer PDFs and text files are read and structured instantly — no server round-trip, no account required.

How it works

Structured data, not just text on a page.

Capture, recognize, structure — the same three stages behind any invoice scanning tool, running client-side for text invoices.

Capture

Real parsing, not a mockup

Drop in a PDF or text invoice and the header fields and line items are read directly in your browser.

Structure

Fields, not a wall of text

Vendor, invoice number, dates, PO number, and totals are separated from line-item detail automatically.

Confidence

A score you can act on

Each read comes back with a confidence score based on how many core fields were found and whether the totals reconcile.

Private

Nothing leaves your browser

Text-layer PDFs are parsed client-side. No file, and no extracted data, is ever uploaded or stored.

Scan an invoice

Upload a real invoice, or try a sample.

Upload invoice

Drop a PDF or .txt file, or click to browse

Or try a sample

Extracted data appears here.
Upload an invoice or pick a sample to start.

See how MetaViewer can work with Dynamics or Acumatica to streamline your AP workflow. Get in touch with the team to learn more.

Methodology

A simple model with visible math.

Capture

The invoice comes in as a PDF, text file, scan, or photo — from email, a shared drive, or a direct upload.

Recognize

The tool reads the text layer directly for PDFs and text files. Scans and photos need full OCR.

Structure

What it finds is mapped into the fields an AP system already understands: vendor, dates, totals, line items.

Score

A confidence score reflects how many core fields were found and whether line items reconcile to the subtotal.

Definition

What is an automated invoice scanning tool?

An automated invoice scanning tool uses OCR and AI to read a paper or digital invoice and turn it into structured, usable data without anyone typing it in by hand.

Instead of a person keying in vendor names, amounts, and line items, the software captures that data straight from the document. OCR reads printed text; ICR handles handwriting; machine-learning extraction keeps working even when a vendor's layout doesn't match anything it's seen before.

	Traditional processing	Automated processing
Data entry	Manual keying by an AP clerk	Software reads and extracts automatically
Speed	Days per batch	Seconds per invoice
Errors	Common, from fatigue and volume	Rare, flagged for review
Matching	Manual PO lookup	Automated 2-way / 3-way matching
Scalability	Limited by headcount	Scales with volume, not staff

Who's it for

Why businesses need free automated invoice scanning tools

Manual invoice entry costs AP teams time and accuracy, and both get worse as invoice volume grows.

AP manager

Running the queue

You're running the day-to-day queue. This tool shows you what automated capture looks like on a real invoice before you commit to changing how your team works.

Controller

Owning the audit trail

You care about clean numbers and a defensible audit trail. Extraction with a confidence score gives you a record of what was captured and how sure the system was.

ERP admin

Keeping systems in sync

You're the one who has to make new tools play nice with what's already running. Built to connect into Dynamics GP, Business Central, D365, and Acumatica.

Comparison

Free invoice scanning tools vs. paid solutions

	Free scanning tool	Paid AP automation
Best for	Testing extraction on individual invoices	Full invoice volume, ongoing processing
File types	Text-layer PDFs and text files, read in-browser	Any format, including scans and photos, via full OCR
ERP connection	None	Dynamics GP, Business Central, D365, Acumatica
Matching	Not included	2-way and 3-way PO matching
Approval workflow	Not included	Built in, routes automatically
Storage	None, nothing is saved	Full document management and archival

MetaViewer brings those capabilities together for businesses running Microsoft Dynamics or Acumatica, with invoice capture, matching, approvals, and ERP integration in one workflow.

Answers

Invoice OCR FAQs

Straight answers on what the free scanner reads and what stays with the paid platform.

It uses OCR and AI to read a paper or digital invoice and turn it into structured, usable data without anyone typing it in by hand.

Built by Metafile Information Systems, 45+ years in AP automation for Microsoft Dynamics and Acumatica environments in manufacturing, agriculture, retail, and distribution.

Run the ROI calculator

Next step

See how MetaViewer can work with Dynamics or Acumatica to streamline your AP workflow.

Get in touch with the team to see full AI capture, matching, and approvals on your real invoices.

Get a Demo

30-minute walkthrough · No obligation