4 recent updatesLast 30 days
v1.1.2
Improved app icon clarity at small and Retina sizes.
v1.1.1
Updated PixelRead with a redesigned app icon.
v1.1.0
PixelRead is now free: the trial and lock screen are gone, updates are on for everyone, and you can request features right from the app.
PixelRead
Capture text. Translate it. Understand it.
Free · no purchase needed
About PixelRead
PixelRead captures text from anywhere on your screen, then lets you copy it, translate it, summarize it, or ask questions about it. Press ⌘⇧2 and drag over text in an image, video, PDF, website, or app. Instant OCR turns those pixels into usable text. Translate it on-device, or—with Apple Intelligence on a supported Mac—summarize, rewrite, extract key details, and ask focused questions without sending the text to a server.
What you can do
- Press ⌘⇧2 and drag over text in an image, video, PDF, website, or app. PixelRead uses Apple Vision to turn the selected region into editable text immediately.
- Recognize the source language and translate the captured text beside the original. Translation uses Apple’s on-device framework, so your text stays on your Mac.
- On a supported Mac with macOS 26, PixelRead sends recognized text to Apple Intelligence on-device and returns a concise, faithful summary in seconds.
- Ask a focused question and get an answer grounded only in the recognized text. No copying into another app, no lost context, and no server upload.
- Capture once, then copy, translate, summarize, rewrite, extract, ask, or listen. PixelRead stays in the menu bar and appears only when you need it.
At a glance
Everything included
- Capture text from any screen region with ⌘⇧2
- Convert screenshots, images, videos, PDFs, and app interfaces into text
- Copy recognized text directly to the clipboard
- Translate captured text on-device beside the original
- Summarize long captured text with Apple Intelligence on supported Macs
- Ask questions grounded in the text you captured
- Rewrite text or extract names, dates, numbers, links, and action items
- Read original, translated, or generated text aloud
- Open the same actions by highlighting existing text in another app
- Reopen the 12 most recent captures and their recognized text
Details
FreeNo purchase needed
1 yearof free updates
UniversalApple Silicon & Intel
3.3 MBNotarized by Apple
Version1.1.2
Size3.3 MB
RequiresmacOS 15.2
ArchitectureUniversal
CategoryProductivity
UpdatedAug 15, 2026
Free updates1 year included
Verified developerIdentity checked
Apple notarizedChecked by Apple
Reviewed by AppUnboundHand-tested by our team
Version history
v1.1.2
Improved app icon clarity at small and Retina sizes.
v1.1.1
Updated PixelRead with a redesigned app icon.
v1.1.0
PixelRead is now free: the trial and lock screen are gone, updates are on for everyone, and you can request features right from the app.
v1.0.2
Refines floating bar sizing and edge-aware placement, and adds stoppable speech playback.
v1.0.1
Release update
Good to know
How do I get the app?
PixelRead is free. Click download and it is yours — no checkout, no key, no account.
What about updates?
Every version is free. Updates arrive automatically for as long as the app is listed.
Is it safe to install?
Yes. PixelRead is notarized by Apple and hand-reviewed by AppUnbound before it ever reaches the store, so it installs cleanly with no security warnings.
What do I need to run it?
A Mac on macOS 15.2 or later. It runs natively on both Apple Silicon and Intel.
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Free · no purchase needed
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