Question 1

Is my data really private?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Documents are converted locally with MarkItDown, so they never leave your machine and there's no account to create. Only images sent through OCR reach an API. You choose from built-in providers (OpenAI, Claude, Mistral, NVIDIA NIM) or add any custom provider with your own API key.

Question 2

Which file formats are supported?

Accepted Answer

24 extensions in total: 13 document types and 11 image types. Documents (PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, HTML, CSV, TXT, Markdown, JSON, XML, EPUB, Outlook MSG and EML) are converted locally. Images (PNG, JPG, GIF, WEBP, TIFF, HEIC, HEIF) and pasted screenshots go through OCR. Output is clean Markdown or structured JSON, for files up to 200 MB.

Question 3

Is it really a one-time payment?

Accepted Answer

Yes. €25 at launch, then €29. No subscription, no usage limits, no renewal. One licence covers up to two machines, and you get free updates within the major version.

Question 4

Which OCR provider should I choose?

Accepted Answer

Pick on cost and volume. Mistral is the cheapest with a flat per-page price and an even cheaper batch mode, ideal for large volumes of scans. OpenAI (the default) is billed per token by resolution and works well for everyday documents. Claude is also per token and the priciest at volume. You can switch engines anytime.

Question 5

Does Sygal change the OCR quality?

Accepted Answer

No. Sygal sends your image to the provider you chose, with your own API key, and returns what that model reads. The OCR result depends entirely on the engine you load, not on Sygal. There's no markup on the API price and no lock-in.

Question 6

Do I need an internet connection?

Accepted Answer

Only for OCR on images. Document conversion (PDF, Word, Excel, etc.) runs fully offline on your device.

Question 7

Which platforms does it run on?

Accepted Answer

macOS 12 or later and Windows 10 or later. The interface is available in 5 languages: French, English, Italian, German and Spanish.

Question 8

What if it doesn't work for me?

Accepted Answer

Start with the 14-day free trial, no card required. If you buy and it's not for you, there's a 14-day money-back guarantee.

Convert documents to Markdown: guides and insights

Why we're starting a blog for Sygal