The Direct Answer: No Linux Version Exists
Capture2Text is Windows-only software — the author’s FAQ says so outright. There is no Linux build, no Snap/Flatpak, and no official port. This page points Linux users to the honest native equivalents.
Option 1 — NormCap (Open Source, Closest Match)
NormCap is the open-source tool that most closely replicates Capture2Text’s core workflow on Linux: press a hotkey, select a screen region, and the recognized text lands on your clipboard. It runs on Linux, Windows and macOS, supports multiple languages, and — like Capture2Text — is free and open source. Install via Flathub (flatpak install flathub com.github.dynobo.normcap) or from the GitHub releases.
Option 2 — Tesseract Directly (Terminal)
Capture2Text’s engine is Tesseract, and Tesseract runs natively on Linux. What you lose is the capture UI — you supply screenshots yourself:
sudo apt install tesseract-ocr tesseract-ocr-chi-sim tesseract-ocr-jpn
tesseract screenshot.png output -l engPair it with gnome-screenshot -a or Flameshot for region selection and you have a DIY Capture2Text. More work, but maximum control — and scriptable.
Option 3 — Your Desktop’s Built-in Tools
GNOME and KDE screenshot tools increasingly bundle text extraction, and utilities like Frog or Linux ports of screen translators cover the “OCR a region” need with varying polish. Worth a look, but NormCap remains the most Capture2Text-like.
What About Wine?
Running the Windows Capture2Text under Wine is theoretically possible but untested and unsupported; global hotkeys and screen-capture hooks are precisely what tends to misbehave under compatibility layers. Native tools above are the sane route.
On Windows? Download Capture2Text and follow the setup guide. On Mac, see Capture2Text for Mac. Browse all guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Linux version of Capture2Text?
No. Capture2Text is Windows-only software (the author’s FAQ states this explicitly). There is no Linux build and no official port.
What is the best Capture2Text alternative on Linux?
NormCap is the closest open-source equivalent: select any screen region and get the text on your clipboard, on Linux (and Windows/macOS too). For terminal users, Tesseract OCR itself runs natively on Linux.
Can I run Capture2Text on Linux with Wine?
Possibly, but it is untested and unsupported — global hotkeys and screen capture are exactly the things that tend to break under Wine. Native options below are more reliable.
How do I install NormCap on Linux?
NormCap is on Flathub (flatpak install flathub com.github.dynobo.normcap), and most distributions can also run it from source. Check the NormCap GitHub repository for current instructions.
Can I just use Tesseract directly on Linux?
Yes — sudo apt install tesseract-ocr (plus tesseract-ocr-chi-sim etc. for extra languages), then tesseract screenshot.png output. It is the same OCR engine Capture2Text uses, but you supply the screenshot step yourself (e.g. with gnome-screenshot or flameshot).