An apparatus and a method for recognizing a character based on an input image is provided. The apparatus includes an input unit configured to receive the input image and a controller configured to select, from the input image, a region of image analysis to be used for image analysis, and to analyze the selected region of image analysis to determine a type of the input image, to apply, to the input image, an image effect for distinguishing a character region and a background region in the input image if the type of the input image indicates that the input image is obtained by photographing a display screen, to binarize output of the image effect according to the determined type of the input image, and to recognize a character from the binarized output of the image effect.