2025 Comparison
Scanner App Comparison
Honest comparison of top document scanner apps for iPhone. Features, privacy, pricing, and OCR quality rated—so you can choose the right app for your needs.
Honest comparison of top document scanner apps for iPhone. Features, privacy, pricing, and OCR quality rated—so you can choose the right app for your needs.
Yes, we make ScanLens. We're biased. But we're also honest about what each app does well and where it falls short—including our own. Our goal is to help you choose the right tool, even if it's not us. If another app better fits your workflow, that's the right choice for you.
This comparison covers the major iOS document scanning apps as of early 2025. Pricing and features change; always verify current details before purchasing.
| Feature | ScanLens | CamScanner | Adobe Scan | Microsoft Lens | Apple Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free / $4.99/mo | Free / $9.99/mo | Free | Free (built-in) |
| OCR | On-device AI | Cloud-based | Cloud-based | Cloud-based | Via Live Text |
| Languages | 50+ | 40+ | 25+ | 30+ | 17 |
| Offline Mode | Full | Limited | Limited | Limited | Full |
| Privacy | On-device only | Cloud processing | Cloud processing | Cloud processing | On-device |
| E-Signature | Yes | Premium | Premium | No | Via Markup |
| Handwriting OCR | Yes | Limited | Basic | Yes | No |
| PDF Export | Full control | Premium | Basic free | Yes | Limited |
| Cloud Sync | Any service | Proprietary | Adobe Cloud | OneDrive | iCloud only |
| Ads | No | Yes (free tier) | No | No | No |
Best for: Privacy-conscious users, offline use, free full features
ScanLens processes everything on-device using iPhone's Neural Engine—no documents ever leave your phone during scanning. This makes it ideal for sensitive documents. OCR supports 50+ languages with strong handwriting recognition. All core features are free without subscriptions or ads.
Strengths: Privacy, offline capability, free OCR and PDF, handwriting recognition
Weaknesses: Newer app (smaller user base), iOS only
Best for: Cross-platform users, established workflow
CamScanner is one of the oldest and most popular scanner apps with 700M+ downloads. Good edge detection and document enhancement. However, documents are processed on Chinese servers, which may concern privacy-focused users. Had malware incident in 2019 (since resolved). Free tier has ads; premium removes them and adds features.
Strengths: Established, cross-platform, large user community
Weaknesses: Privacy concerns, ads in free tier, subscription required for full features
Best for: Adobe ecosystem users, business document workflow
Adobe Scan integrates seamlessly with Adobe Acrobat and Document Cloud. Excellent OCR quality for printed text. Clean interface with good enhancement options. Free tier is capable for basic use; subscription unlocks advanced PDF editing and larger cloud storage.
Strengths: Adobe integration, excellent printed text OCR, professional features
Weaknesses: Expensive subscription ($9.99/mo), cloud-dependent, limited free OCR exports
Best for: Microsoft 365 users, Office integration
Formerly Office Lens, Microsoft Lens integrates with OneDrive, Word, and PowerPoint. Scans can be exported directly to Word documents. Good for whiteboards and presentations. Free with no subscription required for core features.
Strengths: Microsoft integration, free, good whiteboard capture
Weaknesses: Tied to Microsoft ecosystem, fewer features than dedicated scanners
Best for: Occasional scanning, maximum simplicity
Built into every iPhone, Notes scanner is dead simple. No app to download, no account needed. Basic edge detection, perspective correction, and PDF saving. Uses Live Text for some OCR functionality. Limited features but perfectly adequate for occasional use.
Strengths: Built-in, completely free, simple, on-device processing
Weaknesses: No handwriting OCR, limited export options, basic features only
Choose: ScanLens or Apple Notes
Both process documents entirely on-device. Your tax returns, medical records, and legal documents never touch external servers. ScanLens offers more features; Notes is simpler.
Choose: Adobe Scan
If you're already in the Adobe ecosystem with Acrobat and Document Cloud, Adobe Scan integrates seamlessly. The subscription is expensive, but it may be included in existing Adobe plans.
Choose: Microsoft Lens
Direct integration with OneDrive, Word, and PowerPoint makes it natural for Microsoft-centric workflows. Export to editable Word documents is particularly useful.
Choose: ScanLens
Full features including handwriting OCR are free—no premium tier to unlock. Students scanning lecture notes and textbook pages get everything without payment.
Choose: CamScanner or ScanLens
CamScanner works on Android, iOS, and web. ScanLens exports to any cloud service, making it compatible with cross-platform teams even though the app itself is iOS-only.
ScanLens offers the most features for free, including OCR, PDF creation, and cloud sync without subscriptions or ads. Apple Notes scanner is completely free but limited in features. Adobe Scan is free for basic use but requires a $9.99/month subscription for advanced features like PDF editing and unlimited OCR exports.
CamScanner is generally safe for personal use. Past security concerns (a 2019 malware incident affecting the free version on Google Play) have been addressed. However, documents are processed on their servers, which may not be suitable for sensitive business or legal documents. Consider on-device alternatives like ScanLens for privacy-sensitive scanning.
For printed text, Adobe Scan and ScanLens lead in accuracy. For handwriting recognition, ScanLens's on-device AI processing typically provides better accuracy because it's trained specifically for handwriting patterns. Microsoft Lens and Google Drive also offer solid OCR for printed documents.
Apple Notes has basic scanning built-in and is completely free with on-device processing. However, it lacks advanced features like batch scanning optimization, handwriting OCR, granular PDF export controls, and sophisticated document organization. For occasional scanning, Notes works well; for regular use, dedicated apps offer better efficiency.
ScanLens performs all processing on-device, working fully offline without any feature limitations. Apple Notes also works offline. CamScanner and some Adobe Scan features require internet connection for cloud-based processing. Microsoft Lens works offline for basic capture but needs connection for OCR.
Download ScanLens and judge for yourself. All core features are free—OCR, PDF creation, cloud sync, handwriting recognition. No subscription required, no ads.