Verdict
CamScanner is easy to use for scanning, but the free version is stuffed with ads and the subscription pricing draws frequent complaints about surprise charges and paywalled exports.
Best for
Someone who scans documents rarely and is fine paying for a subscription immediately to avoid the ad-laden free tier.
Dealbreaker
The free version reportedly shows ads every few seconds, and exporting to PDF can require a paid subscription that some reviewers say charges without warning.
The facts.
Pulled from the App Store, not written by hand. unverified
Price
Free
In-app purchases
Unknown
Ads
Unknown
Platforms
iPhone
Rating
4.8★ (1,959,668)
Version
7.28.0
Last updated
Oct 26, 2026
Released
Aug 28, 2010
Attributes
Native app
Category
Productivity, Business
What reviews consistently say.
Themes grouped from 200 App Store reviews. Source feed ›
Praised for
Ease of use and design9 reviews
Complained about
Crashes and stability13 reviews
Subscription pricing and paywalls11 reviews
Shows ads inside the app5 reviews
Import and export4 reviews
Confusing interface2 reviews
Where this comes from
13 of 200 recent reviews raised: Crashes and stabilityApp Store reviews ›
11 of 200 recent reviews raised: Subscription pricing and paywallsApp Store reviews ›
9 of 200 recent reviews raised: Ease of use and designApp Store reviews ›
5 of 200 recent reviews raised: Shows ads inside the appApp Store reviews ›
4 of 200 recent reviews raised: Import and exportApp Store reviews ›
Listed at Free on the App StoreApp Store listing ›
Where we recommend it
The best document scanner apps ›Scanning apps that are well rated and still maintained, with what each one gets wrong.
Alternatives with the same rule.
Every app here is rated 4.2 or better, has been updated in the last eighteen months, and has no significant number of reviewers reporting it broken. Price is not the rule on this list — some are free, some are not. Also with a catch.
Free · 4.9★ (1,603,232) · Updated Oct 20, 2026
Verdict. Adobe Scan is praised for being fast and easy to use for basic scanning, but many reviewers describe features getting locked behind a subscription after they'd started using it, and some report billing surprises.
Best for. Someone who needs quick, reliable phone scans of receipts and documents and doesn't mind occasionally hitting a paywall for advanced features like DocX export or multi-page batches.
Dealbreaker. Several reviewers report being charged for a subscription they didn't expect, or finding export and multi-scan features suddenly gated behind payment.
Free · 4.9★ (1,372,591) · Updated Oct 16, 2026
Verdict. Genius Scan gets consistent praise for being fast and simple at the core task: scanning multiple pages into a clean PDF. Some export and file-management features are gated behind a subscription trial, which trips up a small number of users expecting everything to be free.
Best for. Someone who scans receipts and paperwork on their iPhone regularly and just wants a quick, no-fuss PDF out the other end.
Dealbreaker. A handful of reviewers hit a paywall or forced trial prompt when trying to export or share scans, so some advertised functionality isn't fully free.
Free · 4.8★ (1,408,340) · Updated Oct 7, 2026
Verdict. iScanner scans and edits documents well and reviewers praise how easy it is to use, but a recurring theme is aggressive subscription tactics, including auto-billing after minimal use and difficulty cancelling.
Best for. Someone who scans documents occasionally and is comfortable carefully managing or cancelling a subscription before a trial converts.
Dealbreaker. Multiple reviewers report being billed for a yearly subscription shortly after install, with some describing the cancellation process as intentionally difficult.