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, iPad
Rating
4.8★ (1,899,743)
Version
7.25.5
Last updated
Sep 7, 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★ (1,589,052) · Updated Sep 8, 2026
Verdict. Adobe Scan is easy to use and reliable for basic scanning, but a meaningful slice of reviewers describe features getting locked behind subscriptions after the fact, plus some crashes and slowdowns.
Best for. Someone who already has an Adobe account and just needs occasional quick scans, not someone who wants full PDF export and editing to stay free long-term.
Dealbreaker. Multiple reviewers report being charged for a subscription they didn't intend to start, or finding core features like exporting DocX or scanning multiple documents suddenly paywalled after initial use.
Free · 4.9★ (1,361,148) · Updated Sep 13, 2026
Verdict. Genius Scan gets consistent praise for being fast and simple to scan and export documents, but several reviewers hit a paywall wanting to export or share files, being pushed into a trial they didn't expect.
Best for. Someone who scans receipts or paperwork occasionally and wants a quick, intuitive scan-to-PDF flow without learning a complex interface.
Dealbreaker. Exporting or sharing scans can prompt a forced trial signup, and at least one user lost the ability to import screenshots outright — don't count on unrestricted free export.
Free · 4.8★ (1,400,795) · Updated Aug 20, 2026
Verdict. iScanner scans quickly and users find it easy to use, but the reviews show a pattern of subscription paywalls that limit basic scanning and complaints about being billed automatically or unclear cancellation.
Best for. Someone who just wants a quick, simple scan-to-PDF tool and is willing to pay for a subscription without scrutinizing the terms too closely.
Dealbreaker. Multiple reviewers describe being charged for a yearly subscription shortly after install, being blocked from scanning more than one page without paying, and finding it deliberately hard to cancel.