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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
User consensusAlternativesIs it worth it?
Better options than

Scanner alternatives

Users often seek alternatives to Scanner due to frequent, intrusive ads, hidden charges, and issues with paid subscriptions. Many look for apps with clearer pricing, reliable free versions, or more stable premium features.

Why users look for alternatives to Scanner

The alternatives

CamScanner
4.8★ · 1,842,055 ratings · Free

CamScanner is a scanning tool that users find effective for quickly scanning documents and organizing files R54. It is praised for its ease of use and ability to convert papers into digital formats efficiently R54.

Better for: CamScanner is better for users who need a reliable tool for organizing many files, especially those in professions like real estate . However, be aware that some users report issues with unexpected subscription renewals, missing files after updates, and pop-up ads R51R53. There are also reports of needing to upgrade for features like sending multiple PDFs .

Head-to-head: Scanner vs CamScanner
Scanner App. JPG, Photo to PDF Convert Scanner +

This app aims to convert photos to PDF, but many users report it is essentially a paywall that prevents exporting documents without a subscription R65R68. Users are often surprised by high weekly charges, such as $9.99 a week, after a free trial .

Better for: This app is not recommended for most users due to widespread complaints about hidden charges, inability to export without payment, and freezing issues even for paid subscribers R65R68.

Scanner App
4.6★ · 25,361 ratings · Free

Users find this app easy to use for scanning documents and sending them via email R94. Some appreciate its intuitive interface compared to other scanner apps .

Better for: This app could be better for users prioritizing ease of use for basic scanning and emailing R94. However, many reviews highlight that it requires a subscription, often priced at $12 a week, to save or move PDFs, leading to frustration for those expecting free functionality R93R96.

Head-to-head: Scanner vs Scanner App
Scanner Mini
4.9★ · 21,204 ratings · Free

Scanner Mini is praised for being practical, simple, and providing good quality scans, making it easy to digitize documents quickly R109. Users have found it reliable for organizing and sending files via email R109.

Better for: Scanner Mini is better for users who value a straightforward, high-quality scanning experience for personal and business use . However, there are significant concerns about the app's future, as it is being discontinued in favor of a subscription-based 'Scanner Pro,' forcing existing lifetime pack users to migrate R110. Some users also report issues with auto-capture functionality and general unreliability .

Head-to-head: Scanner vs Scanner Mini
Stick with Scanner if

You should stick with Scanner if you find its scanning functionality simple and effective for your needs and are willing to tolerate frequent ads or pay for a subscription . Some users report a positive experience with the premium version, finding it easy to use and professional .

Evidence note: The alternatives 'Scanner App. JPG, Photo to PDF Convert Scanner +' and 'Scanner App' have a high volume of negative reviews regarding pricing and functionality, making it difficult to recommend them broadly.

Frequently asked

Is the Scanner app truly free to use?
No, the Scanner app is not truly free; while it may offer some basic functionality, many users report that the free version is unusable due to frequent ads, watermarks, page limits (often 9-10 pages), and poor image quality R6R13R15R19. To remove these limitations and access full features, a subscription is required, which some users found to be $9.99 per week R12.
Are there issues with subscriptions and charges for the Scanner app?
Yes, many users report significant issues with subscriptions and charges for the Scanner app, including being overcharged, charged after canceling a subscription, or finding hidden charges R4R7R21R29. Some users were charged around $50 a month or $9.99 a week, and some noted charges appearing as 'PADDLENET LUNI' even after cancellation R4R12R29.
Why do users consider leaving Scanner for other apps?
Users consider leaving Scanner primarily due to an overwhelming number of unskippable ads that make the app unusable, especially in the free version R3R9R19R23. Other reasons include hidden or excessive subscription charges, poor image quality and watermarks in the free version, and functional problems like the crop feature not working or lost scans R4R6R7R13.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R3] Scanner 3/5 · US Ads appear compromised: Lately I’ve been getting ads of what is called scareware telling me I have viruses on my phone or my accounts are locked and asking me to download. I’ve had a tech perform a security scan and my phone is clean so I’ve course I’m not intending on clicking on the compromised ads. I’ll be deleting and using another application for my pdf needs
  2. [R9] Scanner 3/5 · US Ok: Too many adds
  3. [R19] Scanner 1/5 · US Watermark / Ads: Free version has frequent pop-up advertisements and each scan has a watermark.
  4. [R23] Scanner 1/5 · US Porn advertisement display!!: Temu advertisers is using pornography as a way to get people to click on pictures. It is inappropriate and should be removed right away if children could be using this.
  5. [R4] Scanner 1/5 · US Hidden charges: I paid for 9.99 a month but somehow I ended up paying around 50 dollars a month and I don’t even use this app! They were taking money from me for soo long and I didn’t know it
  6. [R7] Scanner 1/5 · US Scammed me: Over charged me not 1 time but 2 times!
  7. [R21] Scanner 1/5 · US Noo it’s other options that are better and won’t steal your money after you cancel.: Would not recommend
  8. [R29] Scanner 1/5 · US Scammer: They continue to charge you after you cancel your subcription. I notice it 3 months after I ended the subscription. It shows on your statement as PADDLENET LUNI. Bewear, scamming company. I have to call my cc to dispute the charges! How is this app allowed on APPLE store?
  9. [R6] Scanner 3/5 · US Decent app, but there are problems: Decent scanner app for short PDFs. However, the free version has a page limit of 10 pages (it really is 9). Additionally, the pages slightly differ in size and there is a logo in the lower right hand corner of every page that can interfere with the information being scanned.
  10. [R13] Scanner 2/5 · US Free version unusable: Poor image quality worse than just taking a picture with phone camera. Non-premium version is not worth using
  11. [R15] Scanner 1/5 · US More like Scammer app: I had been using this scanner app happily for a couple of years now. I’m a college student and I need to be able to scan handwritten work to submit as a pdf. Three months ago, I would have rated this app 5/5 stars, but the last few updates have made the free version of this app nearly unusable. The app no longer allows me to take a wider picture and crop out what I want. Th
  12. [R1] Scanner 1/5 · US Does not work: Very disappointed
  13. [R33] Scanner 1/5 · US Very bad experience: I paid for premium plan and after 100 pages it stopped and popped out of the app and I lost all 100 pages I already scanned
  14. [R34] Scanner 4/5 · US Good but finicky: I downloaded this because my scanner on phone is temporarily not working & it works well. Although the auto detector for the use has a hard time actually detecting anything, but other then that its fine.
  15. [R10] Scanner 2/5 · US Good scanner app but not free: No free version
  16. [R12] Scanner 3/5 · US Nothing is free: $9.99 per week
  17. [R17] Scanner 1/5 · US Subscription for everything: Monthly subscription = 1 star
  18. [R41] Scanner 1/5 · US Poor business model: I downloaded the app to scan two separate files. It wouldn’t allow me to save anything without a subscription. There is also a 10 page limit. I didn’t think scanning a few document with a camera I already owned required payment to someone but here we are. Best of luck to you if you’d like to try it out yourself.
  19. [R51] CamScanner 1/5 · US Scamcanner: These jerks renewed my annual subscription without letting me know in advance that I would not receive all or most of the benefits included in the subscription last year when I signed up for it. Though the service in general is helpful, I cannot at all recommend the subscription because the developers are obviously not trustworthy.
  20. [R52] CamScanner 5/5 · US Great Scanner app: Excellent app, I recommend it.
  21. [R53] CamScanner 1/5 · US Sketchy Upgrade Stealing Information: There’s been a new upgrade and all the files that I’ve had scanned in the past which were important documents suddenly have disappeared. I’m super frustrated and will escalate this case because this is completely unethical.
  22. [R54] CamScanner 5/5 · US Great scanner tool: Wow saw this on Facebook and it works so well. Just install it and scanned my papers in less than a minute. Works great love it and is simple to use
  23. [R65] Scanner App. JPG 1/5 · US Scam: Scam paywall.
  24. [R66] Scanner App. JPG 5/5 · US UCIS Alexandra Gendenberg: Alix Martin Law group
  25. [R67] Scanner App. JPG 3/5 · US Cod code please: Cod code please
  26. [R68] Scanner App. JPG 1/5 · US Subscription required: if you are looking for a free scanner, don't waste your time with this. It is also priced extremely high for what it does.
  27. [R93] Scanner App 1/5 · US Scam: They want you to sign up for a $12 a week subscription to scan into a pdf. Absolute rip off
  28. [R94] Scanner App 5/5 · US Great app if I ever could say: From start to finish it was very easy no problems no issues. Got the email out to the company great.
  29. [R95] Scanner App 3/5 · US Fingerprints: Guerras mustapha
  30. [R96] Scanner App 1/5 · US Can’t do jack if you don’t pay: Like what do you mean a 7 day free trial
  31. [R107] Scanner Mini 1/5 · US UKRAINIAN EXTREMISTS !!!: UKRAINIAN EXTREMISTS !!! · translated
  32. [R108] Scanner Mini 5/5 · US Great app!: You guys are the best! Keep it up!
  33. [R109] Scanner Mini 3/5 · US It works: I have tried using many different scanners. This is the best scan app I found that actually works and actually saves and helps you keep track of all your files to be scanned and sent. Easy to use easy to send files via email. I don’t write reviews too many times, but this is actually a good app Thank you
  34. [R110] Scanner Mini 2/5 · US HELLO? What happened?: Love this app UNTIL TODAY. What do you mean there’s no more Scanner Mini??? I downloaded the new Pro app but what happened to all previous documents??

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store