Scanner
Scanner by Luni offers basic scanning functionality that some users find easy to use, but recent updates have made the free version nearly unusable due to an overwhelming number of unskippable ads, forced subscriptions, and reports of unauthorized charges.
Scanner by Luni is a mobile application designed for scanning documents to PDF, with some users praising its ease of use and convenience. However, recent reviews highlight significant issues with excessive advertisements, mandatory subscriptions, and alleged fraudulent billing practices, making the free version largely impractical and raising concerns about the paid version.
What users like
What users complain about
- Overrun with frequent, unskippable ads that make the app unusable, especially in the free version.R5R16R21R23
- Users report being charged without consent or after canceling free trials, with some experiencing recurring unauthorized charges.R7R8R22R29
- The app forces users to sign up for a 'free trial' or subscription immediately, making it impossible to use the basic functions without payment.R10R20R26R38
- The free version has limitations such as a page limit (9-10 pages), watermarks, and poor image quality.R12R21R24R25
- Some users experienced glitches with cropping, saving, exporting multiple pages, and the auto-detection feature.R16R31R32R34
Latest update · v2.11.17
What the developer says changed (the verdict above weighs this against what reviewers report):
We've been listening to your feedback and made some adjustments to enhance stability and performance. Thanks for your patience as we continue to improve your experience!
Recurring themes
Who it's for
This app might be for users who need a very basic, occasional scanner and are willing to tolerate frequent ads or pay for a premium version, though even paid users report ad issues . It is NOT for users who need a reliable, ad-free experience, are on a tight budget, or are concerned about unauthorized billing R7R29.
Evidence note: The recent reviews skew heavily negative, focusing on ads and billing issues. While there are positive reviews praising ease of use, they are fewer and often older, or acknowledge the presence of ads. The high lifetime rating of 4.7 suggests a positive past, but the recent trajectory is clearly negative.
Frequently asked
Is Scanner by Luni truly free to use?
What are the common issues with the paid version or subscriptions?
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.
- [R2] Clear and easy scan: This little handy dandy scanner on my phone sure makes my life a lot easier it scans really simply and attach all documents together as a group making it easier to forward to myself and save on my computer when I don’t have my Scanner handy to be honest it’s even better than my Scanner because I don’t have to get up and go and literally do it at my desk
- [R3] Scanner - Scan PDF: This App is very user friendly.
- [R4] COO: Simple straightforward
- [R6] The scanner actually works: Typically, I hate downloading anything that has to do with iPhones because it’s always an extra surcharge, but I will say that I was able to use the app do my conversion with no problem and it doesn’t look like a picture. It looks scanned and professional so I actually decided to leave a comment cause it actually work.
- [R5] 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
- [R16] 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
- [R21] Watermark / Ads: Free version has frequent pop-up advertisements and each scan has a watermark.
- [R23] 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.
- [R7] 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
- [R8] Scammed me: Over charged me not 1 time but 2 times!
- [R22] Noo it’s other options that are better and won’t steal your money after you cancel.: Would not recommend
- [R29] 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?
- [R10] Good scanner app but not free: No free version
- [R20] Subscription for everything: Monthly subscription = 1 star
- [R26] A complete scam: I am constantly being asked to upgrade to a more expensive version just to complete simple tasks. Don’t download.
- [R38] 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.
- [R12] Free version unusable: Poor image quality worse than just taking a picture with phone camera. Non-premium version is not worth using
- [R24] Don’t bother: App is a scam, tons of ads and you can’t export what you scanned without a watermark unless you pay $13. Major waste of time
- [R25] 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.
- [R31] 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
- [R32] 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.
- [R34] Absolutely Irritating: I have used this app in the past and had a really great experience. However, recently it has become overrun with ads. Every time I exit or enter any page, a 20 second video advertisement shows up that can’t be skipped. I am just left to bear it while practically ripping my hair out. Along with this, the crop feature does not work, and the buttons often get stuck. After a hal
- [R13] I love this App!!: This app is awesome. It allows me to scan my documents without needing a computer or printer and send them to anyone. I love it!!
- [R72] Unusable with the amount of pop up ads: The amount of pop up ads in this app make it almost unusable. Every time you click a button the app gives you several screens of pop ups that you need to get through before the button works. The app also adds a watermark that obscured the bottom corner of each page. Luckily it’s small, but could be an issue if you have important info in that corner. I used t
- [R55] Not so free trial: App offered 3 day trial I selected. Finally got past google apps, realized it wasn’t for me. I was charged full amount in day one.
Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store