Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

iScanner vs Scanner

iScanner 4.8★ · Free + IAP 75
Winner iScanner
Scanner 4.7★ · Free + IAP 60

iScanner is the better choice for its higher quality scans and more reliable performance, despite its aggressive monetization tactics.

Full reviews: iScanner · Scanner

Both iScanner and Scanner offer similar core functionality for document scanning, but iScanner generally provides better scan quality and a more polished user experience, as long as you navigate its subscription model. Scanner struggles with frequent ads and issues in its free version, making it less reliable for consistent use.

Head to head

Scan Quality & Features edge: iScannerR3R6R13R14
iScanner iScanner users praise its vibrant colors, aligned images, and overall high-quality scans, often calling it the 'best quality scanner' they've used R3R14. It's noted for cleaning up documents to look more polished . However, some users report faint scans when using the camera R6 and issues with handwriting to text conversion, where it reorganizes or erases text R13.
Scanner Scanner users appreciate its clear and easy scans, with documents looking professional and not like pictures . However, the free version is criticized for poor image quality, worse than a phone camera R73, and for adding a logo watermark that can interfere with information R66R81. One user reported losing 100 scanned pages after the app crashed .
Ease of Use edge: iScannerR5R6R9R12
iScanner Many iScanner users find the app 'easy peasy,' simple, and intuitive, making complex processes easy R5. It's described as very user-friendly R6 and having an intuitive UI . However, some users find it slow and not very intuitive R12, or report a learning curve . There are also complaints about difficulty naming and saving documents without forwarding them first R9 and complications with sending documents .
Scanner Scanner is generally described as very user-friendly, simple, and straightforward . Users appreciate its ease in scanning documents to PDF and sending via email . However, some find it not easy to use and report issues with the auto-detector being finicky .
Reliability & Performance edge: iScannerR2R4R12R14
iScanner iScanner generally performs well for many users, with some stating it 'works like a charm' and 'always does what I need it to do' R14. It has been used successfully for years by long-term users R2. However, recent updates have led to complaints of the app becoming 'extremely slow' R4R12 and issues with sending emails not working .
Scanner Scanner is praised for being fast and easy and reliable . However, recent updates have made the free version 'nearly unusable' due to issues like the crop feature not working and buttons getting stuck . It's also described as glitchy and some users report the app not working at all .
Price & Value tieR1R3R7R18
iScanner iScanner faces significant criticism for its pricing model, with users complaining about high weekly subscription costs R3R7R18. Many feel it's a 'scam' due to hidden costs, difficulty canceling subscriptions, and being charged without knowing R1. Some paid users also report limitations, such as being unable to send documents after a certain number, despite having paid R30. The free version is heavily criticized for intrusive ads R22.
Scanner Scanner also receives strong negative feedback regarding its pricing. Users report hidden charges, being overcharged, and continued charges after cancellation R64. The app is criticized for being 'not free to save a pdf scan' and for forcing users to upgrade to premium for basic functions R75. The free version is plagued by an 'obscene amount of ads' R75 and watermarks R81.
Support tieR1R52R58R107
iScanner There are no specific reviews praising iScanner's customer support. However, some users report issues with canceling subscriptions, suggesting a lack of responsive support or intentionally difficult processes R1R52R58.
Scanner Scanner users report receiving no response after reaching out for help twice regarding subscription issues R107. There are also complaints about misleading instructions for canceling free trials .
Pick iScanner if

You prioritize high-quality scans and a generally easy-to-use interface, and are willing to navigate or pay for a subscription to avoid ads and unlock full features R3R5R14.

Pick Scanner if

You need a very simple, straightforward scanner for occasional use and are prepared to deal with frequent ads, or are willing to pay for a premium subscription to remove them R75.

Evidence note: Both apps have a significant number of negative reviews related to their monetization strategies, including intrusive ads in the free versions and perceived 'scams' or hidden charges in their paid tiers. This skews recent reviews negatively for both, despite their high lifetime ratings. The comparison focuses on the core scanning experience once these monetization issues are accounted for.

Frequently asked

Is iScanner truly free to use?
iScanner is free to download and allows scanning, but many core functionalities like saving, sharing, or combining multiple scans are behind a paywall, and the free version is heavily impacted by intrusive ads R1R16R22R30.
How much does iScanner cost?
iScanner has various payment models, with some users reporting a cost of $12 per week after a free trial, and others mentioning a lifetime subscription for $24.95, though even paid users sometimes face additional charges or limitations R3R7R18R30.
Does Scanner have a free version?
Yes, Scanner has a free version, but it is often described as unusable due to an 'obscene amount of ads,' poor image quality, a 10-page limit, and watermarks on scans R66R73R75R81.
Are there issues with canceling subscriptions for either app?
Yes, users for both iScanner and Scanner report significant difficulties canceling subscriptions, with complaints of hidden cancel buttons, misleading instructions, and continued charges even after cancellation R1R52R58R64.

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] iScanner 3/5 · US Is it really worth the $12/week?: Don’t get me wrong - this app is leagues better for photoscanning than any other app I’ve tried. The colors are vibrant, and the images are nice and aligned. My only gripes are that it doesn’t tell you about the price until you try to share your scan, and that the price is twelve dollars per week (after the one week free trial). It can only reasonably be said to b
  2. [R6] iScanner 3/5 · GB Faint scan when using the camera: The scan is very user friendly but the images are faint
  3. [R13] iScanner 1/5 · US Convert to text: When I tried to convert my hand writing to text it didn’t do it the way it was written. Instead it reorganized the words, and erased a lot of the hand writing.
  4. [R14] iScanner 5/5 · US Great App: Works like a charm! Great quality scans. Very easy to use and very versatile!
  5. [R5] iScanner 5/5 · US Easy Peasy: I just took my pictures (scanned) and they were complied into a PDF!! Thank you for making a complex process “easy peasy!”.
  6. [R9] iScanner 3/5 · GB Scanning documents: It’s a shame you can’t name and save the documents, rather then forwarding them on first. Or if you can, I can’t see how
  7. [R12] iScanner 3/5 · GB Slow and not very intuitive: Very average
  8. [R2] iScanner 5/5 · US Very useful: I have used the app for years and I am very happy with it.
  9. [R4] iScanner 1/5 · US Horrible: Don’t use. Since the new update it’s extremely slow and not worth the effort.
  10. [R1] iScanner 1/5 · US Don’t use this: You need to pay to be able to use it and it’s impossible to cancel your subscription.
  11. [R7] iScanner 1/5 · US UScamer: They think we are stupid, idiotic, weekly SUBscription; leave it
  12. [R18] iScanner 1/5 · US Cost: Too expensive overall. Every thing is at an add in cost weekly.
  13. [R52] iScanner 1/5 · GB Makes the cancel button for the pro trial absurdly hard to find: Clearly just trying to trick people into paying for another subscription, the lack of integrity from apple is to be expected but still very poor.
  14. [R58] iScanner 1/5 · GB Terrible app!: Will not allow me to cancel my subscription! Keeps throwing out a message no internet connection though I have connection 😡
  15. [R107] Scanner 1/5 · US Not good: Used to be okay? I paid for a subscription and they don't keep it current. I have reached out twice for help and no response. Too many adds and don't pay because it only works for a week then puts you back like you didn't pay
  16. [R16] iScanner 2/5 · US Not free to save a pdf scan: It's free to download the app, free to scan a document, but you can't do anything with the document once you scan it, can't even save it. So, not a free option to obtain a usable a PDF scan document.
  17. [R22] iScanner 1/5 · US ads suck: Dude this sucks. The ads are so intrusive and have fake buttons so you click on them. The scanning is whatever and it’s so many steps to just send myself an email and multiple scans under one batch is under a paywall. You’re a glorified camera app. Get over yourself (I’m mostly salty about ads. They are truly the worst)
  18. [R30] iScanner 1/5 · US A scam: I paid $24.95 for a lifetime subscription. I don’t want to pay more for the pro version since I only scan a few documents per month, mostly for the insurances I have. It only allowed me to send 5 documents! So now I am supposed to pay more just to send the documents? What good is scanning them if I can’t use them to send ?
  19. [R66] 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.
  20. [R73] 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
  21. [R75] Scanner 3/5 · US Pretty alright app: It’s not horrible, but it’s not great. It’s fine for what it needs to be used for, a scanner. But it’s basically forcing you to upgrade to premium; obscene amount of ads, no unpaid text recognition, ect. Pretty annoying. But overall, it’s fine.
  22. [R81] Scanner 1/5 · US Watermark / Ads: Free version has frequent pop-up advertisements and each scan has a watermark.
  23. [R64] 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

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