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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

ScanGuru vs CamScanner

ScanGuru 4.6★ · Free + IAP 55
Winner CamScanner
CamScanner 4.8★ · Free + IAP 65

CamScanner is generally preferred for its scanning capabilities and organization tools, but both apps face significant criticism regarding deceptive subscription practices and intrusive ads.

Full reviews: ScanGuru · CamScanner

CamScanner (B) holds a higher lifetime rating and is praised for its ease of use and organizational features, despite numerous complaints about aggressive subscription tactics and excessive ads. ScanGuru (A) also receives positive feedback for its scanning function but is heavily criticized for its high weekly pricing and deceptive free trial practices.

Head to head

Features & Scanning Quality edge: CamScannerR8R11R31R33
ScanGuru ScanGuru users find it easy to scan documents and convert them to PDF, appreciating its ability to save certificates and letters R8R11. However, some users report issues with framing documents, incorrect text translation, and the app not working at all R11R31R33R47.
CamScanner CamScanner is widely praised for its scanning capabilities, ease of use, and ability to organize files, with users calling it a 'great scanner tool' and 'instrumental' for work . Some recent reviews, however, mention issues with the 'enhance' feature producing washed-out scans and files disappearing after updates .
Ease of Use edge: CamScannerR4R8R32R57
ScanGuru ScanGuru is described as 'easy-peasy' and 'easy to use as well as set up' by some users R8R32. Conversely, many find it 'very hard to use' with no instructions and error messages, leading to frustration R4R57.
CamScanner CamScanner is frequently lauded for being 'easy to use' and 'convenient' for sending documents . However, some users describe it as 'never a quick breeze' and find it frustrating .
Price/Value & Subscription Practices tieR1R12R17R27
ScanGuru ScanGuru is heavily criticized for its pricing, with users shocked by weekly costs of $7 or $8 R12R27. Many users report being charged immediately after signing up for a 'free trial' or being unable to cancel subscriptions, leading to accusations of scamming R1R17R35R41.
CamScanner CamScanner also faces significant backlash for its subscription practices, with users reporting unexpected annual renewals, being charged after free trials without reminders, and being forced to upgrade for basic features like sending multiple PDFs R61R79. Many find the app's features paywalled .
Ads & User Experience edge: ScanGuruR9R10R13R57
ScanGuru ScanGuru users complain about being forced into the paid version and not being able to use the app without subscribing R9R10R13R57.
CamScanner CamScanner users are highly frustrated by the 'too many advertisements' and 'popups,' even for paying subscribers, with some describing them as 'annoying' and 'parasitic' .
Reliability & Support tieR1R29R33R47
ScanGuru ScanGuru users report issues with the app not working, blank screens, and difficulty cancelling subscriptions R1R29R33. Some also mention poor text translation and errors when trying to complete requests R47.
CamScanner CamScanner users report files disappearing after updates, difficulty emailing PDFs, and no help or support when issues arise . There are also serious concerns about the app uploading files to the cloud with no way to delete them and even accusations of stealing information and dropping Trojans .
Pick ScanGuru if

Pick ScanGuru if you need a basic scanner for occasional use and are willing to navigate its pricing structure carefully, or if you find CamScanner's ads too intrusive R8.

Pick CamScanner if

Pick CamScanner if you need a robust scanning and document organization tool for work or frequent use, and are prepared to deal with its aggressive subscription model and frequent advertisements .

Evidence note: Both apps have a significant number of positive but generic reviews (e.g., 'OK', 'Excellent') that offer little specific detail. The more detailed reviews for both apps tend to be negative, focusing on pricing, subscriptions, and ads. This makes it challenging to compare core scanning features and reliability beyond general sentiment.

Frequently asked

How much do ScanGuru and CamScanner cost?
ScanGuru is criticized for charging around $7 to $8 per week, which many users find too expensive for occasional use R12R27. CamScanner offers a free tier but users report being pushed into annual subscriptions, sometimes costing around $60, and needing to pay extra for features like sending multiple PDFs or removing watermarks R61R79.
Are the free trials for ScanGuru and CamScanner truly free?
Many users for both ScanGuru and CamScanner report being charged immediately or unexpectedly after signing up for a 'free trial,' often without clear notification or difficulty canceling before charges incur R1R17R35R41.
Which app has fewer ads?
ScanGuru users primarily complain about being forced to subscribe to use the app, rather than intrusive ads within a free tier R9R10R13R57. CamScanner, however, receives extensive criticism for 'too many advertisements' and 'popups' that appear frequently, even for paying subscribers .

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. [R8] ScanGuru 5/5 · US Scam Guru: Easy-Peasy right in the palm of your hand onto your phone screen. Then you can file it wherever you want to put it🙌
  2. [R11] ScanGuru 4/5 · US Love this: Just Sometimes it hard to scan it is not able to frame my document and need to adjust But I am so happy I could save my certificates and letters
  3. [R31] ScanGuru 1/5 · US No sirve: No sirve no escanea imágenes
  4. [R33] ScanGuru 1/5 · US Not working: I just added this app & it’s not working!!! 😡
  5. [R4] ScanGuru 1/5 · US Very hard to use!!: Very hard to use, no instructions, error, messages, coming up with no explanation. so far, not impressed with the app. I was thinking about purchasing it but not anymore.
  6. [R32] ScanGuru 5/5 · US Second to none: Love this app easy to use as well as set up
  7. [R57] ScanGuru 1/5 · US Disappointing: Keeps trying to force you into paid version. Can’t get it to work at all. Does anyone actually test these apps to see if they work for someone who doesn’t already know how to use them?
  8. [R1] ScanGuru 2/5 · US No better than iPhone: And very difficult to cancel subscription. It refused to cancel on the app and told me to cancel it here.
  9. [R12] ScanGuru 3/5 · GB Good but needs more affordable price plans: $7 per week!? Had to look twice, thought it said per month at first. It makes sense if you use it all the time as a power productivity tool, but for an occasional user, too expensive
  10. [R17] ScanGuru 1/5 · US Please read!: Scan Guru advertised a free trial but then charged high, undisclosed, and recurring subscription fees. I canceled the application before the 7‑day trial ended, specifically on 03/02/2026, and I have a screenshot confirming the cancellation. Despite canceling on time, I was still charged, and I am now being billed for an additional week even though the subscription period ended on 03/19
  11. [R27] ScanGuru 1/5 · US $8 a week no thanks: $8 a week no thanks
  12. [R9] ScanGuru 3/5 · GB Disappointed: You can’t use it till you subscribe :(
  13. [R10] ScanGuru 1/5 · US Payment: I wish it was free to use but I’m so disappointed with this
  14. [R13] ScanGuru 1/5 · US ScamGuru: The most disgusting app ever. Want to download a scanned document? Pay up. Want to scan multiple items and save them as one file? Pay up. Want to scan more than 3 pages at once? Pay up. Rename your pathetic app to ScamGuru. The number of downloads won't overshadow your shoddiness. · translated
  15. [R29] ScanGuru 1/5 · US Review Jan 11: Tried using your system and nothing but blank came up on my phone. It then that I canceled my subscription. No contact information to help me.
  16. [R47] ScanGuru 1/5 · US Scanner translation errors: For some reason the app will translate to text incorrectly, such as, changing the word DireWolves to DISHCLOTHES, when the word DireWolves is written clearly. Also the scanning to change the text will say complete them says, sorry I can’t complete that request. And it also gives a try again logo for pages that I have to exit the app and refresh it before going back int
  17. [R61] 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.
  18. [R79] CamScanner 2/5 · US Tricked me: I’ve had can scanner before. Recently paid for yearly subscription and now to send multiple pdf’s you have to upgrade to a ridiculous price. I already paid for the year, so I guess I can email only one page at a time. I wouldn’t have even bought the year
  19. [R35] ScanGuru 1/5 · US Felt scammed: I downloaded product 22 November not realizing I had started free trial and when I did go to use app they charged me on December with button set on free trial like I had never activated it so I used thinking I’d have week try out product and instead was charged. I can say it worked well enough for my reason I got it but free trial after expiring I probably would not have charges if p
  20. [R41] ScanGuru 1/5 · US How about SCAMguru: I signed up for the free trial and was charged $33.67 immediately

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