Tired of using a bulky scanning machine to scan documents into a PDF? If that sounds like you, check out the 10 best document scanner apps that allow you to scan and upload large files using only your iPhone.
The most useful document scanner apps to save as PDF
The photocopy machine at your local drug store will scan your documents for a small fee, but is that always a convenient option? A portable document scanner in your pocket can really put you ahead when time is short, and you need a doc to PDF or a JPG to PDF maker.
Here are the 10 best free document scanner apps for iPhone:
- Scanner App: PDF Scanner
- Scan Easy – PDF Scanner App
- PDF Max
- PDF Cabinet
- DocScanner PDF: Edit, Share
- Doc Scanner – Documents
- Scaner PDF Scanner
- SwiftScan Pro – PDF Scanner
- PDF Scanner – Epic Scanner App
- Scanner – Photo to PDF Scanner
1. Scanner App: PDF Scanner
Price: Free (Offers in-app-purchases)
Compatibility: iOS 11.0 or later
Scanner App: PDF Scanner gives you the ultimate portable document scanner experience. This PDF app is for on-the-go users who need their docs converted into a PDF fast. It lets users scan and edit PDF without any issues. In addition, this PDF reader scans receipts, bills, allows you to scan books, contracts, business cards, and combines them into a multipage PDF to JPG files.
This app uses a highly sophisticated OCR application that reads and extracts every PDF to Word with the utmost accuracy. All of this surely puts this app on the number one spot for the best document scanner around.
Features:
- Use the camera scan or select images from the Camera Roll to get started
- From Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud, and Wi-Fi sync
- Adjust the perspective and borders of scans, add filters, and adjust the orientation
- Uses OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology
- A PDF document editor with a merge PDF capability
- Multi-format PDF converter which converts JPG to PDF, and JPEG to PDF
- Send an individual scan or many files in a single PDF file via Mail, iMessage, or simply save to photos
- Save scanned pages as JPEG files and share them with others
- Unlimited amount of folders
2. Scan Easy – PDF Scanner App
Price: Free (Offers in-app-purchases)
Compatibility: iOS 11.0 or later
The second scanning app is a fantastic choice for those who want to scan photos to a PDF fast. It has an ultra-clean user interface and includes many filters and adjustments for personalization. Docs are also merged to combine various PDF files.
Features:
- Scan multiple pages of one document precisely, quickly, and easily
- Print scanned documents and clipboard text from email attachments and websites
- Edit documents, apply filters, adjust contrast, correct or change orientation
- Save and quickly retrieve all of your recent scans.
- Add various notes such as underlining, text, shapes, and more
3. PDF Max
Price: Free (Offers in-app-purchases)
Compatibility: iOS 11.0 or later
PDF Max is a well-constructed document scanner app for iPhone users to turn a doc into PDF documents. You can highlight and handwrite on docs, insert texts and, stamps and even sign PDFs. Its UI is well sorted, making it easy to maneuver through.
Features:
- Fill PDF forms with highly accurate form-filling features
- Type over a PDF to create accessible text on all PDF pages
- Mark up texts in books, journals, or documents
- Record voice memos and insert them into the final PDF
- Create notes and conversations
4. PDF Cabinet
Price: Free
Compatibility: iOS 11.0 or later
PDF Cabinet is an excellent doc scanner that scans paper super-fast. Scanning is effortless, and it implements optical character recognition technology to extracts texts with accuracy. It also handles large documents reasonably well, which is a plus.
Features:
- Simple PDF annotation
- An easy-to-use user interface
- Use the thumbnails sidebar for quick document skimming and evaluation
- Maximum performance on extremely huge documents
5. DocScanner PDF: Edit, Share
Price: Free (Offers in-app-purchases)
Compatibility: iOS 13.0 or later
This PDF scanner app will get your office/legal documents scanned and uploaded reliably. It features powerful OCR technology, which reads texts with precision. Also, this application allows users to read QR codes which can be helpful to some.
Features:
- Simple PDF merger option
- Text recognition technology
- Read QR codes and barcodes
- Ability to share PDF and JPEG files
- Documents can be encrypted
6. Doc Scanner – Documents
Price: Free (Offers in-app-purchases)
Compatibility: iOS 12.1 or later
This doc scanner allows users to preview a document before uploading, which is extremely helpful. The cam scanner is reliable and transparent. After merging documents, users can share with others with a single tap.
Features:
- PDF document converter
- Advance cam scanner with orientation option
- Preview document scanner for easy uploads
- Seamless file sharing
7. Scaner PDF Scanner
Price: Free (Offers in-app-purchases)
Compatibility: iOS 9.0 or later
This document scanning app is a noble choice for professionals like lawyers and lawmakers. It scans long and text-rich documents with ease. Also, it allows users to add a signature to make things official.
Features:
- Scan any type of document
- Edit files, apply a signature
- Save a PDF file and share it via email and social media
- Scan legal documents and convert them to PDF
8. SwiftScan Pro – PDF Scanner
Price: Free (Offers in-app-purchases)
Compatibility: iOS 12.1 or later
This particular document scanner app has a to-the-point and straightforward user interface. It scans documents reliably and has an intelligent background upload option which is helpful for multi-tasking. The OCR feature works well and is well integrated.
Features:
- Merge PDF multi-age documents
- Color options and automatic optimization for your scans
- Smart background upload
- Beautifully designed UI
- Text recognition (OCR)
9. PDF Scanner: Epic ScannerApp
Price: Free (Offers in-app-purchases)
Compatibility: iOS 13.0 or later
This application has bulk scanning functionality, which can save users a lot of time. It features document border detection technology. It seamlessly scans and uploads docs to PDF and JPG. This specific app offers many filters to customize documents and adjust orientation.
Features:
- Batch scanning
- Document border detection
- Filters (black and white, whiteboard, picture)
- Crop and adjust the orientation
10. Scan it – Photo to PDF Scanner
Price: Free (Offers in-app-purchases)
Compatibility: iOS 11.0 or later
For the average user, this document scanner app is nothing short of amazing. It has dependable OCR technology and high-res upload quality. Its user interface is a bit difficult to use but makes up for it with a PDF merger option that works very well.
Features:
- Convert any scan to text using the OCR feature
- Save your scans in a variety of hues
- Convert to a high-resolution PDF or JPEG
- Scan many pages at once
Finishing Statements
Whether you’re a busy student or working at a government office, a portable document scanner can be of great help. All the apps mentioned on this best doc scanner list will take care of all your scanning docs, photo, files to PDF and JPG needs.