Comparison

Adobe Scan vs Sign PDF Documents

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Adobe Scan

Transform your mobile device into a powerful document scanner. Easily convert paper documents, receipts, and IDs into professional-looking PDFs or JPEGs. Enhance scans with automatic straightening, stain removal, and editable text conversion.

Highlights
  • High-speed bulk scanning
  • Convert paper to PDF/JPEG
  • Automatic straightening
  • Magic eraser for cleanup
  • Extract pages
  • Image to text OCR
  • Organize into folders
Read full description

Major update: The new Digitize tool lets you scan handwritten notes and whiteboards into editable, searchable documents that look digitally created. Currently available in beta. Adobe Scan is free to download and turns your mobile device into a powerful PDF and document scanner that helps you create, save, and organize your paper documents as digital files. 6 WAYS TO USE ADOBE SCAN 1) Save time with a fast document scanner: Use High-speed scan to bulk scan documents and turn stacks into PDFs in seconds. 2) Clean up scans with Magic eraser: Auto-detect and remove thumbs, shadows, stains and creases so your document scans look clear and professional. 3) Make a PDF with your phone: Convert paper documents or printed images into PDFs or JPEGs with the mobile PDF and photo scanner. 4) Use the Extract pages tool to choose the pages you need from any multi-page scan and save them as a new PDF. 5) Turn images to text: Use the image-to-text feature to make words in your scans searchable and editable with OCR. 6) Scan anything: Receipts, IDs, notes, recipes, photos, business cards, whiteboards – scan documents into PDF or JPEG files you can work with on your phone, tablet, or computer. CAPTURE WITH PRECISION • The Straighten tool fixes pages that come out curved or tilted while you scan, even if all four corners aren’t visible in the scan. • Advanced scanning technology detects borders, sharpens content, and makes your scans editable and searchable. ENHANCE YOUR SCANS • Edit in text lets you scan words, and handwritten text, to make it editable. • The Modify tool helps you crop, rotate, resize, and adjust colors in your scans. • Reorder pages and preview before saving. • Adjust the brightness and contrast of your scans in just a few taps. ORGANIZE YOUR DOCUMENTS • Scan paperwork and create custom folders for work documents, personal files, school forms, or ID scans. • Contact details are pulled straight from business cards so you can save them to your phone contacts in seconds. • Scans are automatically saved to Adobe Document Cloud for instant access and sharing. • Set a password to keep that important scan secure while you send it. SMART LIBRARY • This powerful doc scanner finds documents and receipts in your photo library and turns them into PDFs. • Touch up scans or photos directly from your camera roll. REUSE & SHARE • Open PDFs directly in Adobe Scan, without leaving the app. Then use tools like Modify, Edit, and Share. • Make high-quality PDFs that unlock text from images – from scanned contracts to study notes – so you can copy, edit, and reuse. • Export your scans to Word, Excel, or PowerPoint for new formats, then share. DO MORE WITH ACROBAT READER • Open your PDF scan in Acrobat Reader to comment, highlight, fill forms, and sign documents. • Access and share securely across Scan, Reader, and Acrobat on web and mobile. IN-APP PURCHASE • Subscribe for even more scanning power. Subscriptions work across Scan and Reader mobile apps and Acrobat on the web. • Combine scans into one file so you can take multiple scans and consolidate into one document. • Increase OCR capacity from 5 to 100 pages so that you can find text in multiple images. Download this free mobile scanner to convert important photos and documents into PDF and JPEG files to help you stay organized. Adobe Scan is the PDF converter trusted by millions worldwide. Terms & Conditions: Your use of this application is governed by the Adobe General Terms of Use http://www.adobe.com/go/terms_linkfree_en and the Adobe Privacy Policy http://www.adobe.com/go/privacy_policy_linkfree_en Do not sell or share my personal information www.adobe.com/go/ca-rights-linkfree

About

Sign PDF Documents

Easily sign documents like PDFs and other files directly from your device. Scan, capture, or create custom signatures to apply to your files. Manage and share all your signed documents with this offline app.

Highlights
  • Sign documents from files
  • Sign documents from iCloud
  • Sign documents from photos
  • Scan and sign documents
  • Create and capture signatures
  • Edit PDFs with signatures
  • Share signed documents
  • Manage signed documents
Features
Read full description

Sign PDF documents, contracts, and forms in seconds with E-Signature — the fastest electronic signature app for iPhone and iPad. Add your digital signature to any PDF, eSign agreements, and scan paper documents without printing, faxing, or scanning hassle. Pick PDFs from Files, iCloud, Photos, or paste a URL. Scan paper documents with your camera and convert them to PDF instantly. Open any PDF or image directly from the Files app or other apps and start signing immediately. Everything stays private. Your documents and signatures are stored locally on your device — your data never leaves your iPhone or iPad. KEY FEATURES Sign PDF documents from Files, iCloud, Photos, or URLs Open PDFs and images directly from the Files app Scan paper documents with your camera and sign them Draw your signature or type it with 20+ handwriting fonts Capture a paper signature using your camera Use the built-in signature generator to create signatures instantly Add stamps, text, dates, and watermarks to any PDF Generate AI summaries and key points from any document — powered by on-device Apple Intelligence Control the document signer with Siri Shortcuts and voice commands Save and manage multiple signatures with favorites Browse, rename, and share all signed documents Dark Mode support Works completely offline — no internet required WHY CHOOSE E-SIGNATURE Faster than web-based signing tools — sign right on your iPhone No account, no signup, no cloud — open the app and sign The only document signer with built-in scanning, AI summaries, and Apple Watch support Trusted digital signature app for freelancers, founders, and small business owners SIRI SHORTCUTS "Sign a PDF" — opens the file picker "Scan and Sign" — launches the document scanner "Sign from Photos" — pick an image to sign "Open Last Document" — jump back to your most recent file "Show My Signatures" — view all saved signatures PERFECT FOR Signing contracts and NDAs on the go eSigning rental agreements and lease documents Adding electronic signatures to invoices and proposals Signing offer letters, consent forms, and authorization papers Quick PDF edits with text, stamps, and annotations SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS E-Signature offers auto-renewable subscriptions to unlock premium features: Weekly & Monthly Subscription along with Free trial availability Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Your subscription will automatically renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period at the cost of the chosen plan. You can manage or cancel your subscription anytime in your Apple ID Account Settings. Privacy Policy: https://esign-pdf-documents.nextpixelapps.app/privacy Terms of Service: https://esign-pdf-documents.nextpixelapps.app/terms

Screenshots

Adobe Scan4 screens
Sign PDF Documents4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Sign PDF Documents at none against Adobe Scan's shown. Adobe Scan's advantage is ratings volume (1.6M vs 55) and chart position (#14 vs unranked). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Adobe Scan sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Sign PDF Documents sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Adobe Scan against 4.9 for Sign PDF Documents. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Adobe Scan has 1.6M ratings behind it against 55, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Adobe Scan ships an update fortnightly, Sign PDF Documents every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
Adobe Scan versus Sign PDF Documents: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAdobe ScanSign PDF Documents
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (1.6M ratings) — better4.9 (55 ratings)
Positive reviews82.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.6M — better55
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
Best chart rank#14 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size400 MB89 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAdobe Inc.NextPixel apps

Customer experience

Adobe Scan

All ratings1,601,238 ratings
Positive97.6%
Neutral1.3%
Negative1.1%
Written reviews3,985 reviews
Positive82.1%
Neutral3.0%
Negative14.9%

Sign PDF Documents

All ratings55 ratings
Positive98.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative1.8%

Bugs and requests

Adobe Scan

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Scans not saving properly
  • Compatibility issues with older devices
  • Problems with multi-page document scanning

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add option to save scans locally without cloud sync
  • Improve edge detection and auto-cropping accuracy
  • Implement multi-language OCR support
  • Allow manual control over scan settings and adjustments

Sign PDF Documents

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

13 purchases

Adobe Scan

Subscriptions13
  • Adobe Scan Premium$3.991 Month
  • Adobe Scan Plus - Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Adobe PDF Pack$9.991 Month
Show 10 more
  • Adobe Scan Premium - Monthly7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Adobe Scan Premium$9.991 Month
  • Scan premium - monthly$14.991 Month
  • Adobe Scan Plus - Yearly$19.991 Year
  • Adobe Scan Premium7 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Adobe Scan Premium7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Adobe Scan Premium7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Adobe Scan Premium7 Days trial$69.991 Year
  • Adobe Scan Premium1 Year trial$69.991 Year
  • Adobe PDF Pack$89.991 Year
6 purchases

Sign PDF Documents

Subscriptions6
  • PDF Signature weekly plan$4.997 Days
  • Sign PDF Documents with Esign3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Sign PDF Documents with Esign$5.997 Days
Show 3 more
  • E-signature documents & PDF$6.997 Days
  • Document sign now - Monthly3 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • PDF Signature - eSign App3 Days trial$9.991 Month

Questions

Is Adobe Scan free?
Adobe Scan is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Sign PDF Documents free?
Sign PDF Documents is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Adobe Scan or Sign PDF Documents?
Adobe Scan is rated higher. Adobe Scan averages 4.9 out of 5 from 1.6M ratings, while Sign PDF Documents averages 4.9 from 55 ratings.
Do Adobe Scan or Sign PDF Documents have ads?
Adobe Scan shows ads; Sign PDF Documents does not.
Which is updated more often, Adobe Scan or Sign PDF Documents?
Adobe Scan ships an update fortnightly, and Sign PDF Documents every 3 weeks. Most recently, Adobe Scan was updated on November 1, 2026 and Sign PDF Documents on October 24, 2026.

Other comparisons