Comparison

PDF Scanner App vs Simple Scanner

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

Head to head
About

PDF Scanner App

Transform your mobile device into a powerful scanner. Easily capture documents, receipts, and more, convert them to PDF, and edit them with advanced tools. Secure your files with passwords and share them effortlessly.

Highlights
  • Scan documents to PDF
  • Edit scans with OCR
  • Add e-signatures
  • Enhance scans with filters
  • Split and merge PDFs
  • Convert between PDF and JPG/Word
  • Compress PDF files
  • Password protect PDFs
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Scan, Print & Share any document to PDF. The new home for all your paper documents. Now you can simply scan, import and share right inside the best portable scanner app. Access everything you’ve previously scanned with the TapScanner app. Why TapScanner? Join over 100 Million satisfied users all over the world who trust TapScanner to be their tiny portable scanner. Scan to PDF • Scan any document and convert to PDF with your mobile device. • TapScanner has got you covered with our pdf maker and pdf reader. Receipts, documents, business cards, whiteboards, ID’s, books and photos - From image to pdf immediately • Scanning made easy • Get your documents auto cropped and sorted in the way you need them • Save time cropping each document Finish your paperwork from anywhere • Use the best document scanner to attach an E-signature using pdf sign tools. • Mark and edit fields to add everything you need with an intuitive pdf viewer. Get the perfect scan - Enhance with Filters • Powerful filters that will make your documents look professional • Remove shadows to enhance your scans • Port to black and white or adjust contrast and brightness Backup to Cloud • Just like that, scans on your phone are backed up to your favourite cloud. • TapScanner’s PDF converter ensures you store a high-quality PDF output from our mobile scanner Edit text from your scans • Convert image to text - Edit your scans with OCR • Export accurate text straight from your docs • Unlock content and extract text from images through OCR with automated text recognition enhanced by machine learning algorithms • Read QR codes with the built in QR scanner which supports links, text ISBN and emails - simply access the Qr code reader in the cam scan module PDF Editor • Pdf splitter - simply import a pdf file and TapScanner will Split PDF • It’s never been easier to split pdf into a number of pdf files Manage your files • Merge PDF files together to make editing easier • Combine PDF files quickly to organize your files Convert files • Share your files in the format you need: convert jpg to pdf files or convert pdf to jpg • Need a document in word? Convert PDF to word, word to PDF for easy editing • PDF to docx function will save you time •PDF to doc functionalities will help you manage your finances • Magically take images from your camera or gallery and turn them to PDFs with Pdf to jpg and Jpg to pdf conversions Compress PDF files • Easy sharing on chats or email • Reduce file size or compress pdf to zip • Making your PDF smaller will help you save space Remove watermarks • Perfect and clean your scans by removing stains Protect Files • Protect PDF with a password • Keep your files secure - lock PDF Print • Using this PDF scanner, you can print directly from our scanner app Get everyone in on the loop • Share documents easily and quickly • Seamlessly share to email, social media and instant messaging apps Sort • Create folders and tag documents to organize your scans in mobile pdf scanner • Find documents in your scanned library easily by name, tag or folder - Subscriptions are billed weekly, monthly or annually at the rate selected depending on the subscription plan. - Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase - Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal - Subscriptions auto-renew at the cost of the chosen package, unless cancelled 24-hours in advance prior to the end of the current period. Subscriptions may be managed by going to your iTunes Account Settings after purchase. You may manage your subscription and turn off auto-renewal by going to your Account Settings after purchase. Privacy Policy - https://tap.pm/privacy-policy-v5/ Service Terms - https://tap.pm/terms-of-service/ Powerful High Quality Scanner App - Try Now For Free!

About

Simple Scanner

Transform your phone into a portable scanner to digitize documents, photos, and receipts. Save scans as images or PDFs, organize them with folders and tags, and share them via cloud services, email, or direct Wi-Fi transfer. Features include OCR text recognition and password protection.

Highlights
  • Portable document scanner
  • Save as JPG or PDF
  • Cloud upload and sync
  • OCR text recognition
  • Password protection
  • Direct Wi-Fi transfer
Features
Read full description

Want a moving scanner? The Simple Scanner is a PDF document scanner application that turns your phone into a portable scanner. you can scan documents, photos, receipts, reports, or just about anything. The scan will be saved to the device in image or PDF format. Name and organize your scan to a folder, or share it in the following ways: -Automatically upload JPG and PDF files to the cloud disk -Backup and restore synchronization files between multiple devices  - E-mail, print, Fax  - Dropbox, Evernote, Google Drive, WhatsApp, or more  - Wifi connects directly to your computer - Support importing PDF files into JPG. - Support for adding tags for quick file search. - Support OCR text recognition, export text. The Document Scanner application has all the features you need: - Mobile phone document, automatically remove the clutter background, generate high-definition JPEG pictures or PDF files. - A variety of image processing mode, you can manually adjust the image parameters, with a mobile phone can be paper documents, quickly turned into a clear electronic draft. - Scan color, grayscale, or black and white - Can be used in office, school, home and any place you want - Automatically detects page edges - 5 levels of contrast for clear monochrome text - Set the PDF page size (Letter, Legal, A4, etc.) - Thumbnail or list view, sorted by date or title - Simple scanner are optimized to run very fast. - Quick search by document title - Use a password to protect your documents - General - A single application that works on your phone! By agreeing to use the app, you agree to the following Privacy Policy and User Terms. Privacy Policy: https://www.tongsoftinfo.com/Simple-Scanner/Privacy-Policy.html Terms of Use: https://www.tongsoftinfo.com/Termsofuse.html If you like simple scanner or have any other comments, please take a moment to write us a comment, or simply email us at simple.scanner@tongsoftinfo.com, which will help us improve our products and give you a better experience.

Screenshots

PDF Scanner App4 screens
Simple Scanner4 screens

Verdict

The call

PDF Scanner App and Simple Scanner both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 95% of Simple Scanner's written reviews are positive against 37% of PDF Scanner App's. Simple Scanner also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). PDF Scanner App's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (27K vs 929). 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. PDF Scanner App sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Simple Scanner sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Simple Scanner holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Scanner App has 27K ratings behind it against 929, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 37% of PDF Scanner App's written reviews are positive against 95% of Simple Scanner's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
PDF Scanner App versus Simple Scanner: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPDF Scanner AppSimple Scanner
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (27K ratings)4.8 (929 ratings) — better
Positive reviews36.6% of reviews95.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings27K — better929
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 2 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#86 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size175 MB196 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSMART MEDIA INTERNET MARKETING LTDTongSoft Information Co., Ltd.

Customer experience

PDF Scanner App

All ratings26,739 ratings
Positive91.5%
Neutral3.0%
Negative5.5%
Written reviews1,403 reviews
Positive36.6%
Neutral3.1%
Negative60.3%

Simple Scanner

All ratings919 ratings
Positive96.4%
Neutral1.1%
Negative2.5%
Written reviews573 reviews
Positive95.3%
Neutral1.2%
Negative3.5%

User reviews

PDF Scanner App

From 27K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 👍 User-friendly
  • 🚀 Convenient scanning
  • 👍 Great features
  • 👍 Intuitive navigation

Room to improve

  • 🔒 Expensive subscription
  • 🐛 Buggy app
  • 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription
  • 🐛 Unreliable scanning
  • 🐛 Mixes up pages

Simple Scanner

From 929 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Fast and efficient
  • 💡 Useful features
  • 🔒 Secure
  • 📁 Organizes documents well

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs
  • 💰 Subscription issues
  • 📢 Too many ads
  • 🔄 Syncing problems

Bugs and requests

PDF Scanner App

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes during scanning
  • Subscription issues
  • Unable to save scans properly
  • Compatibility problems with new devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Option to reorder pages
  • Ability to cancel subscription easily
  • Support for older devices
  • Improved customer service

Simple Scanner

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Camera not working properly
  • Trouble canceling subscriptions
  • Scanned documents not saving correctly

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add support for more file formats
  • Improve sharing and exporting options
  • Implement dark mode
  • Allow importing PDFs directly

In-app purchases

12 purchases

PDF Scanner App

Subscriptions12
  • Scanner App to PDF PRO Weekly7 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Unlimited access7 Days trial5 variants$4.997 Days
  • Unlimited access7 Days trial$5.997 Days
Show 9 more
  • Unlimited Access - Weekly7 Days trial$6.997 Days
  • Unlimited access7 Days trial3 variants$6.997 Days
  • Unlimited access7 Days trial$7.997 Days
  • Scan to PDF App PRO Monthly7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Unlimited access$19.991 Year
  • Unlimited access$39.991 Year
  • Document Scanner App Pro3 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Unlimited access7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • PDF Scanner App Pro3 Days trial$49.991 Year
12 purchases

Simple Scanner

Subscriptions6
  • 1 month subscription$3.991 Month
  • 1 Month -Send unlimited faxes$19.991 Month
  • 1 year subscription3 Days trial$29.991 Year
Show 3 more
  • 1 year subscription1 Year trial$29.991 Year
  • cloud storage subscription$79.991 Year
  • 1 Year - send unlimited faxes$149.991 Year
One-time6
  • Fax 15 credits$0.99
  • Fax 60 credits$2.99
  • Fax 250 credits$9.99
Show 3 more
  • Fax 600 credits$19.99
  • Fax 2000 credits$49.99
  • lifetime license$89.99

Questions

Is PDF Scanner App free?
PDF Scanner App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Simple Scanner free?
Simple Scanner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PDF Scanner App or Simple Scanner?
Simple Scanner is rated higher. PDF Scanner App averages 4.7 out of 5 from 27K ratings, while Simple Scanner averages 4.8 from 929 ratings.
Do PDF Scanner App or Simple Scanner have ads?
Simple Scanner shows ads; PDF Scanner App does not.
Which is updated more often, PDF Scanner App or Simple Scanner?
PDF Scanner App ships an update every 2 weeks, and Simple Scanner every 2 weeks. Most recently, PDF Scanner App was updated on October 25, 2026 and Simple Scanner on October 25, 2026.

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