# Basic Scan vs uScan

Basic Scan and uScan both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 95% of Basic Scan's written reviews are positive against 47% of uScan's. Basic Scan also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). uScan's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and ratings volume (15K vs 294). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Basic Scan sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and uScan sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Basic Scan against 4.6 for uScan. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: uScan has 15K ratings behind it against 294, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 95% of Basic Scan's written reviews are positive against 47% of uScan's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on July 5, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Basic Scan | uScan |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (294 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basic-scan-pdf-scanner-ocr/id1437323368/reviews) | **[4.6 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/uscan-pdf-document-scanner/id1546202752/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 294 | **15K** |
| Positive reviews | **95.2% of reviews** | 47.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#195** |
| Size | 17 MB | 179 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [INWARD INSIGHT LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1437323367) | [Lopofist Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1546202754) |

## What reviewers say

### Basic Scan

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basic-scan-pdf-scanner-ocr/id1437323368)

Easily capture, scan, and share documents, receipts, and notes. Convert images to high-quality PDFs or PNGs, and extract text using OCR for easy searching. Sign documents and organize your scanned files efficiently.

**Highlights:** Document scanning with edge detection, Image filters for readability, OCR text recognition (20 languages), Digital signature tool, Export as PNG, PDF, or TXT, Organize and manage scanned pages

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| اشتراك Premium شهري | $4.99 | per month |
| Basic Scan Premium | $9.99 | per month |
| اشتراك ربع سنوي | $11.99 | per 3 months |
| Basic Scan Premium | $19.99 | per 3 months |
| اشتراك Premium سنوي | $39.99 | per year |
| Basic Scan Premium | $59.99 | per year |


### uScan

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/uscan-pdf-document-scanner/id1546202752)

**Currently charting:** #195 Top Grossing · Business (US App Store)

Transform your phone into a portable scanner to digitize documents, receipts, and notes. Edit scanned files, extract text with OCR, and add electronic signatures. Create high-quality PDF or DOC files for easy sharing and management.

**Highlights:** Scan and edit any document, Convert image to editable text (OCR), Add electronic signatures, High-quality PDF/DOC output, Multi-page scanning, File management with folders

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited access | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited access | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited access | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited access + PDF editor | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited access + PDF editor | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited access | $9.99 | per month |
| Unlimited access | $9.99 | per month |
| Unlimited access | $39.99 | per year |
| Unlimited access | $59.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Access | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Fast and convenient
- 💡 Helpful for work and personal needs
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🚀 Efficient scanning

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription fees
- 🐛 Inconsistent scanning quality
- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 💰 Hidden/unclear pricing
- 🐛 Difficulty cancelling subscription

**Reported bugs**

- Scans not properly aligned or cropped
- App shuts down when scanning large documents
- Inconsistent performance across devices

**Requested features**

- Integration with cloud storage services
- Ability to label/organize scanned documents
- Handwriting recognition
- Option to use app without subscription


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Basic Scan free?

Basic Scan is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is uScan free?

uScan is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Basic Scan or uScan?

uScan is rated higher. Basic Scan averages 4.5 out of 5 from 294 ratings, while uScan averages 4.6 from 15K ratings.

### Do Basic Scan or uScan have ads?

uScan shows ads; Basic Scan does not.

### Which is updated more often, Basic Scan or uScan?

Basic Scan ships an update every 3 weeks, and uScan every 3 weeks. Most recently, Basic Scan was updated on July 5, 2026 and uScan on September 27, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*