Comparison

Lantern vs ScanMind

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

Head to head
About

Lantern

This app provides a secure and fast VPN connection to keep your internet activity private. It offers both a free plan and a Pro subscription with advanced features, all from a nonprofit dedicated to an open internet.

Highlights
  • Secure and private internet connection
  • Host your own VPN server
  • Global network access
  • Open source code
  • Strict no-logs policy
  • Built-in ad blocking (Pro)
  • Unlimited data (Pro)
Features
Read full description

A nonprofit building tools for an open internet We're a nonprofit with one mission: keeping the internet open for everyone, everywhere. We've spent 12 years developing connection technologies in the world's most demanding network environments. Every Pro subscription directly funds access for people who need it most. Most "free" VPNs want your email before you've even tried them. We don't. No account. No credit card. Just download and connect. Your server, your rules Want zero middlemen? Host your own VPN server on infrastructure you control. Your traffic, your hardware, your rules. Setup takes minutes. Or connect through Lantern's global network. Either way, you're in control. Engineered for reliability We've spent 12 years building connection tools for the hardest network conditions on the planet. That work shows up everywhere: more protocols than typical VPNs, smarter routing, fewer dropped connections. When standard approaches don't work, Lantern has alternatives ready. Privacy you can verify • Open source code, publicly available • Strict no-logs policy • Strong encryption on all connections • Nonprofit structure with transparent funding Honest about what VPNs do We don't sell fear. VPNs protect your privacy and help you access the internet freely. No hype. Just protection that works. Pro features • Unlimited data • Connect up to 5 devices • Built-in ad blocking • Premium server access • Private Server hosting at no extra cost Why a nonprofit VPN? We're funded by subscriptions, not by selling data or running ads. We're accountable to our mission, not shareholders. • 12+ years of proven reliability • Tested in demanding environments worldwide • Research-driven development • Community-supported and mission-focused Free plan available Try Lantern without creating an account or entering payment info. Just download and connect. Pro subscriptions unlock unlimited data and directly support accessible internet worldwide. Try the VPN built by a nonprofit that believes in an open, accessible internet for everyone. Terms of Use: https://lantern.io/terms Privacy Policy: https://lantern.io/privacy Service availability may vary by region due to local regulations.

About

ScanMind

Features
Read full description

ScanMind turns paper documents, receipts, invoices, product labels, IDs, and everyday records into organized, searchable files. Scan with the camera or import photos, correct page edges, recognize English and Chinese text on device, and review structured fields before filing. Built for privacy and control: • On-device OCR for English and Chinese • Structured extraction for receipts, invoices, product labels, shipping documents, IDs, nutrition labels, and more • Multi-page scanning, crop, rotate, reorder, and delete pages • Search across titles, OCR text, and extracted fields • Folders, smart views, archive workflow, and Recently Deleted • Export clean PDFs without a ScanMind watermark • App Lock with Face ID, Touch ID, or device passcode • Original images and recognized text stay on your iPhone ScanMind Pro is a one-time purchase. Core scanning and PDF export remain available without a subscription.

Screenshots

Lantern4 screens
ScanMind3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is chart position: Lantern at #184 against ScanMind's unranked. Lantern also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads 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. Lantern sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month and ScanMind sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lantern ships an update every 6 weeks, ScanMind monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
Lantern versus ScanMind: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLanternScanMind
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (13 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews22.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings13 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#184 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size194 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBrave New Software Project, Inc又文 张

Bugs and requests

Lantern

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • iOS version frequently fails to connect
  • Paid subscription doesn't work on all devices
  • Inconsistent performance across different platforms
  • Confusing or missing in-app settings

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add support for more devices and platforms
  • Improve customer support and responsiveness
  • Provide better guidance on using the paid version
  • Implement more advanced security and privacy features

ScanMind

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Lantern

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription$12.991 Month
  • One Year Plan$48.001 Year
One-time3
  • Lantern Pro: One Month Plan$12.00
  • Lantern Pro: One Year Plan$55.99
  • Lantern Pro: Two Year Plan$100.99
1 purchases

ScanMind

One-time1
  • ScanMind Pro Lifetime$12.99

Questions

Is Lantern free?
Lantern is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ScanMind free?
ScanMind is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Lantern or ScanMind have ads?
Neither Lantern nor ScanMind shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lantern or ScanMind?
Lantern ships an update every 6 weeks, and ScanMind monthly. Most recently, Lantern was updated on October 26, 2026 and ScanMind on October 24, 2026.

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