Comparison

LightPDF Scanner vs Notepad

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

Head to head
About

LightPDF Scanner

Transform your mobile device into a powerful scanner. Easily capture documents, photos, and papers, converting them into high-quality PDFs or other formats. Edit, extract text with OCR, and create professional ID photos on the go.

Highlights
  • Scan documents, photos, and papers
  • Convert to PDF, Word, Excel, TXT, JPG
  • Extract text with OCR (20+ languages)
  • Edit PDFs: annotate, e-sign, merge
  • Create and edit ID photos
  • Remove handwriting from papers
  • Batch scanning
Read full description

Say goodbye to huge and heavy copy machines, and say hello to your mobile phone by using the powerful scanner app LightPDF Scanner. Simply take a photo of the file, and the app will automatically convert it into a high-quality PDF file. Easy and fast to create quality scans on the go. ------------------------- Key Features: Document Scanner: 1. Scan Files - Scan anything you need, books, papers, contracts, notes, photos... - Unique smart calibration technology helps to correct image distortion and cluttered background, ensuring quality scans. - Batch scanning lets you scan multiple documents into one single file, saving you from the hassle of combining them manually. 2. Scan IDs - ID Card & Passport mode is specifically designed for fast scans of ID photos, saving you a trip to the print shop. - ID info is 100% confidential, only visible to you. PDF Converter & Editor: 1. File Converter - This PDF scanner saves any of your scans as PDF, Word, Excel, TXT, and JPG. - The converted files retain the original layout of text, images and tables, ensuring a seamless transition. 2. PDF Editor - There is a variety of editing tools for further modifying: add, delete, merge, annotate, e-sign, and highlight. - The AI Retouch mode harness the power of AI to remove sensitive or private info from the file. 3. Text Recognition (OCR) - Extract text from PDFs and uneditable images swiftly, copy text with a single tap, or export it as a TXT file for editing the text. - Supports 20+ languages including Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English, Japanese, Spanish, French, and more. ID Photo Assistant: 1. Taking ID Photos - The ID mode supports commonly-used ID sizes, including passports for US, UK, Japan, and Visa for US and EU. - Automatically remove backgrounds, and offer various colors, specifications, and filters for good-looking ID photos. 2. Fix Blurry Image - The new Unblur Image mode rescues you from blurred photos, improving image quality in a simple tap. Essential Learning Tools: 1. Erase Handwriting - Automatically removes handwritings from test papers, giving you a completely blank new paper. - Save you from the mistakes you made in your study. 2. Scan Books - Easily convert books, materials, notes into e-books. Access them on the go anytime, anywhere, making learning efficient and flexible. 3. Convert Handwriting To Text - Take photos of blackboard or whiteboard notes, the app automatically converts them into texts, helping you organize and backup your notes efficiently, saving time in taking note in the class. Quick Share & Send 1. Share the file in the format you need, PDF, JPG, TXT, etc. 2. Email scans as attachments. 3. Share with other by social media and messaging apps. 4. Print directly from our scanner app. ------------------------- Use Cases: 1. Students: Organize lecture notes, collect study materials, submit homework, collaborate in group studies and create ID photos. 2. Teachers: Archive assignments, prepare teaching materials, share educational content with students and their parents. 3. Office Use: Digitize paper contracts, meeting notes, and other imprtant documents for easy archiving, managment, and collaboration; sign document anywhere, and share project materials across departments. Subscription Service: 1. Periods: 1 Month, 1 Year, 3 Years. 2. Pricing: $4.99/month with a 3-Day Free Trial. Continuous subscription, cancel anytime. $9.99/year, continuous subscription, cance anytime. $19.99/3 years, one-time payment, non-renewing. 3. Subscription fees are charged directly from your account. 4. To cancel the auto-renewal, manually turn off the service in Apple ID Settings at least 24 hours before the subscription expires. 5. Terms of Service: https://lightpdf.com/lightpdf-scanner-terms 6. Privacy Policy: https://lightpdf.com/lightpdf-scanner-privacy We'd love to hear your feedback! Email us at support@lightpdf.com Follow us on Twitter: @LightPdf Follow us on Facebook: Lightpdf

About

Notepad

Features
Read full description

Elevate your coding and writing workflow. Your iPad, iPhone, and Mac are incredibly powerful tools. Notepad: HTML, SVG & JSON is here to make them even better. Designed to fit perfectly into your daily routine, this app provides a beautifully simple and professional way to handle your code and text files. With our latest update, taking advantage of the larger screens on your iPad and Mac has never been easier thanks to the new Live Preview panel. You do not need any special software to start a new project; simply type your code and save the file with the exact extension you need, like .html. Whether you are making a quick update on your iPhone or building a complete webpage on your Mac, you can enjoy a seamless and productive experience. Because it works perfectly with iCloud, your newly created files and progress are always at hand across all your devices. Oh, and you can also just use it to type up some quick notes, save them as a PDF, or print them. After all, it is a notepad app! Why it enhances your workflow: • Live Code Preview (iPad & Mac): Watch your work come to life instantly as you type. The new preview panel supports HTML, SVG, Markdown, CSS, JSON, CSV/TSV, XML, and RTF. (Note: Mermaid and LaTeX previews are also supported and work best with an active internet connection). • Smart Preview Toggle: Keep your workspace exactly how you like it. Turn the preview on or off, and the app will remember your choice for each specific file. • Create Any File: Start from scratch without heavy software. Just write your text and save your file with the exact extension you need (like .html, .svg, or .json). • Always in Sync: Save your new files to iCloud and your work will instantly update across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Your documents are always right where you need them. • Seamless Editing: Effortlessly open your files directly from your folders. • Direct Saving: Save your brilliant work right back to the original file in just one tap. • Helpful Details: Keep track of your progress with live line and character counts. • Comfortable View: Easily zoom in and out to find the perfect text size for reading on any screen. • Share and Print: Quickly export your documents as a PDF or print them directly. (Because sometimes you just need to print your grocery list—it is a notepad, after all!) • Universal Workspace: A smooth and familiar experience across all your Apple devices.

Screenshots

LightPDF Scanner4 screens
Notepad3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: LightPDF Scanner at Free against Notepad's $1.99. LightPDF Scanner also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 26.2). Notepad's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 11 days). On ads and device support 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

LightPDF Scanner is free to download; Notepad costs $1.99 up front. LightPDF Scanner sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Notepad asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LightPDF Scanner ships an update every 11 days, Notepad every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
LightPDF Scanner versus Notepad: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLightPDF ScannerNotepad
PriceFree — better$1.99
Rating4.0 (14 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews79.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings14 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 11 daysEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better26.2
Further details — not scored
Size125 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWangxu Technology Co., LtdRafael Battaglini Camargo

In-app purchases

6 purchases

LightPDF Scanner

Subscriptions4
  • Monthly Subscription3 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Monthly Bundle Plan$5.991 Month
  • Yearly Bundle Plan$9.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Annual Subscription$9.991 Year
One-time2
  • Apowersoft Scanner (3 Years)$19.99
  • 3-year Membership$19.99
None

Notepad

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is LightPDF Scanner free?
LightPDF Scanner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Notepad free?
Notepad costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do LightPDF Scanner or Notepad have ads?
Neither LightPDF Scanner nor Notepad shows ads.
Which is updated more often, LightPDF Scanner or Notepad?
LightPDF Scanner ships an update every 11 days, and Notepad every 3 days. Most recently, LightPDF Scanner was updated on October 16, 2026 and Notepad on October 28, 2026.

Other comparisons