Comparison

PDF Scanner app vs Preview mini

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 phone into a powerful document scanner. Easily capture, edit, sign, and share documents in PDF format. Securely store all your important papers, from contracts and IDs to receipts and notes, directly on your device.

Highlights
  • Scan documents to PDF
  • Edit scanned documents
  • Sign documents digitally
  • Store documents securely
  • Share documents easily
  • Text recognition
Features
Read full description

Scanner App Pro is an ultimate mobile document scanner. We use the most advanced technology in scanning and text recognition. With our app, you can scan, edit, sign, store, and share your docs in PDF. Instantly scan and convert any handwritten, printed or graphic materials, including: - Сontracts with your business partners or clients - IDs, passports, driver's licenses, credit cards, business cards - Receipts and bills to stay on top of your expenses - Paper notes to make sure your ideas are not lost - Printed articles and book pages - Texts that do not yet exist in digital format - Any other multipage document for any purpose. Forget about paperwork and huge office scanners. All improtant information is now always with you, right in your pocket. Scanning with Scanner App Pro is 100% safe and secure. All scanned and exported docs are stored on your device and can't be accessed by us or third parties. Links to our Terms and Privacy Policy can be found below: Privacy Policy: http://katingo.tilda.ws/scanner_privacy Terms: http://katingo.tilda.ws/scanner_terms

About

Preview mini

Edit and annotate images and PDFs with a desktop-like experience on your iPhone and iPad. Offers advanced features for viewing, converting, and managing files, inspired by macOS.

Highlights
  • Image editing and cropping
  • PDF annotation and editing
  • File conversion
  • Drag and drop support
  • Keyboard shortcuts
  • Password protection for PDFs
Features
Read full description

Preview mini is a powerful tool for working with images and PDFs on iPhone and iPad. Inspired by macOS. Created for iOS.  Preview mini combines the convenience of editing images and PDFs into a single application, offering advanced features for viewing, annotating, and converting files. The macOS-inspired desktop experience, featuring the brand-new File Desktop, familiar window controls, drag and drop, keyboard interaction, and even more to fall in love with. IMAGE EDITING – Highlight and crop image fragments – Rotate, flip, and resize – Add text, notes, and shapes – Support for blank templates with resolution selection PDF HANDLING – Edit and annotate PDF documents – Highlight text and create custom annotations* – Duplicate, convert, and manage PDF pages* – Add and remove passwords to protect files* IMPORT, EXPORT, AND INTEGRATION – Export images in HD quality* – Export JPEG/PNG with file size preview* – Support for keyboard shortcuts and trackpad for convenient use* *Features available in the full version of the application. Using Preview mini significantly simplifies the processing of images and PDF documents. You can quickly edit files, highlight important details, fill out forms, and add signatures without the need to switch between different applications. This saves you time, increases productivity, and makes working with documents convenient and intuitive! Download Preview mini and manage images and PDFs with macOS convenience on your iPhone and iPad! ––– Legal notice This application is NOT an Apple product. Preview mini is an independent development, inspired by macOS but not affiliated with Apple Inc. Images in the screenshots are provided by artists: Pok Rie (https://www.pexels.com/de-de/@pok-rie-33563) Fabian Wiktor (https://www.pexels.com/de-de/@fabianwiktor)

Screenshots

PDF Scanner app4 screens
Preview mini4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Preview mini at 63% against PDF Scanner app's 29%. PDF Scanner app's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 10 days). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Preview mini sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PDF Scanner app holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Scanner app has 1.3K ratings behind it against 212, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 29% of PDF Scanner app's written reviews are positive against 63% of Preview mini's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PDF Scanner app ships an update every 3 days, Preview mini every 10 days. Both last shipped on October 27, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
PDF Scanner app versus Preview mini: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPDF Scanner appPreview mini
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.3K ratings) — better4.3 (212 ratings)
Positive reviews28.6% of reviews63.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.3K — better212
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 10 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size46 MB103 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMikhail KatinMarian Koenig

Customer experience

PDF Scanner app

All ratings1,311 ratings
Positive91.8%
Neutral2.8%
Negative5.4%
Written reviews35 reviews
Positive28.6%
Neutral5.7%
Negative65.7%

Preview mini

All ratings212 ratings
Positive80.7%
Neutral4.7%
Negative14.6%
Written reviews68 reviews
Positive63.2%
Neutral10.3%
Negative26.5%

User reviews

PDF Scanner app

From 1.3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Excellent for scanning documents
  • 💡 Helpful for immigration documents

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and issues with saving/sending scans
  • 💰 Requires paid subscription to access full functionality
  • 🔒 Limited free features, need to pay to unlock

Preview mini

From 212 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Useful application, replaces MS Paint
  • 💡 Video tutorials are helpful
  • 🚀 Makes life easier
  • 👍 Wonderful and powerful iPad app
  • 👍 Great replacement for Preview (almost)

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Changes not saved on iPad
  • 🐛 Does not export PDF as picture
  • 🐛 Difficult to use on iPad
  • 🐛 Crashing the app on large PDFs
  • 🐛 Only allows acting on one page at a time

Bugs and requests

PDF Scanner app

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Scanned documents not saving or sending properly
  • App randomly switching to 'auto' mode
  • Inconsistent document naming when sharing

Requested features

3 requests
  • Add ability to edit scanned documents
  • Improve image quality of scans
  • Provide more free features without subscription

Preview mini

Reported bugs

13 issues
  • Changes not saved when attaching to email
  • App errors out on large PDFs and crashes
  • App shuts down during photo editing, unsaved work lost
  • Cannot type the letter 'y' in documents
  • Payment issues with Apple, requires new credit card data
Show 8 more
  • Pro version not activated after deduction, amount not refunded
  • Errors when trying to buy the full version
  • Small glitch with 'cut' upon install
  • PDF cropping is not the same as Preview
  • Cannot paste as shown in preview videos
  • App hangs during PDF editing, lost entire work
  • No difference found between free and full version after purchase
  • File export only works with paid version

Requested features

27 requests
  • Split-screen or slide-over capability
  • Export PDF as picture (JPG, etc.)
  • Ability to paste one image on top of another
  • Ctrl-Z for quick undo
  • Straight line option for markup
Show 22 more
  • Tiled printing option
  • Export multiple edited images at once
  • Dark mode option
  • Advanced analytics dashboard
  • Ability to add PDF to share sheet
  • Copy & Paste transparent objects
  • More advanced image editing options
  • Slide show functionality
  • Presentation modes for PDFs
  • Ability to rotate and crop PDFs
  • Full screen slide mode
  • PDF filling functionality
  • Selectable fonts
  • Improve PDF cropping
  • Use in extension window for quick edits
  • Allow users to quickly edit inside the extension window
  • Support for share dialog
  • Improve light UI mode
  • Allow users to do to PDF what can be done to images (rotate, cut, add text)
  • Ability to change font size
  • Ability to remove highlighting
  • Better file management applet

In-app purchases

4 purchases

PDF Scanner app

Subscriptions3
  • The PDF Scanner documеntѕ арр$4.997 Days
  • The PDF Scanner documеntѕ арр$14.991 Month
  • Yearly$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Full version$29.99
2 purchases

Preview mini

One-time2
  • Preview mini PRO$4.99
  • Fullversion$8.99

Questions

Is PDF Scanner app free?
PDF Scanner app is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Preview mini free?
Preview mini is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PDF Scanner app or Preview mini?
PDF Scanner app is rated higher. PDF Scanner app averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.3K ratings, while Preview mini averages 4.3 from 212 ratings.
Do PDF Scanner app or Preview mini have ads?
Neither PDF Scanner app nor Preview mini shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PDF Scanner app or Preview mini?
PDF Scanner app ships an update every 3 days, and Preview mini every 10 days. Most recently, PDF Scanner app was updated on October 27, 2026 and Preview mini on October 27, 2026.

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