Comparison

CamScanner + | OCR Scanner vs InstaPDF

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

Head to head
About

CamScanner + | OCR Scanner

Transform your phone into a powerful scanner for documents, receipts, and notes. Optimize scan quality, extract text with OCR, and share files easily via email, cloud, or fax. Secure your documents with passcodes and sync them across all your devices.

Highlights
  • Mobile scanner for documents
  • Optimize scan quality
  • Extract text with OCR
  • Share PDF/JPEG files
  • Print via AirPrint
  • Fax documents
  • Secure important docs
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Scan docs into clear & sharp image/PDF, to email, fax, print or save to cloud. * Over 200,000 new registrations per day * App Store Best of 2014 * CamScanner, 50 Best iPhone Apps, 2013 Edition – TIME ----Paid App Features---- * All features that the free version has * Recognize and extract texts from a single page * Larger cloud space of 400M (200M for free version) * Export PDFs without watermark "Scanned by CamScanner" * Ad-free Features: *Mobile Scanner Use your phone camera to scan receipts, notes, invoices, whiteboard discussions, business cards, certificates, etc. *Optimize Scan Quality Smart cropping and auto enhancing make the texts and graphics look clear and sharp. *Extract Texts from Image OCR (optical character recognition) feature extracts texts from single page for further editing or sharing. (Paid app only) *Share PDF/JPEG Files Easily share documents in PDF or JPEG format with others via social media, email attachment or sending the doc link. *AirPrint & Fax Documents Instantly print out docs in CamScanner with nearby printer via AirPrint; directly fax docs to over 30 countries from the app. *Collaboration Invite friends or colleagues to view and comment on your scans in a group. (Registrants only) *Advanced Editing Making annotations or adding customized watermark on docs are made available for you. *Secure Important Docs Set passcode for viewing important docs; meanwhile, when sending doc link, you can set password to protect it. *Sync across Platforms Sign up to sync documents on the go. Just sign in to any smartphone, tablet or computer (visit CamScanner website) you own and you can view, edit and share any document. Premium Subscription Service: 1. Edit OCR results and notes of the doc, exporting as .txt file 2. Create Doc Collage for multiple pages 3. + 10G cloud space 4. + 40 extra collaborators 5. Send doc link with password protection and expiration date 6. Auto upload docs to Box, Google Drive, Dropbox, Evernote, One Drive and etc. 7. Batch download PDF files through web application of CS 8. Import PDF to Camscanner for editing 9. Scan academic questions to make practice tests for study 10. High Standard ID Scan and More... Payment models for Premium subscription: • Monthly Subscription: $4.99 per month, • Yearly Subscription: $35.99 for 1st year and $49.99/year starting from the next year, • 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 subscription period. • Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase. • Any unused portion of a free trial period will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication. For Terms of Use, please visit https://www.camscanner.com/app/service?language=en-us For Privacy Policy, please visit https://www.camscanner.com/app/privacy?language=en-us CamScanner users scan and manage * Bill, Invoice, Contract, Tax Roll, Business Card… * Whiteboard, Memo, Script, Letter… * Blackboard, Note, PPT, Book, Article… * Credential, Certificate, Identity Documents… 3rd Party Cloud Storage Services Supported: -Box, Google Drive, Evernote, Dropbox, OneDrive We’d love to hear your feedback: isupport@intsig.com Follow us on Twitter: @CamScanner Like us on Facebook: CamScanner Follow us on Google+: CamScanner Check out other INTSIG’s products: CamCard - Business Card Reader CamDictionary - Snap Translator

About

InstaPDF

This app allows you to scan, edit, and securely store your documents. It offers features like automatic cropping, text detection, and the ability to add signatures and annotations. Documents can be synced across devices and shared easily.

Highlights
  • Fast multipage scanning with auto page detection
  • Optical Character Recognition (OCR)
  • PDF editing (add/remove pages, merge, stamp, sign)
  • Cross-device document syncing
  • Folder organization and sharing
  • Integrated QR code reader
Read full description

Keep your documents safe and secure. Scan, edit and sync documents to all of your devices. Smart renaming suggestions, multiple accounts, text detection and more. Featured by Apple, iMore, Verizon, The App Factor, TechRepublic, Roar News, appPicker and many more. InstaPDF Account required, which can be created In-App. FAST SCANNING WITH AUTOCROP & OCR Multipage scans with auto page detection, which captures just the part you need and performs automatic OCR. PDF EDITOR Add, remove, rotate or re-order pages. Merge documents. Stamp, markup or add signatures. Available exclusively to InstaPDF CloudSafe subscribers. MAC APP Provides an efficient drag & drop and renaming interface to quickly organise and upload multiple documents. SCAN, SIGN AND SEND WITH MARKUP Draw, Highlight, Custom & Predefined Stamp, Add Text, Annotate and Sign Documents. All changes made to the document are synced across devices. FOLDERS Share multiple documents with your anyone using a single URL/link. Documents can be added to existing folders to keep everyone updated. QR CODE READER Integrated QR code reader. Documents from other Users can be imported to your account through QR codes. UNLIMITED CLOUD SYNC Sync that works, no matter how many documents you scan. PRIVACY FOCUSED Encrypt important documents. Set public documents to private with a simple switch. Deleted documents are not recoverable. Follow us @InstaPDF on Twitter for more information. InstaPDF for macOS available at http://instapdf.com/#mac * Privacy Policy: https://instapdf.com/legal#privacy * Terms of Use: https://instapdf.com/legal#tos

Screenshots

CamScanner + | OCR Scanner4 screens
InstaPDF4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: InstaPDF at Free against CamScanner + | OCR Scanner's $0.99. InstaPDF also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). CamScanner + | OCR Scanner's advantage is ratings volume (17K vs 1K) and chart position (#12 vs unranked). On rating, review sentiment, 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

InstaPDF is free to download; CamScanner + | OCR Scanner costs $0.99 up front. CamScanner + | OCR Scanner sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and InstaPDF sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for CamScanner + | OCR Scanner against 4.9 for InstaPDF. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CamScanner + | OCR Scanner has 17K ratings behind it against 1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 83% of CamScanner + | OCR Scanner's written reviews are positive against 85% of InstaPDF's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CamScanner + | OCR Scanner ships an update every 3 months, InstaPDF fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
CamScanner + | OCR Scanner versus InstaPDF: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCamScanner + | OCR ScannerInstaPDF
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating4.9 (17K ratings)4.9 (1K ratings)
Positive reviews83.3% of reviews85.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings17K — better1K
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#12 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS12.0 — better14
Further details — not scored
Size228 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLinguan DataProconsult.at GmbH

Customer experience

CamScanner + | OCR Scanner

All ratings17,235 ratings
Positive97.2%
Neutral1.2%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews1,799 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral2.8%
Negative13.8%

InstaPDF

All ratings1,040 ratings
Positive98.7%
Neutral0.8%
Negative0.6%
Written reviews120 reviews
Positive85.0%
Neutral1.7%
Negative13.3%

User reviews

CamScanner + | OCR Scanner

From 17K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 👍 Convenient scanning
  • 🚀 Efficient document management
  • 👍 Great for receipts and documents
  • 🚀 Reliable and stable

Room to improve

  • 🔒 Privacy concerns
  • 💰 Expensive subscription
  • 🐛 Bugs and crashes
  • 🔒 Forced account creation
  • 💰 Nickel-and-diming for features

InstaPDF

From 1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Efficient workflow
  • 🔒 Secure storage
  • 💡 Helpful features (filters, stamps, etc.)
  • 🚀 Quick scanning and sharing

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or issues
  • 🔧 Cropping/editing could be improved
  • 💻 Compatibility issues with some devices
  • 🔑 Password recovery/reset needs improvement

Bugs and requests

CamScanner + | OCR Scanner

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Frequent crashes and freezes
  • Sync issues leading to lost documents
  • Unreliable faxing and emailing
  • Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
  • Inconsistent scanning quality

Requested features

5 requests
  • Improved cloud storage integration
  • Easier document organization
  • Better OCR and text recognition
  • Ability to edit/annotate scanned documents
  • Automatic backup and restore functionality

InstaPDF

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Sign-in with Apple not working for some users
  • Cropping/alignment issues in certain lighting conditions
  • Disappearing folders reported by some users

Requested features

4 requests
  • Import function for PDFs from other apps
  • Password protection/encryption for sensitive documents
  • Advanced editing tools (annotations, redaction, etc.)
  • Integration with cloud storage services (iCloud, Google Drive, etc.)

In-app purchases

7 purchases

CamScanner + | OCR Scanner

Subscriptions3
  • CamScanner Premium$4.991 Month
  • CamScanner Premium1 Year trial3 variants$49.991 Year
  • CamScanner Premium3 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time4
  • One-page Fax$0.99
  • 600 cp + One chance to Draw$0.99
  • 3000 C-Points$4.99
Show 1 more
  • Ten-page Fax$8.99
2 purchases

InstaPDF

Subscriptions2
  • CloudSafe Monthly$2.991 Month
  • CloudSafe Yearly$27.991 Year

Questions

Is CamScanner + | OCR Scanner free?
CamScanner + | OCR Scanner costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is InstaPDF free?
InstaPDF is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, CamScanner + | OCR Scanner or InstaPDF?
CamScanner + | OCR Scanner and InstaPDF are both rated 4.9 out of 5 on the App Store, from 17K and 1K ratings respectively.
Do CamScanner + | OCR Scanner or InstaPDF have ads?
CamScanner + | OCR Scanner shows ads; InstaPDF does not.
Which is updated more often, CamScanner + | OCR Scanner or InstaPDF?
CamScanner + | OCR Scanner ships an update every 3 months, and InstaPDF fortnightly. Most recently, CamScanner + | OCR Scanner was updated on September 25, 2026 and InstaPDF on September 20, 2026.

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