# CamScanner + | OCR Scanner vs InstaPDF

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.

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.

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.

CamScanner + | OCR Scanner ships an update every 3 months, InstaPDF fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CamScanner + | OCR Scanner | InstaPDF |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.9 (17K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/camscanner-plus-ocr-scanner/id388624839/reviews) | [4.9 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instapdf-scan-edit-and-share/id565931517/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **17K** | 1K |
| Positive reviews | 83.3% of reviews | **85.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#12** | — |
| Size | 228 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 14 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Linguan Data](https://appshunter.io/developer/1315906999) | [Proconsult.at GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/452201565) |

## What reviewers say

### CamScanner + | OCR Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/camscanner-plus-ocr-scanner/id388624839)

**Currently charting:** #12 Top Paid · Productivity (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CamScanner Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| CamScanner Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| CamScanner Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| One-page Fax | $0.99 | one-time |
| 600 cp + One chance to Draw | $0.99 | one-time |
| 3000 C-Points | $4.99 | one-time |
| Ten-page Fax | $8.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

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


### InstaPDF

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instapdf-scan-edit-and-share/id565931517)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CloudSafe Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| CloudSafe Yearly | $27.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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.)


## Frequently asked 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 26, 2026 and InstaPDF on September 20, 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.*