Comparison

CamScanner vs PDF Maker & Reader

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

Head to head
About

CamScanner

Transform your mobile device into a powerful portable scanner. Instantly scan, edit, and share documents in various formats like PDF, JPG, Word, and TXT. Features include OCR, e-signatures, and secure file management.

Highlights
  • Mobile document scanning
  • Text recognition (OCR)
  • PDF conversion
  • E-signature creation
  • Secure file management
  • Cloud storage integration
Features
Read full description

The most intelligent scanner app Trusted by 300M+ users CamScanner is an all-in-one scanner app. It turns your mobile device into a powerful portable scanner that recognizes text automatically (OCR) and improves your productivity to save your time. Download this scanner app for free to instantly scan, save, and share any document in PDF, JPG, Word, or TXT formats. Would you like to keep your entire office in your pocket and increase your productivity at work? Use the CamScanner scanner app to handle your paperwork with ease. Say goodbye to huge and heavy copy machines and get this ultra-fast scanner app for free now. DOCUMENT SCANNER This free-of-charge yet powerful scanner app is a must-have for students and anyone involved in business: accountants, realtors, managers, or lawyers. With this PDF scanner, scan anything you need, receipts, contracts, paper notes, fax papers, books, and store your scans as multipage PDF or JPG files. VARIOUS SCANNING MODES –ID CARD & PASSPORT: A mode specifically designed for fast and convenient scans of ID documents. –QR CODE: Scan any QR code with the camera on your mobile device. PDF CONVERTER –PDF Converter: This PDF scanner enables you to create PDF from a website, and convert documents in multiple formats to PDF. –Supported file formats: PDF, JPG, DOC, DOCX, TXT, XLS, XLSM, XLSX, CVS, PPT, PPTM, PPTX. SHARE AND COLLABORATE –Share files for commenting or viewing in WhatsApp, iMessage, Microsoft Teams. –Collect comments from multiple people in one file online. –Speed document reviews by responding to each other's comments. –Receive activity notifications for the files you share. INNOVATIVE PDF SCANNER –Scan documents and photos to PDF, JPG, or TXT. –Easily scan multiple pages into one document. –Extract text from any scannable object with text recognition (OCR). –Create and add your own e-signature on documents. HANDY DOCUMENT EDITOR & FILE MANAGER –Edit scans with filters and the feature of noise removal. –Manage files with folders, drag & drop to reorder, and enjoy other document editing features. –Protect your confidential scans by locking folders and files with passwords. EASILY SEND DOCUMENT –Scan, save and send documents in just a few taps. –Email with attachments or send document links. –Upload scanned documents to cloud services like Dropbox, Google Drive, Evernote, and OneDrive. –Print PDF files, such as contracts and invoices, right from the scanner app. –Send files quickly and securely. Scanning or sharing is achieved with no intervention from the CamScanner scanner app team or any third party. Documents are safely stored on your mobile devices. UNLIMITED ACCESS MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION –You can subscribe to get unlimited access to all features of the scanner app. –Subscriptions are billed weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annually at the rate based on the subscription plan. –Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. –Subscription renews automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. –Account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. The cost depends on the selected plan. –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 the free trial will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription. 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 We'd love to hear your feedback: isupport@camscanner.com Follow us on X: @CamScanner Like us on Facebook: @CamScanner UA Follow us on Instagram: @CamScanner_Official Follow us on YouTube: @CamScanner_Official Check out other products of INTSIG: CamCard - Business Card Reader

About

PDF Maker & Reader

Create and read PDF documents on your iPhone and iPad. Easily add text, photos, maps, and diagrams to new or existing PDFs. Share your creations via iCloud Drive, email, and other compatible applications.

Highlights
  • Create new PDF documents
  • Read PDF documents from various sources
  • Add text manually or via keyboard
  • Insert photos, maps, and diagrams
  • Export PDFs to other applications
  • Compatible with App Extensions and Apple Pencil
Features
Read full description

PDF Maker & Reader is a simple and powerful tool for reading and creating PDF. It can be displayed PDF documents on iPhone and iPad and you can input either manually or from the keyboard and add photos, maps, lines and diagrams. And you can make a new PDF document. PDF documents that you made can be output to many applications. [Major Functions] - You can read PDF documents from iTunes, iCloud Drive and many applications.(compatible with App Extensions) - You can make a new PDF document. - You can make a PDF document in the following way.  1. You can input either manually or from the keyboard (compatible with Apple Pencil).  2. You can paste up to photos.  3. You can paste maps.  4. By pasting figures and lines, you can display PDF documents graphically. - You can upload PDF documents to iTunes, iCloud Drive, applications compatible with PDF, and you can attach PDF to emails. You can use PDF Maker & Reader for free for 10 days. If you want to use it for more than 11 days, you need to follow the procedure for In-App Purchases(the one time purchase). Or you can extend the free usage period by 3 days by watching a video ad. [Contact us] https://www.studioks.net/en/contact-us/ [Studio K's - Business Applications Maker] https://www.studioks.net/en/

Screenshots

CamScanner4 screens
PDF Maker & Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: CamScanner at 4.8 against PDF Maker & Reader's 4.2. CamScanner also leads on review sentiment (61% vs 20%) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). PDF Maker & Reader's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). 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. CamScanner sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and PDF Maker & Reader 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

CamScanner holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CamScanner has 1.9M ratings behind it against 25, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 61% of CamScanner's written reviews are positive against 20% of PDF Maker & Reader's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CamScanner ships an update weekly, PDF Maker & Reader every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and August 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
CamScanner versus PDF Maker & Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCamScannerPDF Maker & Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (1.9M ratings) — better4.2 (25 ratings)
Positive reviews60.6% of reviews — better20.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1.9M — better25
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#7 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size383 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperINTSIG Information Co., LtdNAOAKI SEKIGUCHI

Customer experience

CamScanner

All ratings1,914,032 ratings
Positive96.6%
Neutral1.4%
Negative2.0%
Written reviews2,753 reviews
Positive60.6%
Neutral3.8%
Negative35.6%

PDF Maker & Reader

All ratings25 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative16.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive20.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative60.0%

Bugs and requests

CamScanner

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • App crashes during scanning and editing
  • Syncing and backup issues causing data loss
  • Compatibility problems with newer devices
  • Unexpected charges and subscription renewals
  • Unreliable performance and frequent updates

Requested features

6 requests
  • Improved OCR and text recognition accuracy
  • More flexible export and sharing options
  • Customizable storage and backup settings
  • Enhanced security and privacy controls
  • Streamlined subscription and pricing model
Show 1 more
  • Reduced ads and more features in free version

PDF Maker & Reader

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

13 purchases

CamScanner

Subscriptions12
  • Premium Account$4.991 Month
  • CamScanner Premium(1 week)3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • CamScanner Premium3 Days trial$6.997 Days
Show 9 more
  • Premium Account(1 Month)$9.991 Month
  • Premium Account (1 month)1 Month trial$9.991 Month
  • CamScanner Premium(1 week)3 Days trial$9.997 Days
  • CamScanner Premium1 Year trial$49.991 Year
  • CamScanner Premium3 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Premium Account (1 year)7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Premium Account(1 year)3 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Premium Account(1 year)3 Days trial$69.991 Year
  • CamScanner Premium1 Month trial$69.991 Year
One-time1
  • One-page Fax$0.99
2 purchases

PDF Maker & Reader

One-time2
  • PDF Maker & Reader Pro$1.99
  • License$3.99

Questions

Is CamScanner free?
CamScanner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PDF Maker & Reader free?
PDF Maker & Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, CamScanner or PDF Maker & Reader?
CamScanner is rated higher. CamScanner averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.9M ratings, while PDF Maker & Reader averages 4.2 from 25 ratings.
Do CamScanner or PDF Maker & Reader have ads?
Both CamScanner and PDF Maker & Reader show ads.
Which is updated more often, CamScanner or PDF Maker & Reader?
CamScanner ships an update weekly, and PDF Maker & Reader every 2 months. Most recently, CamScanner was updated on September 25, 2026 and PDF Maker & Reader on August 13, 2026.

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