# CamScanner vs Notes Writer Pro

The clearest difference is price: CamScanner at Free against Notes Writer Pro's $9.99. CamScanner also leads on ratings volume (1.9M vs 3.2K) and rating (4.8 vs 4.6). Notes Writer Pro's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On update cadence, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

CamScanner is free to download; Notes Writer Pro costs $9.99 up front. CamScanner sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Notes Writer Pro sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

CamScanner holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CamScanner has 1.9M ratings behind it against 3.2K, 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 48% of Notes Writer Pro's.

CamScanner ships an update weekly, Notes Writer Pro every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | CamScanner | Notes Writer Pro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $9.99 |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1.9M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/camscanner-pdf-scanner-app/id388627783/reviews)** | [4.6 (3.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notes-writer-pro-beyond-pdfs/id1422480068/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.9M** | 3.2K |
| Positive reviews | **60.6% of reviews** | 48.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#7** | — |
| Size | 383 MB | 375 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [INTSIG Information Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/344077850) | [Kairoos Solutions SL](https://appshunter.io/developer/978066434) |

## What reviewers say

### CamScanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/camscanner-pdf-scanner-app/id388627783)

**Currently charting:** #7 Top Grossing · Productivity, #25 Top Free · Productivity, #117 Top Grossing (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Account | $4.99 | per month |
| CamScanner Premium(1 week) | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| CamScanner Premium | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Account(1 Month) | $9.99 | per month |
| Premium Account (1 month) | $9.99 | per month |
| CamScanner Premium(1 week) | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| CamScanner Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| CamScanner Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| Premium Account (1 year) | $59.99 | per year |
| Premium Account(1 year) | $59.99 | per year |
| Premium Account(1 year) | $69.99 | per year |
| CamScanner Premium | $69.99 | per year |
| One-page Fax | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Efficient scanning and document management
- 📁 Convenient cloud storage and backup
- 🔍 Powerful OCR and document enhancement features
- 🔧 Customizable scanning and editing options
- 🏫 Useful for school and work applications

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Concerns about data privacy and security
- 🤖 Inconsistent OCR and text recognition accuracy
- 💰 Aggressive upselling and subscription model
- 🔌 App crashes and performance issues
- 📤 Difficulties with sharing and exporting files

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


### Notes Writer Pro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notes-writer-pro-beyond-pdfs/id1422480068)

This app is a versatile writing and note-taking tool that supports rich text and Markdown. It allows users to annotate PDFs, fill out forms, and organize their work into unlimited notebooks. The app also includes scanning capabilities and various export options for seamless sharing and backup.

**Highlights:** Rich text and Markdown writing, PDF annotation and form filling, Unlimited notebook organization, Document scanning, Cloud sync and multiple export formats, Distraction-free writing mode

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Notes Writer Pro AI Assistant | $2.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent note-taking app
- 📁 Great folder organization
- 🎨 Customizable notebook covers
- 🔍 Useful PDF annotation tools
- 🤖 Impressive AI capabilities

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔄 Sync and file transfer issues
- 🕰️ Slow performance and lag
- 🔒 Poor customer support
- 💰 Misleading upgrade pricing

**Reported bugs**

- Notes randomly disappearing
- Formatting issues with text and images
- Unreliable audio recording and playback
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
- Inability to transfer files between free and pro versions

**Requested features**

- Handwriting recognition
- Improved eraser and shape tools
- Customizable keyboard and toolbar
- Better integration with cloud storage
- Ability to rotate and resize images


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CamScanner free?

CamScanner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Notes Writer Pro free?

Notes Writer Pro costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, CamScanner or Notes Writer Pro?

CamScanner is rated higher. CamScanner averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.9M ratings, while Notes Writer Pro averages 4.6 from 3.2K ratings.

### Do CamScanner or Notes Writer Pro have ads?

CamScanner shows ads; Notes Writer Pro does not.

### Which is updated more often, CamScanner or Notes Writer Pro?

CamScanner ships an update weekly, and Notes Writer Pro every 2 weeks. Most recently, CamScanner was updated on September 25, 2026 and Notes Writer Pro on September 25, 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.*