# CamScanner vs PDF Scanner

The clearest difference is review sentiment: CamScanner at 61% against PDF Scanner's 25%. CamScanner also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 7 months) and ratings volume (1.9M vs 13). PDF Scanner's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CamScanner sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and PDF Scanner sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.49 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

CamScanner holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CamScanner has 1.9M ratings behind it against 13, 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 25% of PDF Scanner's.

CamScanner ships an update weekly, PDF Scanner every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CamScanner | PDF Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1.9M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/camscanner-pdf-scanner-app/id388627783/reviews)** | [4.5 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-scanner-document-cam-scan/id1564598064/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.9M** | 13 |
| Positive reviews | **60.6% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 7 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#7** | — |
| Size | 383 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [INTSIG Information Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/344077850) | [OLEG CHEBULAEV](https://appshunter.io/developer/698309077) |

## What reviewers say

### CamScanner

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

**Currently charting:** #7 Top Grossing · Productivity, #26 Top Free · Productivity, #140 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


### PDF Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-scanner-document-cam-scan/id1564598064)

Transform your device into a powerful portable scanner. Instantly digitize documents, receipts, and notes into PDF, JPG, or TXT formats. Add electronic signatures and share your scans effortlessly.

**Highlights:** Scan documents and photos to PDF, JPG, or TXT, Scan multiple pages into one document, OCR text recognition, Add electronic signatures, Share scanned documents easily, Upload to cloud services

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro (7 days) | $4.49 | per 7 days |
| Pro (1 month) | $9.99 | per month |
| Pro (3 month) | $19.49 | per 3 months |
| Pro (1 year) | $28.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CamScanner free?

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

### Is PDF Scanner free?

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

### Which has better reviews, CamScanner or PDF Scanner?

CamScanner is rated higher. CamScanner averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.9M ratings, while PDF Scanner averages 4.5 from 13 ratings.

### Do CamScanner or PDF Scanner have ads?

CamScanner shows ads; PDF Scanner does not.

### Which is updated more often, CamScanner or PDF Scanner?

CamScanner ships an update weekly, and PDF Scanner every 7 months. Most recently, CamScanner was updated on September 26, 2026 and PDF Scanner on September 19, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*