# CamScanner vs PDF Scanner

The clearest difference is monetization model: CamScanner at free with in-app purchases against PDF Scanner's subscription. CamScanner also leads on ratings volume (1.9M vs 2) and chart position (#7 vs unranked). PDF Scanner's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases 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 $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PDF Scanner holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CamScanner has 1.9M ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and June 10, 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) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-scanner-scan-and-edit-docs/id1671779182/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.9M** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 60.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#7** | — |
| Size | 383 MB | 29 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [INTSIG Information Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/344077850) | [Webron Software LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1071126548) |

## 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, #113 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-scan-and-edit-docs/id1671779182)

Easily scan physical documents, receipts, and notes using your smartphone camera. Convert them into digital PDFs or other formats, with advanced editing and OCR capabilities. Organize, manage, and secure your scanned files with this powerful productivity tool.

**Highlights:** Scan documents with auto-crop and edge detection, Edit PDFs with resolution, color, and orientation adjustments, Organize documents with renaming, folders, and tags, Extract text using OCR technology, Convert PDFs to Word, Excel, or JPG, Secure documents with password/PIN protection

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PDF Expert (weekly) | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| PDF Expert (yearly) | $24.99 | per year |
| PDF Expert (3 months) | $29.99 | per 3 months |
| PDF Expert (lifetime) | $29.99 | one-time |


## 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?

PDF Scanner is rated higher. CamScanner averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.9M ratings, while PDF Scanner averages 5.0 from 2 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 weekly. Most recently, CamScanner was updated on September 26, 2026 and PDF Scanner on June 10, 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.*