# CamScanner vs InstaPDF

The clearest difference is ads: InstaPDF at none against CamScanner's shown. InstaPDF also leads on review sentiment (85% vs 60%). CamScanner's advantage is ratings volume (2M vs 1.1K) and chart position (#12 vs unranked). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CamScanner sells 10 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 — 4.8 for CamScanner against 4.9 for InstaPDF. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CamScanner has 2M ratings behind it against 1.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 60% of CamScanner's written reviews are positive against 85% of InstaPDF's.

CamScanner ships an update weekly, InstaPDF fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CamScanner | InstaPDF |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (2M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/camscanner-pdf-scanner-app/id388627783/reviews) | **[4.9 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instapdf-scan-edit-and-share/id565931517/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2M** | 1.1K |
| Positive reviews | 59.9% of reviews | **85.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#12** | — |
| Size | 381 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [INTSIG Information Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/344077850) | [Proconsult.at GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/452201565) |

## What reviewers say

### CamScanner

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

**Currently charting:** #12 Top Grossing · Productivity, #26 Top Free · Productivity, #174 Top Grossing (US App Store)

Transform your mobile device into a powerful scanner. Instantly digitize documents, receipts, and notes into various formats like PDF, JPG, Word, and TXT. Enhance scans with editing tools, extract text with OCR, and share your files securely.

**Highlights:** Mobile document scanning, OCR text recognition, PDF and JPG conversion, Multi-page document creation, Cloud storage integration, E-signature support, Password protection for files

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Account | $4.99 | per month |
| CamScanner Premium | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| 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 |
| 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


### 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 free?

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

### Is InstaPDF free?

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

### Which has better reviews, CamScanner or InstaPDF?

InstaPDF is rated higher. CamScanner averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2M ratings, while InstaPDF averages 4.9 from 1.1K ratings.

### Do CamScanner or InstaPDF have ads?

CamScanner shows ads; InstaPDF does not.

### Which is updated more often, CamScanner or InstaPDF?

CamScanner ships an update weekly, and InstaPDF fortnightly. Most recently, CamScanner was updated on November 11, 2026 and InstaPDF on November 6, 2026.

---

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