# InstaPDF vs Scanner

The clearest difference is ads: InstaPDF at none against Scanner's shown. InstaPDF also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. InstaPDF sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Scanner sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for InstaPDF against 4.8 for Scanner. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1K and 2.3K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of InstaPDF's written reviews are positive against 90% of Scanner's.

InstaPDF ships an update fortnightly, Scanner every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | InstaPDF | Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instapdf-scan-edit-and-share/id565931517/reviews)** | [4.8 (2.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scanner-document-scan-app/id1386975827/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1K | **2.3K** |
| Positive reviews | 85.1% of reviews | **90.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 9 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14 | **13** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Proconsult.at GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/452201565) | [阳杰 刘](https://appshunter.io/developer/1494247048) |

## What reviewers say

### 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.)


### Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scanner-document-scan-app/id1386975827)

This app offers powerful document scanning with advanced image recognition for text extraction and translation. Easily create PDFs, scan IDs, and manage files efficiently for work or study.

**Highlights:** Fast document scanning, Automatic edge detection and cropping, Perspective correction, High-precision OCR text recognition, PDF file generation, Photo translation, ID scanning

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Consecutive weekly | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Consecutive monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Consecutive monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Consecutive quarter | $7.99 | per 3 months |
| Continuous package year | $14.99 | per year |
| Consecutive year | $25.49 | per year |
| QNScanner+Consecutive year pro | $30.99 | per year |
| 月度VIP | $4.99 | one-time |
| 2 years VIP | $19.99 | one-time |
| 终身VIP | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Fast scanning and text extraction
- 💰 Free to use
- 🌟 Great overall performance

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Concerns about privacy and security
- 💰 Locked features behind paywall
- 🐛 Reliability issues, app crashes or doesn't work
- 🤖 Poor OCR accuracy, especially for Chinese text

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to scan documents properly
- Charged for premium features without consent

**Requested features**

- Automatic image cropping
- Integration with more cloud storage/email services
- Improved OCR accuracy for different languages


## Frequently asked questions

### Is InstaPDF free?

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

### Is Scanner free?

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

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

InstaPDF is rated higher. InstaPDF averages 4.9 out of 5 from 1K ratings, while Scanner averages 4.8 from 2.3K ratings.

### Do InstaPDF or Scanner have ads?

Scanner shows ads; InstaPDF does not.

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

InstaPDF ships an update fortnightly, and Scanner every 5 weeks. Most recently, InstaPDF was updated on October 13, 2026 and Scanner on October 16, 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.*