# Scanner Mini vs Decode

The clearest difference is update cadence: Scanner Mini at every 2 weeks against Decode's every 2 months. Scanner Mini also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Scanner Mini sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Decode sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scanner Mini ships an update every 2 weeks, Decode every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Scanner Mini | Decode |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (21K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scanner-mini-scan-pdf-and-fax/id581365763/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **21K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 81.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 242 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Readdle Technologies Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/285035419) | [Mohan Agoramoorthy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1849585942) |

## What reviewers say

### Scanner Mini

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scanner-mini-scan-pdf-and-fax/id581365763)

Transform your mobile device into a powerful portable scanner. Easily capture documents, receipts, and photos, converting them into high-quality PDFs or JPEGs. Organize, annotate, and share your scans with advanced editing and OCR capabilities.

**Highlights:** Scan documents to PDF/JPEG, Advanced image processing, Organize scans into categories, Annotate and edit scans, AI-powered object removal, OCR for text extraction, Secure password protection

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Expense Report | $4.99 | per month |
| Scanner 8 subscription | $14.99 | per year |
| Scanner Mini Plus | $29.99 | per year |
| Fax Pack 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Unlimited Email Upgrade | $1.99 | one-time |
| Secure | $1.99 | one-time |
| Upload | $1.99 | one-time |
| Fax Pack 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Full Pack | $3.99 | one-time |
| Fax Pack 3 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Print & Fax | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient for on-the-go scanning
- 💡 Helpful for organizing documents
- 🚀 Efficient scanning and sharing
- 👍 User-friendly interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or glitches
- 🔒 Limitations on sharing/emailing without paid version
- 🐛 Auto-capture feature not always reliable
- 🐛 Edge detection and page size issues
- 🐛 Overheating and unresponsive screen during scanning

**Reported bugs**

- Scans disappearing or not saving properly
- Inability to send scans via email
- Crashing issues after iOS 14 update
- Rotation issues with multi-page documents
- Excessive file sizes for scanned documents

**Requested features**

- Nested folders for better organization
- Improved OCR capabilities
- Ability to share scans without paid version
- Compatibility with Apple AirDrop
- Customizable scanning settings


### Decode

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decode-ai-document-reader/id6763841848)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Decode Private | $4.99 | per month |
| Decode Pro | $9.99 | per month |
| Decode Power | $19.99 | per month |
| Decode Private (Annual) | $39.99 | per year |
| Decode Pro (Annual) | $59.99 | per year |
| Decode Power (Annual) | $119.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Scanner Mini free?

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

### Is Decode free?

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

### Do Scanner Mini or Decode have ads?

Neither Scanner Mini nor Decode shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Scanner Mini or Decode?

Scanner Mini ships an update every 2 weeks, and Decode every 2 months. Most recently, Scanner Mini was updated on October 1, 2026 and Decode on September 17, 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.*