# PDF Export vs Lens Scanner

The clearest difference is ratings volume: PDF Export at 1.8K against Lens Scanner's 34. PDF Export also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PDF Export sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Lens Scanner sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Lens Scanner holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PDF Export has 1.8K ratings behind it against 34, so its average is the more settled of the two.

PDF Export ships an update fortnightly, Lens Scanner every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Export | Lens Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-export-editor-and-converter/id633275113/reviews) | **[4.9 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lens-scanner-pdf-camera-ocr/id6444929368/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.8K** | 34 |
| Positive reviews | 46.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 217 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [LiveBird Technologies Private Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/551521372) | [Youdao (Hong Kong) Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1319771552) |

## What reviewers say

### PDF Export

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-export-editor-and-converter/id633275113)

This app provides comprehensive tools for creating, editing, converting, and organizing PDF files on your mobile device. It offers features like scanning documents, merging files, adding watermarks, and even transcribing audio to text, all without requiring an internet connection.

**Highlights:** Convert Word, Excel, JPG to PDF, Convert PDF to Word, Excel, PPT, Edit PDF text and images, Annotate and sign documents, Merge and split PDFs, Scan documents with OCR, Compress and secure PDFs

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Fax Credit | $0.99 | one-time |
| Convert 5 Documents Online | $0.99 | one-time |
| 5 Fax Credit | $3.99 | one-time |
| PDF Export Pro Plus | $3.99 | one-time |
| PDF Export Pro | $3.99 | one-time |
| Convert 30 Documents Online | $4.99 | one-time |
| 10 Fax Credit | $5.99 | one-time |
| 20 Fax Credit | $9.99 | one-time |
| PDF Export Full Access | $12.99 | one-time |
| Convert 150 Documents Online | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Excellent PDF conversion capabilities
- 🚀 Fast and efficient performance
- 💡 Comprehensive set of PDF tools
- 👍 Easy to use interface
- 👍 Helpful for personal and professional use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 💰 Paid features required for basic functionality
- 🔒 Confusing in-app purchase and upgrade process
- 🔍 Poor discoverability of features
- 🗂️ Lack of cloud sync and cross-device support

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when opening certain PDF files
- Formatting issues when converting documents to PDF
- Inability to restore previous purchases

**Requested features**

- Improved PDF splitting and merging capabilities
- Annotation and editing tools for PDFs
- Better integration with other productivity apps
- Clearer pricing and feature structure
- Enhanced user interface and navigation


### Lens Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lens-scanner-pdf-camera-ocr/id6444929368)

This app functions as a portable scanner, fax machine, and PDF converter. It allows users to extract text from images, manage documents, and share them securely. Features include wireless printing, global faxing, and cloud storage integration.

**Highlights:** Scan documents and convert to JPG or PDF, OCR text recognition and editing, Portable document storage and management, Wireless printing and global faxing, Secure document sharing with encryption, Convert tables to Excel

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| iScanner Pro | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| iScanner Pro | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| iScanner Pro | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| iScanner Pro | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| iScanner Pro | $19.99 | per year |
| iScanner Pro | $24.99 | per year |
| iScanner Pro | $49.99 | per year |
| iScanner Pro | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDF Export free?

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

### Is Lens Scanner free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PDF Export or Lens Scanner?

Lens Scanner is rated higher. PDF Export averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while Lens Scanner averages 4.9 from 34 ratings.

### Do PDF Export or Lens Scanner have ads?

Both PDF Export and Lens Scanner show ads.

### Which is updated more often, PDF Export or Lens Scanner?

PDF Export ships an update fortnightly, and Lens Scanner every 2 months. Most recently, PDF Export was updated on November 6, 2026 and Lens Scanner on November 3, 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.*