# PDF Scanner  ‎ vs Scan_Buddy

The clearest difference is ads: Scan_Buddy at none against PDF Scanner  ‎'s shown. On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PDF Scanner  ‎ sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and Scan_Buddy sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PDF Scanner  ‎ ships an update every 3 weeks, Scan_Buddy fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PDF Scanner  ‎ | Scan_Buddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Size | 4 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nikunj Kavathiya](https://appshunter.io/developer/1568975861) | [Jan Erik Thelen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1885020900) |

## What reviewers say

### PDF Scanner  ‎

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pdf-scanner/id6758341209)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Week | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Month | $3.99 | per month |
| 12 Month | $29.99 | per year |


### Scan_Buddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scan-buddy/id6782457064)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 7 Day Trial | Free | one-time |
| ScanBuddy Full Unlock | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PDF Scanner  ‎ free?

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

### Is Scan_Buddy free?

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

### Do PDF Scanner  ‎ or Scan_Buddy have ads?

PDF Scanner  ‎ shows ads; Scan_Buddy does not.

### Which is updated more often, PDF Scanner  ‎ or Scan_Buddy?

PDF Scanner  ‎ ships an update every 3 weeks, and Scan_Buddy fortnightly. Most recently, PDF Scanner  ‎ was updated on September 22, 2026 and Scan_Buddy on September 29, 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.*