# FileBeam vs ScanReader

The clearest difference is rating: FileBeam at 5.0 against ScanReader's 3.7. FileBeam also leads on ads (none vs shown). ScanReader's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). On price, ratings volume, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. FileBeam sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per 7 days. ScanReader asks for nothing beyond the download.

FileBeam holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 3 respectively.

FileBeam ships an update every 3 weeks, ScanReader weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 14, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FileBeam | ScanReader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/filebeam-file-transfer/id6770772143/reviews)** | [3.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scanreaderocr-text-scanner/id6783753098/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **6** | 3 |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 33 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [秋晖 李](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896738675) | [杨杨 赵](https://appshunter.io/developer/1877863629) |

## What reviewers say

### FileBeam

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/filebeam-file-transfer/id6770772143)

Easily send photos, videos, documents, and contacts between devices wirelessly. Share files with people nearby or create secure links for remote recipients. Manage your shared files with options like passwords and expiration dates.

**Highlights:** Nearby phone-to-phone transfer, Remote file sharing with secure links, Password-protected downloads, Link expiration options, Download limit controls, Private Vault for received files

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Pro | $19.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Pro | $39.99 | per month |


### ScanReader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scanreaderocr-text-scanner/id6783753098)

This utility app allows you to scan documents and images, extract and edit text using OCR, sign PDFs, and convert files to various formats. It offers a private and offline experience, eliminating the need for multiple applications.

**Highlights:** Scan documents and images, OCR text extraction and editing, Annotate and sign PDFs, Convert to PDF and Word, Merge and organize PDFs, Offline and private processing

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FileBeam free?

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

### Is ScanReader free?

ScanReader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, FileBeam or ScanReader?

FileBeam is rated higher. FileBeam averages 5.0 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while ScanReader averages 3.7 from 3 ratings.

### Do FileBeam or ScanReader have ads?

ScanReader shows ads; FileBeam does not.

### Which is updated more often, FileBeam or ScanReader?

FileBeam ships an update every 3 weeks, and ScanReader weekly. Most recently, FileBeam was updated on September 14, 2026 and ScanReader on September 19, 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.*