Comparison

PlainPDF vs Scanr Lens

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

PlainPDF

Features
Read full description

Scan, fill in, sign, annotate and compress PDFs. Every tool is free, with no watermarks, no account and no subscription. Your files are processed on your device and never uploaded. SCAN • Scan documents with automatic edge detection • Crisp black & white mode for text, plus colour and greyscale • ID cards: put the front and back on one page at real card size • Get a file name suggested from the page, like "Electricity Bill Oct 2026" • Make scans searchable with on-device text recognition FILL, SIGN & ANNOTATE • Fill in PDF forms: type straight into the fields, or fill them in one tap from My details • Sign PDFs: draw or type your signature, add the date, text and ticks • Highlight, underline and strike out text, draw with a pen or marker, and add notes • Organize pages: reorder, rotate, delete, duplicate, insert and extract • Add watermarks like CONFIDENTIAL or COPY, and page numbers CONVERT • Merge PDFs and photos into one file • Split PDFs by page, by range or every few pages • Compress PDFs for email and upload limits, or set a target size like "under 2 MB" • Turn photos into PDFs with A4, Letter or fit-to-photo pages • Copy text from any scan or photo PDF • Extract images from PDFs, or save pages as images PRIVACY & SECURITY • Redact: find emails, phone numbers, card, bank and ID numbers, and black them out for good before you share • Add a password to a PDF, or remove a password you know QR CODES THAT NEVER EXPIRE • Create QR codes for links, Wi-Fi, contacts, email, phone, SMS, UPI payments and locations • The information is stored in the code itself, so it keeps working without any server • Every code is tested before you save it • Scan QR codes and see where a link really goes before opening it WORKS THE WAY YOU DO • Files app and "Open in PlainPDF" from Mail, Messages and other apps • Designed for iPhone and iPad, in light and dark mode • In English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Italian and Japanese FREE, HONESTLY Every tool is free with ads. PlainPDF Pro is a one-time purchase that removes ads, adds batch processing for many files at once, and unlimited text recognition on large documents. No subscription, ever. No account. Your files never leave your device. Questions or ideas: hello@smileappsstudio.com

About

Scanr Lens

This app allows you to quickly scan documents using your device's camera. It offers automatic edge detection, perspective correction, and various enhancement filters. You can organize, sign, and export your scanned documents as PDFs or images.

Highlights
  • Automatic edge detection and perspective correction
  • Multi-page scanning
  • Import photos and PDFs
  • Organize into folders
  • One-tap enhancement filters
  • Digital signature tool
  • Export as PDF, JPG, or PNG
Features
Read full description

Scanr is a fast, private document scanner that does everything on your device. No account. No sign-up. No ads. No tracking. Point your camera at a document and Scanr captures it with automatic edge detection and perspective correction, powered by Apple's on-device scanner. Scan a single page or a whole stack, tidy it up, sign it, and export — all in a few taps. SCAN • Automatic edge detection and perspective correction • Multi-page scanning — build a document one page at a time • Add more pages to an existing document any time • Split ID mode: capture the front and back of an ID card onto one page IMPORT • Bring in photos and PDFs you already have • Share images or PDFs into Scanr from any other app • Imported pages get the same cropping and filters as a fresh scan MY DOCUMENTS • Every scan is saved from its first page — nothing to remember to keep • Organize into folders, rename, and search your documents by name • Back up everything as PDF files to a folder you choose • Delete any document immediately — no hidden copies left behind ORGANIZE • Reorder, delete, split, and move pages between documents • Combine pages into one • Rotate pages ENHANCE • One-tap filters: Original, Auto, Color, Grayscale, Black & White, High Contrast, and Soft • Remove glare from photos of glossy or laminated pages • Apply a filter to one page or to every page at once SIGN • Draw a signature, or scan one from paper • Set its thickness and colour, then place and resize it on any page • Save signatures to reuse later EXPORT & SHARE • Export as PDF (one multi-page file), or as JPG / PNG (one image per page) • Hold exports under a file-size limit when you need to email or upload them • Share or save through the iOS share sheet PRIVATE BY DESIGN • Everything happens on your device — scanning, filtering, signing, export • No accounts, no cloud, no analytics, no ads • The app makes no network requests • Documents live in the app's private storage SMALL AND SIMPLE • Point, scan, export, done • Tiny install size • Clean, uncluttered interface • Available in 12 languages • Universal — one app for iPhone and iPad Made by Beskar — fast, private tools. https://beskar.tech

Screenshots

PlainPDF4 screens
Scanr Lens4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Scanr Lens at none against PlainPDF's 1. Scanr Lens also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. PlainPDF sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Scanr Lens asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PlainPDF ships an update every 2 months, Scanr Lens every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
PlainPDF versus Scanr Lens: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlainPDFScanr Lens
PriceFreeFree
Rating—1.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSwaminathan LBeskar Technologies LLP

In-app purchases

1 purchases

PlainPDF

One-time1
  • PlainPDF Pro$4.99
None

Scanr Lens

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PlainPDF free?
PlainPDF is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Scanr Lens free?
Scanr Lens is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do PlainPDF or Scanr Lens have ads?
PlainPDF shows ads; Scanr Lens does not.
Which is updated more often, PlainPDF or Scanr Lens?
PlainPDF ships an update every 2 months, and Scanr Lens every 5 days. Most recently, PlainPDF was updated on October 25, 2026 and Scanr Lens on October 8, 2026.

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