# ScanMate vs Private Scan

The clearest difference is update cadence: Private Scan at every 2 days against ScanMate's every 2 weeks. Private Scan also leads on device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ScanMate sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Private Scan sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ScanMate ships an update every 2 weeks, Private Scan every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ScanMate | Private Scan |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 2 days** |
| Size | 3 MB | 39 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [iComet](https://appshunter.io/developer/408908544) | [Vishut Dhar](https://appshunter.io/developer/1823939798) |

## What reviewers say

### ScanMate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scanmate-pdf-scanner/id6780781555)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Scan Mate Membership | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly Scan Mate Membership | $29.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Membership Scan Mate | $59.99 | one-time |


### Private Scan

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-scan/id6787127672)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PrivateScan Premium | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ScanMate free?

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

### Is Private Scan free?

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

### Do ScanMate or Private Scan have ads?

Neither ScanMate nor Private Scan shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ScanMate or Private Scan?

ScanMate ships an update every 2 weeks, and Private Scan every 2 days. Most recently, ScanMate was updated on October 11, 2026 and Private Scan on October 5, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*