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Head-to-head · Document Scanning Software

NAPS2 vs Brother iPrint&Scan

  • Updated Nov 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score NAPS2 #1 in Document Scanning Software 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit NAPS2
Brother iPrint&Scan #3 in Document Scanning Software 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit Brother

NAPS2 leads on 0 checks, Brother iPrint&Scan on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreNAPS2 · 9.4/10
  • Free planboth

NAPS2 scores higher on our rubric for document scanning software: 9.4 against 9.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #3.

NAPS2 is the better fit for free, cross-platform scanning and OCR. Brother iPrint&Scan is the better fit for brother-machine owners needing free scanning.

  • NAPS2 fits best

    Free, cross-platform scanning and OCR

  • Brother iPrint&Scan fits best

    Brother-machine owners needing free scanning

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Side by side

Feature NAPS2 9.4/10 Visit ↗ Brother iPrint&Scan 9.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 9.0
Ranking #1 in Document Scanning Software #3 in Document Scanning Software
Best for Free, cross-platform scanning and OCR Brother-machine owners needing free scanning
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop, Mobile
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Support Tickets, Community, Docs Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features NAPS2 3/4 · Brother iPrint&Scan 3/4
Scanner support ✓ ✓
Camera capture Not checked yet Not checked yet
Batch scanning ✓ ✓
Searchable PDF ✓ ✓
Specs
OCR languages Not checked yet Not checked yet
Supported platforms Not checked yet Not checked yet
Export formats PDF, TIFF, JPEG, PNG PDF, JPEG, Text, RTF
Our review
Pros
  • Supports WIA, TWAIN, ESCL, SANE, and Apple scanner drivers
  • Scans flatbed, feeder, and duplex documents with searchable PDF OCR
  • Includes command-line automation, network sharing, and MSI deployment
  • Combines multiple pages into a single PDF
  • Creates searchable PDFs and exports OCR as Text or RTF
  • Supports cloud services, SharePoint, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
Cons
  • Physical scanning depends on compatible scanner hardware and drivers
  • Network scanner sharing is limited to a local network
  • Its broad feature set may exceed the needs of simple one-off scanning
  • Requires a compatible Brother printer, multifunction device, or scanner
  • Available functions vary by Brother machine model
  • Focused on Brother hardware rather than cross-brand scanning
Our verdict

NAPS2 is free, open-source document scanning software for individuals, organizations, and businesses. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux and connects to physical scanners through WIA, TWAIN, ESCL, SANE, and Apple drivers. Users can scan…

Read the review →

Brother iPrint&Scan is a free scanning and printing application for compatible Brother printers, multifunction devices, and scanners. It is designed for Brother-machine owners who need to scan documents from a computer, smartphone, or…

Read the review →
  1. NAPS2Document Scanning Software 9.4Free plan
  2. Brother iPrint&ScanDocument Scanning Software 9.0Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • NAPS2 — where it wins

    • Supports WIA, TWAIN, ESCL, SANE, and Apple scanner drivers
    • Scans flatbed, feeder, and duplex documents with searchable PDF OCR
    • Includes command-line automation, network sharing, and MSI deployment

    Where it doesn't

    • Physical scanning depends on compatible scanner hardware and drivers
    • Network scanner sharing is limited to a local network
    • Its broad feature set may exceed the needs of simple one-off scanning

  • Brother iPrint&Scan — where it wins

    • Combines multiple pages into a single PDF
    • Creates searchable PDFs and exports OCR as Text or RTF
    • Supports cloud services, SharePoint, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android

    Where it doesn't

    • Requires a compatible Brother printer, multifunction device, or scanner
    • Available functions vary by Brother machine model
    • Focused on Brother hardware rather than cross-brand scanning

NAPS2 vs Brother iPrint&Scan: questions

Which is better for document scanning software, NAPS2 or Brother iPrint&Scan?

NAPS2 scores higher on our rubric for document scanning software: 9.4 against 9.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #3.

How do NAPS2 and Brother iPrint&Scan compare?

All 4 checks we put side by side come out level: neither leads on any.

Do NAPS2 and Brother iPrint&Scan have a free plan?

NAPS2: Yes. Brother iPrint&Scan: Yes.

More comparisons

All document scanning software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026

Last updated · How we research and update