PDF Scanner review
A feature-rich iOS scanner with OCR, PDF tools, iCloud organization, and AI document help.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
PDF Scanner turns iPhone and iPad cameras into document scanners for individuals who need mobile capture and PDF management without creating an account. Automatic edge detection and perspective correction help create clean scans, while multi-page capture, on-device OCR, and selectable text support searchable PDFs. The app also handles ID cards, QR codes, and barcodes, making it broader than a basic camera-to-PDF utility.
Its standout strength is the combination of document capture, text recognition, and document handling in one iOS app. Users can search a document library, merge and compress PDFs, translate and sign files, and organize documents with iCloud backup. Export and sharing connections include Files, Photos, AirPrint, WhatsApp, Google Drive, and Dropbox. Siri, Shortcuts, and Spotlight add further Apple ecosystem connections, while the app's AI features provide summaries, key-information extraction, and document questions.
PDF Scanner has a free plan described as free to use every day, alongside premium upgrades and a lifetime-access option. Premium removes ads and unlocks premium features. That structure suits people who want to begin with everyday scanning and decide later whether editing, signing, AI, or other advanced tools justify an upgrade. The main trade-off is platform scope: the app is designed for iPhone and iPad, with Apple silicon Mac compatibility shown separately. Choose it if you want AI-assisted document handling and a broad PDF toolkit on iOS; choose another product if Android support or a simpler, more transparent paid-plan comparison is essential.
PDF Scanner pros and cons
- Where it wins
- On-device OCR creates searchable PDFs with selectable text
- Combines scanning, PDF editing, signing, and ID capture
- AI supports summaries, key-information extraction, and document questions
- Where it doesn't
- Available for iOS rather than Android
- Paid options are harder to compare across the listed upgrades
- Advanced features require an upgrade beyond the free plan
PDF Scanner fact sheet, pricing and score →
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