Despite the advancements in technology, many individuals still possess physical prints of photographs, some even preserving entire albums. As time passes, these cherished memories will inevitably deteriorate, fade, and lose their quality. Thankfully, modern technology has also bestowed upon us remarkable scanning applications. Also, mobile scanner apps can scan documents. The main task is to digitize physical documents or photos, and all the applications from this list do an excellent job with it.
1. Adobe Scan
Adobe Scan provides various scanning modes including books, documents, business cards, ID cards, and whiteboards. I started by scanning the receipt and was pleasantly surprised that the app not only detects phone numbers and URLs but also makes them clickable. This feature is particularly useful when you’re on the go and don’t have time to write down the information. Just take a picture and access it easily later.
In terms of digitization, there were a few accuracy hiccups, but overall, it performed quite well. However, the prices on the receipt were incorrect, unlike other apps that retrieved them accurately. On the other hand, the certificate scanning went significantly better, with Adobe capturing most of the text, except for the “Certificate” title at the top. Interestingly, the book scanning yielded the most accurate results. Although there were a few errors, the majority of the text was decipherable.
2. PDF scanner app
If you are looking for apps for modern professionals, then you should take a look at the PDF scanner app for iPhone. It easily scans documents of any type and format. If you have documents that need to be digitized, here is the app for the iPhone to help you. This scanning tool is also capable of converting PDF files to Word documents. Thanks to the built-in AI, it recognizes the text and can convert it into a regular Word format.
3. Microsoft Lens
It’s a fantastic app for Android and iOS users, and the best part is – it’s completely free to use! As soon as you open Microsoft Lens, you’ll notice the scan feature right there in front of you, along with your recent scans. Just like other scanning apps, it provides you with an outline of the image boundaries that it will crop before scanning. The scanner is super accurate and automatically straightens photos to ensure the correct orientation. While it won’t remove reflections, the scan quality is still pretty decent. However, the real highlight of this photo-scanning app lies in its editing tools. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!
4. Genius Scan
Genius Scan primarily functions as a document scanner, allowing users to effortlessly capture receipts, paperwork, and even photos. The app is available for free on iOS and Android, with the option to upgrade to a pro version for just $4.39.
When operating under suitable lighting conditions, the scanning feature automatically detects photo borders, ensuring precise scans. Users can then easily edit essential parameters like crop and orientation. Additionally, Genius Scan offers multiple presets, including a photo preset that marginally enhances image brightness.
While the app lacks reflection removal, it guarantees high-quality scans. Users can rename their scans and conveniently export them via email.
5. Apple Notes
Apple Notes serves as a note-taking app, but it stands out on this list due to its impressive OCR capabilities. To digitize text, simply click on the camera icon and explore four options, including Scan Documents and Scan Text. While the former scans the entire document into a note, the latter enables you to select specific text sections and insert them directly.
6. iScanner
iScanner had the best interface among all the OCR apps I’ve tried. It offers an extensive range of features, but it organizes everything exceptionally well, preventing any overwhelming feeling. The app conveniently categorizes actions into Scan, Edit, and Share, making it effortless to access the desired features. Additionally, you can explore video tutorials by clicking on the circular icons at the top of the screen, providing guidance when needed.
In terms of performance, iScanner met my expectations during standard testing. Although it missed the title on the certificate by a letter (which is not uncommon), it was generally accurate. As for the book and receipt, there were a few instances where certain letters or words were excluded, but overall, the digitized text was legible and understandable.
7. CamScanner
During my testing experience, CamScanner was a refreshing change. The automatic border adjustment feature worked flawlessly for all my documents, and the level of detail was exceptional. It accurately recognized even the challenging “Certificate” title that other apps struggled with. Additionally, the text was neatly divided into separate lines, a thoughtful touch.
8. Tiny Scanner
Tiny Scanner stood out as the most accurate option from the list, leaving CamScanner in a close second place. However, CamScanner encountered difficulties with misspellings and words being omitted, whereas Tiny Scanner delivered perfection.
To unlock Tiny Scanner’s OCR features, a subscription to a paid plan is necessary. Nevertheless, there is some flexibility when it comes to basic scanning. For instance, after my free trial expired, upon attempting to scan, the initial prompt urged me to upgrade to premium. However, by dismissing the prompt, another pop-up appeared, offering me the opportunity to watch a brief ad for one-time access to the desired feature. The videos are typically five seconds long, with the longest one I encountered lasting 20 seconds.
Conclusion
If you are looking for document scanner apps for entrepreneurs, you have come to the right place. Plus, there are a few apps on this list that can scan photos, which can also be useful for business purposes. With these applications, you can convert a physical document into a digital one in a couple of clicks.
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