7 Best CamScanner Alternatives for Android & iOS [Free Download]

Gone are the days when we would go to the xerox shops to get our photos and documents scanned. Things have changed now, today, we just have to pick up our smartphones and flip out its camera to scan and email documents. And there is no doubt that CamScanner played an important role in this revolution.

CamScanner is one of the best yet most popular document scanner apps available out there. However, after the ban of 59 Chinese apps by the Indian Government, CamScanner is no longer available for us to download in India. But the good part is that there are a lot of non-Chinese free Camscanner alternatives for Android and iOS devices available out there.

Is CamScanner a Chinese App?

CamScanner is a scan-to-PDF tool for mobile devices and comes from the Chinese developer, INTSIG Information Co. Ltd. However, after the ban on Chinese apps in India, CamScanner is no longer available on the Google Play Store and App Store. However, if you are one of the active users of this easy-to-use document scanner app, you are probably looking out for a replacement for CamScanner.

However, in case you are not aware of those CamScanner app alternatives, then let me just share a list with you. These apps are as good as CamScanner if not the best. So let’s just go ahead and have a quick look at free alternatives to the CamScanner app.

Read | Best Alternatives To Microsoft Word For Android & iOS [iPhone & iPad]

7 Best Non-Chinese Free CamScanner Alternatives for Android & iOS

We’ve tried these alternative apps for CamScanner out and listed them based on our experience, and the ratings in the Google Play Store and App Store.

1. Microsoft Office Lens – PDF Scanner
2. Google Drive
3. Adobe Scan – PDF Scanner with OCR, PDF Creator
4. PhotoScan by Google Photos
5. Notebloc: Scanner App – Scan, Save & Share as PDF
6. ScanPro App – PDF Document Scanner
7. Genius Scan – PDF Scanner

1. Microsoft Office Lens – PDF Scanner

Plan: Free

First of all, I have Microsoft Office Lens. It is one of the best PDF scanner apps available out there coming from Microsoft. The best part of the app is that it trims, enhances, and makes your documents readable. Also, the app can be used for converting images to PDF, Word, or PowerPoint files. You can also save the documents in your phone storage or on OneNote, OneDrive.

Moreover, the app is absolutely free to download, and the best part it does not place any watermark on your scanned documents.

Key Features of the Microsoft Office Lens App

1. Trim and enhance the captured scans to make them more readable.
2. Use Whiteboard mode to clear glare and shadow, use Document mode to set the correct colors in the image.
3. Use Business Card mode to extract contact information and save it to the address book or OneDrive.

2. Google Drive

Plan: Free, Paid (in-app purchase)

To be honest, there is no need for you to download a third-party document scanner app. Since all the Android phones come with Google Drive pre-installed. And the best part of the app is that it comes with a built-in document scanner option.

Getting started with Google Drive is also pretty easy. Simply launch the app and tap on the + icon from the right bottom corner. Then you will get a scan option that can be used for scanning documents. Once you click a picture, you can crop the image, make it black and white, and so on.

Key Features of the Google Drive App

1. Make changes to scanned documents, such as paper orientation, image quality, and paper size.
2. Enhance the image using different filters.
3. Add multiple scans.

3. Adobe Scan – PDF Scanner with OCR, PDF Creator

Plan: Free, Paid (in-app purchase)

Adobe Scan is also one of the top non-Chinese free alternatives to the CamScanner app. The best part of the app is that it comes with integrated OCR technology, which instantly recognizes printed text and handwriting.

Also, the app can be used for turning any image into Adobe PDF. Getting started with the app is also pretty easy, and you are allowed to capture docs, books, tax receipts, and so on.

Along with that, you are getting editing features. So you can easily reorder crop, rotate, and adjust the color of your scanned document. Also, it allows you to remove and edit imperfections, and erase stains, marks, creases, and handwriting.

Key Features of the Adobe Scan App

1. Use advanced image technology to automatically detect borders and sharpen scanned content for better clarity.
2. Edit scanned documents — crop, rotate, adjust color.
3. Save scanned documents to Adobe Document Cloud for instant access and sharing from anywhere.
4. Save business cards to contacts.

4. PhotoScan by Google Photos

Plan: Free

You can also try PhotoScan by Google Photos. This app is slightly different than all the other mentions on this page. Using this app, you will be able to scan photos and save them in Google Photos. However, the app does not work well with documents.

So in case you have any printed images that you would like to save on your app, this app is the ideal choice. The app will help you with glare-free scans and a step-by-step capture process. It will also crop your photos automatically thanks to the edge detection feature. As well as you will get other features like smart rotation, perspective correction, and so on.

Key Features of the PhotoScan App

1. Best app for scanning printed photos
2. Ample details and color accurate
3. Glare-free
4. Great edge detection

5. Notebloc: Scanner App – Scan, Save & Share as PDF

Plan: Free, Paid (in-app purchase)

For my next pick, I have the Notebloc Scanner. A Barcelona-based company developed the app. Using the app is pretty easy, and it is completely free to use.

The app offers you unlimited scans and PDF document creation, you can also take pictures and convert them into scans. It also offers you a batch scan feature, which allows you to scan multiple pages at once. So in case you are scanning a book, this feature will be highly useful.

You can also create backup files and restore documents which helps you with document organizations. Like you will be able to create folders and subfolders to organize your documents. Also, it offers you support for OCR.

Key Features of the Notebloc App

• Automatic correction of perspective to fit the photos perfectly aligned and remove lens aberrations.
• Classify documents by aspects like date of creation or edition.
• Choose PDF size for notes.
• Add and copy pages within a document.

6. ScanPro App – PDF Document Scanner

Plan: Free, Paid (in-app purchase)

Up next, I have the ScanPro App. This is also one of the best mobile scanner apps for documents and QR codes. With the help of this app, you will be able to create free high-quality PDF scans or JP images. The app allows you to scan premium quality PDFs or JPGs with 200 dips and higher.

Also, it allows you to fax your documents right from the app. You can even use the app for scanning URLs, contacts, phone numbers, and so on. Plus, it allows you to scan single or multiple images at once.

Key Features of the ScanPro App

1. Edit scanned documents by cropping or adding filters.
2. Add multiple shots/pages to the capture.
3. Share via Email or other apps.

7.  Genius Scan – PDF Scanner

Plan: Free, Paid (in-app purchase)

With the help of the Genius Scan app, you will be able to scan your paper documents in the easiest way possible and export them as multi-page PDF files. The app also comes with lots of smart scanning features. Like it helps you with document detection and background removal, shadow removal and defect cleanup, and so on.

Along with that, it supports PDF creation and editing. Like you can create multiple-page PDFs, deal with document merging and splitting, and so on. Also, you will get lots of export options. Like you can export your files in cloud storage options like Google Drive or Dropbox and so on.

Now Scan Documents With The Best Indian Substitute of CamScanner App

So those were the 7 best non-Chinese free CamScanner alternative apps for Android and iOS. So go ahead and check these apps out and see how they are working for you. Have I missed mentioning your favorite free document-scanning app? Do let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

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