Do you have a few old photos you want to share online but don’t own a scanner? Don’t worry. Nowadays, you only need a smartphone to digitize your printed memories. We’ve compiled a list of the best photo scanner apps you can choose from to scan multiple photos.
8 Best Photo Scanner Apps to Use
Let’s dive into our picks for the best smartphone photo scanner apps. We list photo scanner apps for Apple iPhones, iPads, and Android phones and rank them, starting with the ones with the best reviews.
1. Adobe Scan
Adobe Scan is Adobe’s answer to Microsoft Lens (second on our list). It’s mainly used for scanning documents and converting them into PDFs. But of course, creating PDF files isn’t the only feature of Adobe Scan. You can also use it to scan photos and save them as JPEG files.
Adobe Scan uses artificial intelligence (AI) called Adobe Sensei. It automatically corrects the perspective of your scanned document and sharpens the image.
But the best part about this app is that it removes glare and shadows. That’s useful, especially if you’re working with glossy prints.
We admit that all the Adobe Scan features we mention also exist in other options. So, what makes this app different? Well, it lets you scan and fill out forms digitally. So, if you have a document you need to sign, open the app and add your signature using your phone screen!
2. Microsoft Lens
Microsoft Lens is an all-in-one photo scanner app. It has all the features you’d expect from a regular desktop scanner. It doesn’t just save images as JPEG files. You can also convert your pictures to other formats, such as PDF, Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Word.
This Microsoft app can convert images into files. This makes it a useful document scanner in various situations, from classrooms to offices.
It even has a feature that transmutes handwriting into a digitized format. But what makes Microsoft Office Lens one of the best photo scanner apps is its high-quality scans.
Unlike other options, it produces highly detailed documents. As a result, you’ll be confident using this app in a professional setting.
3. Clear Scanner
Clear Scanner is one of the best photo scanner apps primarily because of its user-friendly interface.
Also, unlike other options on our list, you don’t have to pay to use all its features. That’s why we think it’s the best choice if you’re a student who needs a reliable scanner.
Clear Scanner lets you scan both images and documents. And even though it’s free, it has an advanced feature that automatically detects a photo’s edges.
You can then convert the files into PDF or JPEG files. The app lets you share your files via many platforms, including Dropbox and Google Drive.
Plus, if you have an iPhone, you can even print your file wirelessly through Cloud Print! That’s a valuable add-on, especially if you need to make copies of your scanned images.
4. SwiftScan
If you want a simple photo scanner app, Swiftscan is the perfect choice. But when we say simple, we don’t mean it’s basic. It has many features that make it stand out from the rest.
You use Swiftscan to scan pictures and documents. Apart from that, it has edge-detect technology that lets it automatically crop your files. It also lets you save your scans in either JPEG or PDF formats.
But what makes SwiftScan stand out is its security features. It lets you encrypt sensitive files so people can’t steal them.
It also includes password protection with Touch and Face ID support. This is a perfect add-on for files you want to limit access to.
5. Photo Scan by Photomyne
Photo Scan by Photomyne is one of the best photo scanner apps because it can scan multiple photos using AI. This unique feature is not found in the other options on our list, except Adobe Scan.
So, how does the AI work? If you open a photo album, the AI automatically recognizes all the images and saves them as individual files. So it’s a great app if you have hundreds of prints to digitize.
Photomyne’s AI scanning process is so meticulous that it accurately finds image borders. You don’t have to crop the photos because it does it for you.
Besides its ability to scan pictures, Photomyne lets you apply effects to your images. It can even colorize old black-and-white photos!
6. PhotoScan by Google Photos
If you’ve tried scanning your photos using your phone before, you know eliminating glare is difficult. The specks of light on glossy prints are particularly challenging. They won’t go away until you shoot from a lower angle, which gives you skewed results.
Enter Google Photo Scan. What makes it different from other photo-scanning apps is that it offers glare reduction.
This Google Photos app takes four separate scans of a single image. The app then combines all these images into one sharp and glare-free file.
You’d think this was only available on Android, but you can also download it for free on iOS. That’s great news, considering it’s the best option for smartphone photo scanning.
7. Pic Scanner Gold
Download: iOS
Launched in 2013, Pic Scanner Gold was one of the first photo scanner apps to scan multiple photos simultaneously.
Like other photo scanning apps, Pic Scanner boasts various editing features to retouch your old photos. And it also lets you remove red-eye and even clean up blemishes.
But what makes Pic Scanner one of the best photo scanner apps is its Recolor tool. It’s a neat feature that restores the color in faded images.
After scanning, Pic Scanner lets you create instant albums you can quickly share with family members. You can also create personalized cards and slide shows!
The price of Pic Scanner Gold is $7.99. This is a bargain, especially since it’s a one-time purchase, not a subscription.
It also has all the features you need for a photo scanner app. You won’t need another one once you have this on your smartphone. Unfortunately, it’s only available for iOS platforms.
8. FilmBox by Photomyne
Photomyne has some of the best photo scanner apps for Android and iOS. This is why we have two of their products on this list.
Apart from Photomyne’s all-in-one scanner (listed below), they also have FilmBox. This app is specifically designed to scan color and black-and-white film negatives.
It automatically converts film strips into positive prints you can view on your phone. But Filmbox is even more impressive because it can scan regular images and slides.
This app also has all the features to edit and color-correct your scanned photos. Thus, you can ensure your digitized files appear as accurate as your physical pictures.
Conclusion: Best Photo Scanner Apps
So there you have it. The best photo scanner apps for both iOS and Android! Most of the options on our list are all-in-one scanners that do everything you’ll ever need. So it’s genuinely a matter of choosing which one you find the easiest to use.
A good portion of the apps on our list are free. But even the apps that require payment have trial versions. So you can try them out before buying them.