Sure the Android scanner apps cannot beat a real scanner but it does come dangerously close to the quality. I would go as far as to say that if they document is not super important, use an Android scanner app and be done with the job.
Note: The apps were tested using a Samsung Galaxy Note III smartphone. I used the same document to scan with all three of the contenders, CamScanner, Scanbot and TurboScan. The apps performed fine. Now let’s get down to the actual battle and see which one of these apps is the best scanner app for you.
Our Ratings:
CamScanner: 4.5 out of 5 Stars Scanbot: 4 out of 5 Stars TurboScan: 3 out of 5 Stars
Google Play Rating and Link:
Camscanner: 4.4 out of 5 Stars
Scanbot: 4.1 out of 5 Stars
TurboScan: 4.6 out of 5 Stars
CamScanner – The Deepest Choice
The Good
CamScanner is one of the best Android scanner apps around and it clearly shows. The app is my personal favorite and for good reasons too. I love options and options are in abundance when using CamScanner. The app does come with a pro version but frankly speaking, if you are scanning single documents once in a while, there is no need to spend any money. The free version is also ad free making it a natural choice for everyone. The interface is amazing and it provides clear information about what feature does what.
One of the best things about the app is its ability to make everything professional. For example you can use a grid to perfectly like up your document. Also the app comes with a unique balance indicator while taking a picture, so you can perfectly hold your smartphone on top of the document. These little touches are not available on any other scanner app for Android.
The Bad
There is not much to say against this great app. The only thing I can nitpick is that the buttons are not labeled. Sure it is a slight inconvenience but the icons are intuitive and do provide ample visual cues about what the button does. This is the only negative thing I can say about the app, especially considering it is a completely free one.
The Bottom Line
CamScanner is recommended by me to everyone. In fact it is on my essential apps for a new phone list too. The app is intuitive and provides amazing looking results. There are plenty of options to toggle with and get the result you desire. Adjusting contrast and brightness are extremely easy making the scan look insanely professional. Get this app as soon as you can.
TurboScan – Why Pay For It?
The Good
TurboScan comes with a sure scan feature which triple checks a document before making a single scan. This is a great feature if you want a perfect scan for an important document. Basically the app takes three pictures of the same document and combines them to make a super copy which is highly accurate. The app can also make scans of already taken images from your gallery.
The Bad
I really didn’t like the bare bones interface of the app. There are just not enough options to tweak a taken image and shape it according to my needs. The camera itself is very elementary leaving a lot to desire.
The Bottom Line
If I was judging this scanner app for Android solo, it would have ranked great in my books. After all it’s the end result what matters right? But unfortunately this app went against the number one free scanner app for Android and as a result can’t possibly compete. Everything which this app offers is available for free on other apps. Even though it is a paid app, there are some features missing which are available on free apps. This begs the question that why is this app a paid one.
Scanbot – The Easy Way Out
The Good
If you are in a hurry and need a good scan, this is the app for you. If you do scans in bulk and need to make the job easier, this free scanner app for Android is made for you. The interface is extremely simple and you can take multiple scans in a convenient burst. This is the app I use when scanning multiple documents like university notes or sample papers.
So how does the app do that? Well there is no camera button on the app, simply point your camera at a document and the app will automatically take a picture and save it. Then you are free to scan another document again. This is what I call minimal fuss.
The Bad
Sometimes the automatic camera takes a little while longer to adjust. Especially if you are holding your camera at an angle, the app takes its sweet time focusing on the document. Otherwise the results are great when the job is done. Another thing I wish the app had was more post process editing options, don’t get me wrong there are basic ones included, but I’m a greedy guy who needs a little bit more.
The Bottom Line
This is the most user friendly free Android scanner app around. Get this if you are not interested in tinkering with options before or after a scan. Point, approve and save, this is all it takes to get a good quality scan from this app.
Conclusion
By now you must know that the CamScanner is the best free scanner app for Android there is. There are many other scanners for Android but this one takes the lead in almost every way. Get this app on your Android device and keep it there always. Scanbot is also a worthy free Android scanner app which can save you time, especially if you are dealing with bulk documents. The TurboScan is redundant with its mandatory pay wall. I don’t think anyone will want to use a paid app when there are superior free ones available. Like always, I suggest you at least try out the free apps first then move to the paid ones if you are fully satisfied. Happy Scanning folks!
