Free to start · No account · Watermarked export

Free PDF Scanner for iPhone

Scan and import documents on iPhone without a ScanLens account. The first three pages of each document are unlocked, and free PDF, JPG, and PNG exports include a ScanLens watermark. Premium adds OCR, searchable PDFs, signatures, PDF tools, app lock, and third-party cloud sync.

Free to start No account 3 pages unlocked Watermarked export

Free tier: capture documents, correct page edges, organize scans, and export watermarked PDF, JPG, or PNG files. Choose Premium when you need OCR, searchable PDFs, signatures, or advanced PDF tools.

What is included in the free PDF scanner for iPhone?

ScanLens is free to download, scanning and import are unlimited, and no ScanLens account is required. The first three pages of each document are unlocked. You can crop, rotate, correct perspective, apply filters, organize the scan, and export PDF, JPG, or PNG with a ScanLens watermark.

That is enough for capturing receipts, forms, notes, and other everyday paperwork. Premium is available when you need watermark-free export, OCR, searchable PDFs, signatures, PDF tools, app lock, or third-party cloud sync. For a feature comparison, see the PDF scanner app overview; for use without a connection, see the offline scanner guide.

ScanLens free tier and Premium features

The lists below reflect the ScanLens plan information reviewed on August 12, 2026. Apple shows the current local price and any eligible offer before you confirm a purchase.

Included in the free tier

Document scanner with live edge detection and auto-capture
ID card scanner and passport scanner modes
Business card scanner
Crop, rotate, perspective fix, filters (Original, Rich Color, Smart B&W, Grayscale)
Unlimited scanning and import, with the first three pages of each document unlocked
Export as PDF, JPG, and PNG with a ScanLens watermark
iOS share sheet, print, save to Files or Photos
Folders and favorites to organize scans
No ScanLens account required for scanning or import
Free iCloud backup

Available with Premium

App Lock with Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode
Watermark-free export (plain PDF, JPG, PNG with no "Scanned with ScanLens" mark)
OCR text recognition in 14 languages — handwriting coverage is narrower and results vary by script and image quality
Searchable PDF on iPhone with an embedded OCR text layer
Merge PDF, split PDF, choose the export quality, and page reordering
Password-protected PDFs for contracts, tax forms, and medical records
E-signature workflow with saved signatures — sign any PDF on iPhone without redrawing
Annotate PDF with pen, highlighter, shapes, stamps, and the magic eraser
Add custom watermarks (DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL, company name) with full position control
Third-party cloud sync to Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive
Workflows: filter → OCR → rename → tag → upload automation
Extended export page sizes (A4, A3, A5, Letter, Legal)

How the free tier works

App download and initial install
No ScanLens account required at any tier
Document processing on the iPhone; files leave the selected storage location only when you share, back up, or export them
Updates (bug fixes, new iOS support) — not paywalled

For a side-by-side pricing table with Premium details (7-day Monthly trial, 14-day Yearly trial, refund policy, lifetime math, and currency conversions), see the ScanLens pricing page.

Other ways to scan a PDF free on iPhone

The best choice depends on where the PDF should go and what you need to do after scanning:

Apple Notes or Files — built into iOS and suitable for occasional multi-page scans. See ScanLens vs Apple Notes.
OneDrive — useful when the scan should go directly to Microsoft cloud storage. Microsoft recommends it as the replacement for its retired Lens app and notes that OneDrive scans cannot be saved locally on the device. Microsoft Support.
Adobe Scan — a good fit for an Adobe workflow; Adobe includes scanning and automatic text recognition in the free app, with additional PDF tools available by subscription. See ScanLens vs Adobe Scan.
ScanLens — useful when you want no-account scanning, local document processing, and the option to add a broader PDF toolkit later.

How to scan a PDF free on iPhone with ScanLens

Open ScanLens without creating an account, point the camera at the page, and check the detected edges. Crop, rotate, or apply a document filter if the page needs cleanup, then save it to your document library.

The first three pages of each document are unlocked. Export the result as PDF, JPG, or PNG and send it through the iOS share sheet, print it, or save it to Files or Photos. Free-tier exports include a ScanLens watermark.

For personal records or a quick copy of a form, that may be all you need. If the final file must be unbranded or searchable, compare the additional options on the ScanLens pricing page.

What the free tier handles well

The free tier works well when you need to capture, clean up, organize, and share a short document.

Personal record-keeping

Scanning receipts, warranty cards, manuals, and household paperwork to keep digital copies for yourself. A small watermark on a file that only you will ever open does not matter. Scan, save to Files, done — no account, no subscription, no cloud detour.

Quick capture before you lose the paper

A handout, a business card, a flyer with a date on it — the kind of paper that vanishes if you do not capture it now. Free scanning with auto-capture gets a clean, legible copy in seconds. Far better than a crooked Camera Roll snapshot, and it lives in your document library where you can find it again.

Personal documents stored on your iPhone

Scanning and document processing run on the iPhone, and you choose where the file is stored or exported. For IDs, medical letters, and tax documents, check the destination before sharing; Premium adds app lock with Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode.

When OCR or searchable PDF is required

Use Premium when you need to recognize text in 14 languages or create a searchable PDF with an embedded text layer. Keep the free tier for capture, import, page cleanup, organization, and watermarked export.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ScanLens free?

Yes. ScanLens is free to download, scanning and import do not require an account, and the first three pages of each document are unlocked. Free exports include a ScanLens watermark. Premium removes the watermark and adds OCR, searchable PDF export, signatures, PDF tools, app lock, and third-party cloud sync.

Does the free tier require a trial?

No. You can use the free scanning tier without starting a subscription trial. Monthly and yearly Premium trials are separate offers for eligible new subscribers; the weekly plan has no trial.

Is an account required?

No. You can download, scan, and import without creating a ScanLens account. A cloud provider may require its own sign-in if you choose that export or backup destination.

Where do my scans go?

Scanning and document processing run on the iPhone. Files remain in the storage location you choose unless you share or export them. Optional iCloud backup and third-party cloud export send a copy to the selected service under that provider's terms.

Does the free tier put a watermark on exports?

Yes. PDF, JPG, and PNG exports from the free tier include a ScanLens watermark. Premium subscriptions and the one-time Lifetime purchase remove it from exported files.

Can I use ScanLens entirely for free without ever paying?

Yes, if three unlocked pages per document and a watermark on exports fit your use. Scanning and import are unlimited and need no ScanLens account. Premium is required for watermark-free export and the current paid feature set, including OCR, searchable PDFs, signatures, PDF tools, app lock, and third-party cloud sync.

Are OCR and searchable PDF export included in the free tier?

No. The current ScanLens plan comparison places OCR in 14 languages and searchable PDF export in Premium. Searchable PDF uses OCR to embed a selectable text layer behind the scanned page image.

What do people actually compare when looking for a free PDF scanner?

Threads on this question tend to converge on four things, and they are worth checking yourself rather than taking anyone's word for. Is the free tier time-limited or permanent. Does it demand an account or an email address. Does it mark exports, and can that be removed only by paying. And does it upload pages to a server. For ScanLens the answers are: permanent, no account, yes it marks free exports, and no — capture and recognition run on the device.