The definition of a workplace is much broader than it was a few years ago. With the right technology, most professionals can do their jobs from almost anywhere. Even complex tasks like document scanning, once only possible with large office equipment, can now be done on the go with your mobile device and the right software.
If you’re looking to add a document scanner app to your professional toolkit, this article is for you. We’ll cover everything from top features like converting a JPG to Word to the best apps, helping you find the perfect mobile scanning solution. We will also suggest a desktop scanning solution for capturing larger volumes of paper.
Top features to look for in a document scanner app
The best mobile scanning solutions are powerful pieces of software. From intelligent document detection to file organization, here are the features to look for in a top scanner app.
Optical character recognition (OCR)
Most scanners convert pages into digital images, but you can’t interact with the text. Optical character recognition (OCR) takes scanning to the next level by spotting words in an image and turning them into searchable digital text. This saves time in sorting, data extraction, and other processes.
Multi-page scanning
Scanning each page one at a time is fine for small jobs, but it becomes inefficient as the volume increases. Look for an app that can capture multiple pages at once and automatically separate them into individual documents.
Image enhancement tools
Photos of documents often suffer from poor lighting or awkward angles. To fix this, document scanner apps can automatically edit and enhance the file to produce a clean, professional-looking image. The best apps can also correct suboptimal capture angles and automatically square the document to the frame.
File format options
While TXT, PDF, and DOCX are common, some apps support over ten different file formats. Make sure the app you choose supports the file types you use regularly.
Cloud integration
Once you’ve finished scanning, you’ll likely want to upload your file to the cloud. The best scanner apps are compatible with major cloud storage solutions like Google Drive and OneDrive, as well as smaller ones like FTP and SugarSync.
The 3 best document scanner apps (in our opinion)
After testing dozens of document scanner apps, we’ve narrowed down the top three options for you.
Genius Scan
Genius Scan is packed with features. Its smart page detection, perspective correction, and image enhancement ensure you get a great scan every time. After scanning, Genius Scan suggests relevant file names, supports tagging, and allows uploads to most cloud providers. The app also offers strong data security, including encryption, making it one of the most robust options available.
SwiftScan
SwiftScan is another powerful mobile scanning app. It’s designed for almost any document, allowing users to easily scan sketchbooks, whiteboards, receipts, and more. Like Genius Scan, it automatically crops, straightens, and enhances the image for a high-resolution result. It also offers smart naming and cloud compatibility. SwiftScan’s standout feature is its top-tier OCR technology, which recognizes and extracts text from numerous languages with high precision.
Adobe Scan
While not the most powerful, Adobe Scan might be the easiest mobile scanning solution to use. This straightforward app makes scanning everything from forms to business cards simple and fast, producing some of the cleanest images on this list. After scanning, you can make adjustments in the editing window. If the image is a form, you can fill it out within the app. Adobe Scan also automatically saves every scan to Adobe’s cloud storage service.