Comparison
ScanWow vs the Apple Notes scanner
Your iPhone already has a document scanner. Notes is a built-in Apple app, it can scan multi-page documents into a note as a PDF, and it can search the text in those scans. For a lot of people that is enough. ScanWow is a dedicated scanner app for people who want more: a library made only of scans, text recognition in 17 languages, and multi-page PDF export, with a one-time Pro instead of a subscription.
| Category | ScanWow | Apple Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Getting it | Download from the App Store. Free for 3 documents, then a one-time Pro purchase ($4.99 in the US). No subscription. | Already on your iPhone. Apple lists Notes as a built-in app. |
| Scanning | A dedicated document scanner app, with multi-page scans | Scan Documents inside a note. iPhone can capture the page automatically when it detects the edges, and you can scan more pages before you finish. |
| Where scans live | In ScanWow, as their own documents | Inside a note. Apple says the document is saved as a PDF in the note. |
| Text recognition (OCR) | On your device in 17 languages, included for everyone | Scan Text inserts text from the camera into a note, in supported languages |
| Search inside scans | On-device search by the text inside your scans | Notes search covers text in scanned documents, plus typed and handwritten text. A locked note shows only its title in results. |
| Sharing a scan as a PDF | Multi-page PDF export | Share the PDF from its menu in the note. If you export the whole note as a PDF, Apple says only the first page of a multipage scan is included. |
| Backup and other devices | Automatic iCloud Backup (Pro) to your own iCloud, once you turn it on | With iCloud, Apple says your notes stay up to date on all your devices |
| Best fit | People who scan often and want a dedicated scanner with no subscription | People who scan now and then and like keeping scans next to their notes |
Is the Notes app scanner good enough?
For many people, yes. If you scan a form or a letter now and then, Notes already does the job: it captures pages, saves them as a PDF in a note, and its search covers the text in scanned documents. You do not need to install anything.
A dedicated scanner app starts to make sense when scanning is something you do every week, and you want your scans kept apart from your notes, read on your device in 17 languages, and exported as PDFs straight from the scanner.
Where ScanWow has an advantage
- Scans live in a scanner app as their own documents, not mixed in with your notes.
- On-device text recognition in 17 languages, included for everyone.
- On-device search by the text inside your scans.
- Multi-page PDF export.
- Automatic iCloud Backup (Pro) saves scans to your own iCloud account and restores them on a new iPhone or iPad.
- Pro is a one-time purchase. No subscription.
- Magic Enhance is optional. A page is sent out only when you tap it (Anthropic Claude, with Google Gemini as a backup), and you can turn it off in Settings.
Where Apple Notes may still be the better choice
- It is built in, so there is nothing to download.
- Scans sit right next to your other notes, and Notes has folders, tags, and Smart Folders to organize them.
- You can rotate, crop, and apply filters to scanned pages, and mark up a scan in the note.
- You can share a note and collaborate on it with other people.
Apple's details come from the iPhone User Guide pages on scanning in Notes, searching notes, PDFs in Notes, and exporting notes.
FAQ
Is the iPhone Notes scanner good enough?
For occasional scans, often yes. Notes can scan multi-page documents into a note as a PDF, and its search covers text in scanned documents. A dedicated app like ScanWow is for people who scan often and want more.
Can Apple Notes search the text in a scanned document?
Yes. Apple says Notes search includes text in scanned documents. If a note is locked, only its title appears in the results.
Why use a scanner app instead of Notes?
ScanWow keeps scans as their own documents, reads text on your device in 17 languages, lets you search by the text inside your scans, and exports multi-page PDFs.
Does ScanWow need a subscription?
No. ScanWow is free for 3 documents, then Pro is a one-time purchase ($4.99 in the US). Text recognition and search are included for everyone.
Try both with your own documents
Scan the same few pages in Notes and in ScanWow, then keep whichever fits the way you work.
Download ScanWow