Mobile Scanning App Options
Ready to fill Sourcery requests and wondering about the best way to create the scans using your mobile device? Luckily, there are many different options to choose from, including the native scanning option on your device. Use this guide to help you decide which scanner is best for you!
✳️ Please note that inclusion in this list is not an official endorsement from Sourcery, the University of Connecticut, or Digital Scholar.
| App name | Website | Free version | Free trial | iOS version | Android version | Paid version | Notes |
| Adobe Scan | https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/mobile/scanner-app.html | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ️✔️ | ️️✔️ | Many universities provide free access to students and faculty |
| Genius Scan | https://thegrizzlylabs.com/genius-scan | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ️✔️ | Free version allows you to email scans or export to other apps. Paid plans offer syncing to cloud storage. |
| Scanner Pro | https://readdle.com/scannerpro | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ | ️✔️ | Free version adds a watermark at the bottom, this is acceptable for reference-quality scans. |
| Google Drive | https://support.google.com/drive/answer/3145835?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | |
| SwiftScan | https://swiftscan.app/en/ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | Does not share scans with third parties. |
| vFlat | https://www.vflat.com/en | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | Identified by the New York Times as best suited for book scanning |
| Photomyne | https://photomyne.com/ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Don’t forget the native scanning options built into your device:
iOS. Create PDF scans of up to 20 images at a time using your Notes app. A little unwieldy and a bit clunky, but it’s free and doesn’t require you to download anything new.
- Read about how to take scans in your Notes app here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/108963
Android. Create PDF scans using your Camera app.
- Read about how to do that here: https://theintelligence.com/38780/android-scanner/.
📝 Want more detailed information on how to complete a Sourcery request? Take a look at our Sourcerer Handbook for instructions on every step of the process.
⁉️ Questions, comments, concerns? Reach out to us at su*****@*********pp.org.
