It does not matter if you are a student or a working professional; there are many things you will have to take note of and document. A grocery list, to-do list, tasks, and even reminders are some examples of stuff we usually write down. However, with the traditional way of taking notes on paper, it can be challenging to always have it with you.
For instance, a piece of paper filled with a list can get crumpled in your pocket or bag. Not to mention how easy it is to lose a piece of paper. Instead of bringing it around, you can scan the note with the list or information and convert it into a photo or file you can view from your device. Here are some recommendations for scanning apps you can use on your phone and tablet devices for easy access.
Notes
If you have an iPhone, you automatically have a scanner app built into your phone. Although not many know of the function, the notes app on iPhones can take scans of notes or book pages. Then it saves on your phone so that you can access it anytime.
To use it, go to Notes on your iPhone, create new notes, tap on the camera icon and choose “Scan Documents” then, it will guide you to take the best scan according to the note or document you are scanning. Although it is easy and convenient, the Notes app does not do much besides the basic scan. But it is still a good choice rather than downloading a third-party app.
Adobe Scan
Another excellent mobile scanning app is Adobe Scan which is available on both Apple and Android phones. It is simple and easy to use, and also gets the job done quickly, perfect for when you are on the go. Not only that but your scans are also automatically saved to Adobe Document Cloud. So, even when your phone battery runs out, you can still access your documents with a laptop just by accessing through the internet. In addition, there are no extra fees to use and store your documents.
Microsoft Office Lens
Microsoft Office Lens is also an excellent option for a mobile scanning app. It is similar to Adobe Scan but perfect for those comfortable with the Microsoft system. However, instead of the regular captures, the Microsoft Office Lens has set lenses such as documents, business cards, and even whiteboards to ensure that your capture is clear and precise.
You can even copy tables and text from scans or pictures into a note on your phone effortlessly. Even if your document or note is handwritten, the Microsoft Office Lens can detect and convert the words into a word note. In addition, this mobile scanning app is also free for all smartphone devices. Hence, making it a great addition for those looking for scanning apps and those who want to save money.
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CamScanner
CamScanner is a remarkable document scanning mobile app available for Android and Apple phones. This great free app allows you to scan, merge, as well as access your cloud storage, such as iCloud or Google Drive. CamScanner also allows its users to convert their scans into other document formats such as PDF, Word, TXT, JPG, and even Excel documents. In addition, users can also share these documents freely to their email, contacts, or even upload to their cloud storage.
The app, however, adds a small watermark to every scan you make using the app. As a result, it may not work for every document scan. If you need more premium features, you can subscribe to their premium account. Despite this, it is still a great application you may consider using.
SwiftScan
Another excellent document scanning mobile app is SwiftScan, which is also available for iOS and Android users. Unlike the others, SwiftScan has extra features that make it distinguishable. For instance, you can name your files, fax, and access organisation tools, as well as many cloud storage services.
SwiftScan, also allows you to upload scanned documents anywhere immediately you would like, such as your cloud storage or on any database. Plus, it is easy to organise your papers, ensuring you will not get confused once you try to look for a particular document.
However, these extra features are perks you will get if you purchase the Pro version. Although the free versions you can get on your smartphones and tablets are already more than capable of doing the job, for $7.99, the Pro version lets you do even more.
Abbyy FineReader PDF
This mobile scanning app is perfect for those who know more than one language or are currently learning a different language. The Abbyy FineReader PDF is a multilingual scanning app that covers up to 193 languages using optical character recognition.
The app is compatible with both iOS and Android devices, and it allows you to scan printed as well as handwritten documents. Not only that, but Abbyy can work with up to 12 file formats, such as DOCX, PDF, and even TXT. In addition, the app preserves the original document formatting.
Moreover, you can add signatures and notes to text using various simple annotation tools. Notably, the iOS version of the programme has a function called BookScan that makes it simple to digitise printed books.
There are many great mobile scanning apps on the market, all differing in functionality, tools, and prices. It just takes a few readings to determine which app works best for you and your uses for it. So, choose yours wisely!
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