apps that…by

Clear Scan

An app that scans to watermark-free PDFs for free.

Notes & workDocument scannersFree planIndie
Get Clear ScanBuild your own scanner appFree plan

What Clear Scan does

Clear Scan is a free document scanner for iPhone, iPad and Android from a small developer. It saves scans as PDFs with no watermark, includes text recognition, and lets you scan as much as you want. The trade-off is ads, and there is a low-cost Pro upgrade on offer.

Unlimited free scans
No watermark on saved PDFs
OCR to turn images into text
Email selected pages or whole documents
Share to Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive and Evernote
Print from your phone

Clear Scan answers a common search: a free scanner that doesn't stamp a watermark on your PDFs. The developer says you can scan as many times as you want for free, and the saved PDFs come out clean.

It covers the everyday stuff. Text recognition (OCR) turns images into text, you can email selected pages or whole documents, print, and send files to Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive or Evernote. It has been on the App Store since 2013 and was updated in 2026.

The catch is ads: the App Store notes that the app contains advertising. The description also says there are no in-app purchases, but the store lists ClearScanner Pro at $0.99 a month, $5.99 a year or $19.99 once, so expect an upgrade offer. If ads don't bother you, it's one of the simplest free picks.

Alternatives to Clear Scan

CamScannerFeature-packed scanner with OCR, converters and cloud folders
Document scannersScan to text
Free, paid from $9.99/moFree plan
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Adobe ScanFree phone scanner that turns paper into searchable PDFs
Document scannersScan to text
Free, paid from $4.99/moFree plan
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Genius ScanA free, private scanner that processes pages on your phone
Document scannersFree plan
Free, with paid extrasFree plan
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Apple NotesThe free notes app already on your iPhone and iPad
Everyday notesDocument scanners
FreeFree plan
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Scanner ProReaddle's polished document scanner for iPhone and iPad
Document scannersFree plan
Free, with paid extrasFree plan
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TurboScan ProPay once for a fast phone scanner, no subscription
Document scannersOne-time price
From $12.99 one-time
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Who it's for

People who want a free scanner without a watermark
Occasional scanning of forms and letters

Skip it if: Anyone who can't stand ads.

Pricing

Free plan
Free, paid from $0.99/mo

Free to use, with ads. ClearScanner Pro is listed in the App Store at $0.99 a month, $5.99 a year or $19.99 as a one-time purchase.

Prices can vary by country. Checked 17 Oct 2026.

What people like

  • Free with no watermark
  • Unlimited scanning
  • OCR included
  • Low-cost upgrade if you want one

Watch out for

  • Shows ads
  • Store description and in-app purchase list don't match
  • Fewer extras than bigger scanners

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Questions people ask

Does Clear Scan add a watermark?

No. The developer says saved PDFs have no watermark.

Is Clear Scan free?

Yes. You can scan as much as you want for free. The free version shows ads, and a Pro upgrade is available.

Does Clear Scan have OCR?

Yes. It can turn images of text into editable text.