Genius Scan
An app that scans paper into PDFs and processes them on your phone.
What Genius Scan does
Genius Scan is a document scanner for iPhone, iPad and Android from The Grizzly Labs, a small independent team. The free version handles the core job well: find the page, clean it up and save a multi-page PDF. A paid upgrade adds text recognition, cloud export and security features.
Genius Scan has been around since 2010, and it shows in the details. It detects the page, removes the background, fixes distortion and cleans up shadows. You can batch scan, merge and split documents, import photos or PDFs, and tag files so they are easy to find later.
The developer says the free version is free for as long as you want, and processing happens on your device rather than on a server. That makes it a good fit if you scan personal paperwork and don't love the idea of uploading it.
The paid Plus plan is where text recognition (OCR) lives, along with searchable PDFs, Face ID lock, smart file names and automatic export to services like Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive. Backup and sync across devices is a separate Genius Cloud subscription. If you just need clean PDFs to email, the free version may be all you need.
Alternatives to Genius Scan
Who it's for
Skip it if: Anyone who needs free text recognition.
Pricing
Free planThe free version has no time limit. Genius Scan Plus and Ultra are optional upgrades, listed in the App Store at prices from $1.99 to $49.99. Backup and sync through Genius Cloud is a separate subscription.
Prices can vary by country. Checked 17 Oct 2026.
What people like
- Free version with no time limit
- Processing happens on your device
- Clean scans with good page detection
- On iPhone, iPad and Android
Watch out for
- OCR and searchable PDFs need Plus
- Cloud export and sync cost extra
- Many plan prices in the store can be confusing
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Questions people ask
Is Genius Scan really free?
Yes. The developer says you can use it for free for as long as you want. Paid plans add extras like OCR and cloud export.
Does Genius Scan have OCR?
Yes, but text recognition and searchable PDFs are part of the paid Plus plan.
Does Genius Scan upload my documents?
Scans are processed on your device. Cloud backup and sync are optional and need a separate Genius Cloud subscription.
Is Genius Scan on Android?
Yes. It is on Google Play and on the App Store for iPhone and iPad.